Grand Island, Nebraska

Wednesday October 8, 2008
GIPS: Golden Sower Award Program 2007-2008
Grand Island Public Schools
Grand Island, Nebraska
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There are a variety of entry points you can use as you introduce the book Effie's Image.


Nancy Sharp Wagner's site includes a focus on connecting her books to 6 Traits Writing.  Consider an author visit from N.L. Sharp to your school.  If you do, share your experience on Our Project Gallery.
Check out the tips on this site for a successful school visit:  Make it Happen:  Awesome Author and Illustrator Visits


Education World has ideas for Grandparent's Day

Eduplace has several activities for Grandparent's Day.  Here are a few sample ideas from the site:

• National Grandparents Day - For Schools  - This is written in the form of a Performance Task.
• What Did You Say?  - Every generation expresses itself in its own way. Have your students talk with grandparents or older acquaintances about words and expressions they both use.  (Combine this idea with the book:  My Momma Likes to Say by Denise Brennan-Nelson.)
• A Great Day with a Grandparent -  Filmstrip (PDF file)  Have each of your students illustrate an adventure he or she had with a grandparent, or a story about something that happened to a grandparent, as if it were a scene in a film.
• Grandparents on the Web  - Grandparents look great on the Internet, too. Have each student create a web page for a grandparent. Features might include important events, sound clips, photographs, family news, and fun facts.
• Why, When I Was Your Age -  Walk in My Shoes - How Old Is Old? Interview an Older Friend  Have each of your students interview a grandparent or an elderly person. The student can ask questions about the relative's favorite memories or about what was different when this person was growing up. (You could have students use an iPod for their interviews.)

BlueZones
Actively participate in the Legacy Project,  BlueZones Quest, and /or Financial Challenge from the education tab at the BlueZones site.  This site focuses on living a longer, healthier lifestyle.

The Legacy Project
Here are some features within the site:

• Free Grandparents Day Activity Kit
• Contests that might inspire local projects, such as the Life Essay Contest
• Free Certificates to Print  ( I like the one "Grandfriends are Great" which might spark some new ideas.)
  
• Character Building Activities  (One idea is the Peace Award, which ties in well to the story Effie's Image and the rewards of volunteering.)
  
• Goal Setting through Learn to Dream

Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site:  Emma  This book has ideas which could be related to Effie's Image.
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Local Histories and Family Stories also has some literature sparks to inspire storytelling.

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox, is another literature connection for activities related to Effie's Image.  Try these activities from the Learning to Give site:

• Intergenerational Friendships
• Traveling Back in Time

For example, in our community we are celebrating Hall County's Sesquicentennial from May through December during the 2007 year.  There are plenty of ways you can "tap into the wisdom and heritage our senior citizens provide".