Bissonet Plaza Elementary Handmade Tales Residency Day 2 – Tuesday, December 8, 2009
12-8-09 Ms. Arnett's 3rd grade class creates winter wonder window!
Friends:
Today started out on a “bad foot.” A storm ravaged our area and left us with no electricity. Everyone was late getting ready because the alarms didn’t go off. Then, when I got in my car, it wouldn’t start. My brother to the rescue. He jump-started my car and I was able to get to school, albeit a few minutes late.
2-8-09 My brother, Gary, cleaning the corrosion from my dead battery & giving me a jump
My first class was Ms. Arnett’s 3rd grade class. I had enough time to tell the story, “Papa’s Teepee,” and teach it to them. It was fun to see them delight in the falling snowflakes. They even decorated their class window to make it look like it was snowing outside.
12-8-09 Ms. Arnett's 3rd grade class cutting snowflakes from coffee filters
My second class was Ms. Fury’s 3rd grade class. After doing the story, “Catching a Pest,” they learned the story, “The Girl Who Used Her Wits.” It was a fun riddle story and the students enjoyed making “fire wrapped in paper” (a paper lantern) and “wind wrapped in paper” (a paper fan).
Ms. Anchissi’s kindergarten class enjoyed the story of “Catching a Pest,” a story that uses the numbers 1 through 7 to tell a story and draw a mouse. Then we did Papa’s teepee and created snowflakes. They loved it, especially making the snow fall.
12-8-09 Ms. Anchissi's kindergarten class making snow fall
Afterward, Ms. Anchissi decorated her classroom Christmas tree with the students’ snowflakes. It was so pretty!
12-8-09 Ms. Anchissi's kindergarten decorates their Christmas tree with snowflakes
It was then on to Ms. Leblanc’s 2nd grade class. They drew the mouse and then created their snowflakes out of coffee filters, after hearing the story, “Papa’s teepee.” Again, it was like seeing children playing in real snow when they launched their snowflakes!
12-8-09 Ms. Leblanc's 2nd grade class with their coffee filter snow flakes
After lunch, I went to Ms. Bonnano’s 1st grade class. Ms. Bonnano was so excited to see me. What a sweet teacher! After I told the story of “Catching a Pest,” I told them how I was inspired to create the story. They challenged me to create Santa Claus using numbers. It was fun and I’ll continue to work on it…
12-8-09 Ms. Bonnano's 1st grade class' challenge to create Santa using only numbers
They loved making their snowflakes and had fun creating a big blizzard. Following that activity, I gave them a writing prompt for their journals “The Time It Snowed in Class.”
12-8-09 Ms. Bonnano's 1st grade class creates a blizzard
My last class was Mr. Joyce’s 5th grade class. After showing them “Catching a Pest,” I taught them “The Emperor’s Dragon.” I then chose 2 students to perform the story. They did a really good job and I was impressed with their teamwork.
12-8-09 5th grade students from Mr. Joyce's class draw the story The Emperor's Dragon
My car would not start AGAIN and was parked in the teacher’s parking lot. After getting a jump, I was able to get home. I look forward to another day at Bissonet. Hopefully, tomorrow will get off to a better start!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
Note: The students’ faces are obscured to protect their identities.
Tags: Artist Residency, Arts, arts education, Author, blog, Children, Children's Book Author, Children's Books, Dianne de Las Casas, Literacy, Louisiana, Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, Stories, Storyteller, Storytelling, The Cajun Cornbread Boy