Wild Storybook Parade: Tales & Tails!

1st Grade

Project
4 weeks

Wild Storybook Parade: Tales & Tails!

Claudia Michelle Fuertes

Purpose

This project aims to engage first-grade students in a creative exploration of their favorite animals through the creation of illustrated storybooks. By integrating reading, writing, and art, students will develop a deeper understanding of animal behaviors, diets, and habitats while enhancing their literacy skills. The project encourages collaboration, imagination, and self-expression, culminating in a school-wide celebration where students share their work and learn from each other.

Learning goals

Students will develop their creative writing skills by drafting and revising storybooks, focusing on sentence structure, vocabulary, and descriptive language. They will enhance their understanding of animal behavior, diet, and habitat through research and illustration. The project will also foster collaboration and communication skills as students share feedback and present their work during the gallery walk and storybook parade. Additionally, students will explore self-expression and creativity by transforming their storybooks into performances and dressing as their favorite animals.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.2: Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3: Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

Products

Students will create a series of illustrated animal fact cards that showcase interesting details about their chosen animal's behavior, diet, and habitat. These cards will be shared with peers during a gallery walk, where students will also present their storybooks about their favorite animals and habitats. The final product will be a 'Storybook Parade,' where students dress up as their favorite animal from their storybook and share brief descriptions of their stories with other classes.

Launch

Begin the project with a 'Storybook Creation Workshop,' where students explore various animal storybooks and discuss what makes them engaging and informative. Encourage students to brainstorm ideas for their own animal storybooks, sketch initial drawings, and share their thoughts with classmates. Facilitate collaboration by having students work in pairs or small groups to develop their story concepts, fostering creativity and teamwork from the outset.

Exhibition

Students will participate in a vibrant 'Storybook Parade,' where they dress up as their favorite animal from their storybook. As they parade through the school, they will share brief descriptions of their stories with other classes, highlighting key facts about their animal's behavior, diet, and habitat. This interactive exhibition allows students to celebrate their learning and creativity while engaging with the wider school community.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
Activities	Storybook Creation Workshop - Students brainstorm ideas and sketch initial drawings for their animal storybooks, fostering creativity and collaboration (45 min)	Animal Exploration - Students choose their favorite animal and research its behavior, diet, and habitat using age-appropriate resources (20 min) Idea Sharing - Students share their research findings and discuss interesting facts about their chosen animals with classmates (25 min)	Drafting Animal Fact Cards - Students begin drafting illustrated animal fact cards highlighting key details from their research (25 min) Vocabulary Building - Students learn and use new descriptive words related to their animals in their fact cards (20 min)
Deliverables	1. Students will submit a draft of the first page of their animal storybook, including an initial sketch of their chosen animal.
Preparation	1. Gather a selection of age-appropriate animal storybooks from the library for the workshop. 2. Prepare brainstorming sheets with prompts to help students choose their favorite animal and think about its characteristics. 3. Provide art supplies such as paper, pencils, colored pencils, and erasers for sketching. 4. Create vocabulary cards related to animals and habitats to support the creative writing workshop. 5. Set up a space for 'Circle Time' where students can comfortably sit and share their reflections.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
Activities	Descriptive Writing Activity - Students practice writing descriptive sentences about their chosen animal's appearance and habitat, using sensory words and adjectives (20 min) Illustration Detailing - Students add detailed illustrations to their storybooks based on their descriptive sentences, focusing on accuracy and creativity (25 min)	Story Mapping - Students create a simple story map outlining the beginning, middle, and end of their animal story, ensuring a coherent narrative structure (25 min) Peer Feedback Round - In pairs, students share their story maps and provide constructive feedback focusing on clarity and engagement of the narrative (20 min)	Story Drafting - Students begin writing a draft of their animal story, incorporating feedback from their peers and focusing on sentence structure and coherence (30 min) Illustration Enhancement - Students enhance their storybook illustrations by adding background elements and using vibrant colors to bring their stories to life (15 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed first draft of the animal storybook, including text and some illustrations. 2. At least one illustrated animal fact card.
Preparation	1. Gather additional animal books and visual resources for students to reference during their research and illustration sessions. 2. Prepare materials for illustration, such as colored pencils, markers, crayons, and sketch paper. 3. Create a set of feedback prompts for the Peer Feedback Circle to guide students in providing constructive feedback. 4. Ensure access to age-appropriate online resources or videos about different animals to support students' understanding.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
Activities	Peer Storybook Review - Students exchange storybooks and provide constructive feedback on storytelling and illustrations using teacher guidance (20 min) Illustration Refinement - Students refine their illustrations based on peer feedback, focusing on adding descriptive details and vibrant colors (25 min)	Sentence Structure Workshop - Students participate in activities to enhance sentence structure for clarity and engagement in their storybooks (20 min) Vocabulary Enhancement - Students identify and incorporate new descriptive vocabulary into their storybooks, emphasizing animal-related terms (25 min)	Storybook Gallery Walk Preparation - Students finalize their storybooks, ensuring they are polished and ready for the gallery walk (20 min) Circle Time Reflection - Students gather to share insights and feelings about the project and their learning experiences using guiding prompts (25 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed draft of the animal storybook with initial illustrations. 2. Feedback notes from peers for storybook revisions. 3. First animal fact card with a focus on behavior, diet, or habitat.
Preparation	1. Gather a variety of art supplies such as colored pencils, markers, and drawing paper for illustrations. 2. Prepare feedback guidelines and sentence starters to help students provide constructive comments during peer review sessions. 3. Create an example animal fact card to demonstrate layout and content expectations. 4. Set up a comfortable reading area for the small group sessions to encourage focused and engaging discussions.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
Activities	Final Storybook Revision - Students make final adjustments to their storybooks based on peer and teacher feedback, ensuring clarity and completeness (25 min) Illustrated Animal Fact Cards Completion - Students finalize their illustrated animal fact cards, adding any last details to highlight key facts about their animal (20 min)	Gallery Walk Setup - Students arrange their storybooks and animal fact cards for the gallery walk, ensuring their work is displayed attractively (15 min) Gallery Walk and Feedback - Students participate in the gallery walk, viewing peers' work, and leaving positive feedback and questions on sticky notes (30 min)	Storybook Parade Preparation - Students rehearse their brief descriptions and prepare costumes for the Storybook Parade, practicing clear and confident speaking (20 min) Storybook Parade - Students dress up as their favorite animal and parade through the school, sharing brief descriptions of their stories with other classes (25 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed animal fact cards with illustrations. 2. Storybooks ready for presentation during the gallery walk. 3. Participation in the 'Storybook Parade' with a costume representing their chosen animal.
Preparation	1. Ensure all students have access to art supplies (markers, crayons, paper) for any final touches on their fact cards and illustrations. 2. Prepare sticky notes and pens for peers and teachers to leave feedback during the Gallery Walk. 3. Coordinate with other teachers to arrange a time and route for the 'Storybook Parade' through the school. 4. Assist students in creating simple costumes or props that represent their chosen animal for the parade.