Make Create Educate

Picture books are a wonderful way to engage children of all ages.  With younger children they provide an opportunity to engage in literacy with storylines they may not have experienced or thought about. With older students they are a wonderful hook to stimulate discussion or debate.  Is it true? Is it relevant to us? What can we do to protect? prevent? or follow up? Once upon a time Online by David Bedford Using fairytale characters this book illustrates some of the hazards of being online. The Fairy Godmother teachers them how to use screen time to be productive and creators rather than users of technology. The Fabulous Friend Machine by Nick Bland Popcorn the chicken finds a friend machine (phone) and makes some wonderful new friends, who turn out be not telling the full truth. Her old (true) friends step in to save her. The internet is like a puddle by Shona Innes This book gently talks about the dangers of being online and how adults can help us navigate those dangers. The...

Picture books can be used to enhance a non-fiction unit. These 6 books have applications for units on sustainability and plastic. These picture books open a range of themes and topics that could be expanded on depending on the interests of your students and the inquiry questions to post prior to reading the books. Living things  - impact of human behaviour on ecosystems Sustainability  (general capability) Volume of waste - sustainability of human lifestyles - How do we reduce waste? Material World  - how can materials be used in different ways? What are alternatives to plastics? What is plastic made of? and how is it made? English  - compare and contrast different texts, purpose, audience, method, infographics, pictures, language. Data  - explore facts and figures in the books or that are found online, regarding amounts of plastic, time to decompose infographics. Vocabulary  - degradable, biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, reusable...