Create To Communicate

Create To Communicate

LESSON 4
JACKETS

Do You Judge a Book by Its Cover?

Collage book cover and presentation using Wh- questions
Objective: Students will create a collaged book cover, write a back cover paragraph for a book, and discuss their book in a book fair using Wh- questions.
Level: Intermediate
Materials: Recycled cardboard or poster board, any available collage materials (magazines, papers, postcards, etc.), pencils, scissors, and glue, paste, or glue sticks.
Teacher Preparation: 1. Collect materials, such as recycled magazines or papers, for students’ collage book covers. 2. Read the Art Variation section of this activity. If string or yarn is available, students can make a yarn collage book cover. 3. Find books to use as examples for Part One and Part Three.
INSTRUCTIONS
Part One: Do You Judge a Book by Its Cover?
  1. Explain that jacket here means cover. Demonstrate what “judging a book by its cover” means by using other examples.
  2. Find four or five books to show students. Show students the front covers only.
  3. Ask the class to vote on which book they would like to read.
  4. Tally the votes. Ask students why they think the chosen book won. Does this book have a more appealing design or image on the front cover?
  5. Have students explain what judging a book by its cover means in their own words.
Part Two: Collage Book Cover
  1. Assign students a story or book to work from, or have students pick a story or book that they are familiar with.
  2. Once students have a book or story to work from, tell students they will be creating a new front and back cover for their book.
  3. Have students identify a character or scene from the story that they would like to illustrate.
  4. Cut the cardboard or poster board to the appropriate size for students’ book covers. (The covers should be larger than a normal book cover, in order for students to have more room to make their collage.)
  5. If desired, students can draw the character, scene, or design on the poster board or cardboard with pencil first to create a basic outline of their collage.
  6. Students should collect collage materials and begin cutting and gluing the materials to create their new book cover.
  7. If possible, students can add extra details to their collages with collage materials such as beads, buttons, or fabric.
  8. After the glue is dry, students should erase any pencil marks that are showing.
Part Three: Back Cover Paragraph
  1. Once students have completed their front cover collage, they will need to write a paragraph for the back cover of their book.
  2. Provide students several books to look at. Have students work in small groups or pairs to determine what general information is included on the back cover of books.
  3. Explain to students that the back cover of the book is not a large space, so authors and editors need to try to provide essential information about the book, while also trying to grab the viewer’s attention, to make them want to read the book.
  4. Show students that you can often find quotes and opinions on the back book cover from people who have read the book.
  5. Select some books that your class has not read. Have students share books if needed, and read the back cover of the books. Ask students to vote on which book they would select after reading the back cover of the book and have them explain why.
  6. Tell students they need to write a short description for the back of their collage book cover, as well as a reviewer’s quote about their opinion or reaction to the book. (Adapt this step to fit the needs and ability level of your students.)
  7. To help students organize the key information to include on the back cover paragraph for their book, have them use a Five W’s graphic organizer. Draw the graphic organizer below on the board for students to copy, or photocopy the graphic organizer included at the end of this lesson.
    WHO are the important characters in the book? 
    WHAT happens in the book? What is the book about? 
    WHY is this book special? 
    WHERE does the story take place? 
    WHEN does the story take place? 
  8. After students have completed the graphic organizer, have students use the information in the graphic organizer to write the back cover paragraph.
    *NOTE: Not all of the information included in the graphic organizer should be included in the back cover paragraph. The purpose of the Five W’s graphic organizer is to help students remember the important information from the book in order to select what to write about for their back cover paragraph.
  9. Next, have students write their reviewer’s quote for the book. If needed, review the use and purpose of quotation marks.
  10. Have students write or glue their paragraph and quote to the back cover. Students can also add collage images or designs to the back cover of the book.
  11. Have students bind the front and back covers together with three pieces of paper, yarn, or string. Cut each of the three pieces to the same size. Then, tape or glue one side of the paper, yarn, or string to the front book cover, at the top, middle, and bottom. Last, tape or glue the other side of the paper, yarn, or string to the back cover, at the top, middle, and bottom of the cover.
Part Four: Book Fair
  1. Tell students the class is going to have a book fair or book party to present their book and new book covers to the rest of the class. (If possible, invite other classes, teachers, administrators or parents to attend the book fair.)
  2. Divide students into two groups. One group of students should display their book and book covers on desks and tables around the classroom and stand next to them.
  3. The other group of students should circulate around the room, asking questions to the students standing next to their book. Tell students to ask the “five W” questions, questions about the students’ opinion of the book, and questions about the collage book cover design.
  4. After sufficient time, have the two groups switch roles.
Part Five: Book Fair Survey Closing Activity
  1. To check students’ participation in the book fair, while also reviewing students’ comprehension of the “five W’s,” have students complete a book fair survey. The survey can be found at the end of this chapter. Adapt or modify the survey to fit the needs and level of your students.
Extension Activity:
“Inside, Outside” Book Review Circle
Have students practice speaking and listening, and share information about their books, by doing an “inside circle, outside circle” activity. To begin, divide students into two groups. One group should form a circle in the classroom, facing outwards. The other group should form a circle around the first circle, facing inwards. The students should be equally matched up, each facing another student in the other circle. If there are an odd number of students, one student can be the student helper and help manage time or call “switch.” Tell the inside circle of students that their job is to talk about their books. The job of the outside students is to ask the inside students questions about their books. Remind the outside students to ask Wh- questions and questions about the students’ personal opinions about the book. Say “go” to start the activity. After a minute or two, tell students to switch (or have the student helper call “switch”). Tell the outside students to rotate one person to their right. Inside students stay where they are. Students are now matched up with a new partner to talk about their book with. Keep rotating students every few minutes. Then, change the directions. Have the outside students talk about their books, and the inside students ask questions.
Art Variation:
If yarn or string is available, students can create a yarn collage book cover. Students should first draw the character, scene, or design for their book cover with pencil. Students should then cut pieces of yarn to fit the different parts of the drawing. Next, have students glue the yarn to their drawings in several ways:
a. Gently squeezing glue onto the pencil lines and placing the yarn on top of it.
b. Pouring a little glue into a small container and using an old paintbrush to brush glue onto the yarn, and then placing the yarn over the pencil drawing.
c. Using an old paintbrush to brush the glue directly onto the pencil lines, and then placing the yarn on top of it.

BOOK COVER GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

Directions: Read the back cover of your book. Then, with a partner, complete this worksheet.
WHO are the important characters in the book?
WHAT happens in the book? What is the book about?
WHY is this book special?
WHERE does the story take place?
WHEN does the story take place?

BOOK FAIR SURVEY

Directions: After your art walk, complete this worksheet and hand it to your teacher.
BOOK FAIR SURVEY
Name:_______________________________________
  1. Whose book cover did you like the best? Why?
  2. What book would you like to read after hearing the book presentation in the book fair? Why?
    a. Where does this story take place?
    b. When does this story take place?
    c. Who are the characters in the book?
  3. Which back cover did you like best? Why?
  4. What was your favorite part of this book fair?
  5. What was your least favorite part of the book fair?