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Grandmother Georgia's Hats
Author visits
Talks to children aged 6 - 8:
I have an impressive collection of hats, including the four hats in the
book! I do prefer that children have read Chapters 1-3, but not Chapter 4.
First, we talk about 'hats' in general, and how good they are as 'story
starters'
Then, using the hats from the first three chapters, children help me to read
excerpts (wearing the appropriate hat, of course). We try to predict what
the story of the last hat - the 'ordinary black hat' - might be … though no
one has guessed correctly yet ….
Then each child chooses a hat from my 'washing line', and they write a very
short story involving that hat. I am always amazed at their ideas!
Scan in the 'angel' story
Talk to children aged 8 - 10
As for 'The Pen-pal from Outer Space', I use the book to discuss 'Writing
for Young Children' and in particular how one goes about writing a very
simple 'chapter book'.
We discuss the themes in 'Grandmother Georgia's Hats' - e.g. the way the
chapters tie in with the changing seasons; how each chapter is a
self-contained story; how authors give their readers 'clues' and lead them
to a planned 'climax'.
We also discuss characterisation, and plan our own very short 'chapter'
books involving related characters; or write an 'additional chapter'
involving one of the other hats.
WHAT I NEED:
Somewhere to hang a 'washing line' and twenty-odd hats (the line has suckers
which stick to glass or plastic)
A flipchart
Photocopied sheets for children, if wished