- Story
- Countdown, Year 3
- Issue 5, 2019
Connecting the Dots
Learning resource
Outcomes
Conduct a See, Think, Wonder thinking routine to explore the title and predictions about ‘Connecting the Dots’, using the image on page 9 as stimulus. This routine encourages students to make careful observations and thoughtful interpretations. It helps stimulate curiosity and sets the stage for inquiry. Use student See Think Wonder worksheet to record responses.
- What do you see?
- What do you think about that?
- What does it make you wonder?
Complete a tree chart to show student understanding of the title, ‘Connecting the Dots.’ List all the attempts Chris made to try and get his job done, until he finally ‘connected’ with Dot and Dottie, in the branches of this tree chart worksheet.
Engaging personally EN2-2A
Connotation, imagery and symbol:
Brainstorm idioms using ‘connecting the dots’ as an example. Discuss figurative language, illustrating how ‘connecting the dots’ is also a metaphor.
Write an idiom story. Option to publish using Storybird or Book Creator. Ideas can be found at 8 Fun Things to do with Idioms and students can complete one of these eight Idiom Stories worksheets. Challenge students to use as many idioms as possible including the title.
Illustrate an idiom.
Explore further the English Textual Concept Connotation, Imagery and Symbol.
Write a pensée poem to describe a real or imaginary postal delivery person using one of these three Pensee Poem worksheets.
Connecting to the text EN2-11D
Background reading: Strategy explained: text-to-text, text-to-self, text-to-world
- Text-to-text connections occur when we make connections between other texts in relation to the text we are reading.
- Text-to-self connections occur when we make connections between personal experiences and the text.
- Text-to-world connections occur when we relate the text with what we already know about the world.
Text-to-Self: How do the ideas in this text relate to your own life, ideas, and experiences?
- What I just read reminds me of the time when I …
- I agree with/understand what I just read because in my own life …
- I don’t agree with what I just read because in my own life …
Students complete this Connections Stem worksheet. Discuss as a class.
Engaging critically EN2-2A & EN2-7B
Complete a PMI chart. Encourage students to use their PMI chart to highlight three elements (in three different colours or use coloured post-it notes) within the narrative that are positive, negative and interesting:
- Plus/Positive: Good/Positive experiences, themes, messages, events and happenings in the text.
- Minus/Negative: Events in the text that are negative/bad experiences in the text, things that go wrong, etc.
- Interesting: Anything that appeals to the student; questions, feelings and emotions that arise, morals, messages and connections that resonate with the students.
Complete a character report card on Chris the postman. Students locate evidence of character traits in the text and complete this Character Report Card worksheet.
Experimenting EN2-10C
Write questions for these five words from the text: inventor, letterbox, Mrs Finnegan, beard and caterpillar. For example, what is Aunt Daisy’s job? An inventor.
Create a film strip of ‘Connecting the Dots’ using this story board worksheet. Adapt the film strip into a play or podcast using Audacity.
Write a summary of the story using this scaffolded Retell Summary worksheet to briefly retell the story.
Journal: write a journal entry titled, ‘When I grow up …’. Lots of jobs face challenges and require real problem-solving strategies. The postman and the mean dog is a common hurdle, which required communication skills more than problem solving. Ask students to communicate their ideas about what kind of jobs they see themselves doing in the future, the skills they have, or will need to have, and the hurdles they may encounter.
Reflecting EN2-12E
Conduct an I used to think ... But now I think … routine to help students to reflect on their thinking about a topic or issue and explore how and why that thinking has changed. It can be useful in consolidating new learning as students identify their new understandings, opinions, and beliefs. Record responses on this I Used to Think … Now I Think … worksheet.
Complete: What are the advantages and disadvantages to having a job? List these creative ideas on a T-chart worksheet.