English Language Arts: Communication Strategies

K-12: Standard 5

• Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.

English Language Arts: Developing Research Skills

K-12: Standard 8

• Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

English Language Arts: Applying Non-English Perspectives

K-12: Standard 10

• Students whose first language is not English make use of their first language to develop competency in the English language arts and to develop an understanding of content across the curriculum.

Standards for the English Language Arts, by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English, Copyright 1996 by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. Reprinted with permission.

Source: NCTE/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts

Encourage students as they follow the writing process to explore anything from simple sentences to five-paragraph essays. These versatile books can support writing exercises in all major subject areas and current events. The students may be prompted to explore any genre to express ideas. Older students can explore library resources to develop research-based writing. Second-language learners can relate to given themes to develop writing skills. Through these books, the teacher can develop a unique classroom library featuring students as authors.

Supplies Used: Cardstock, Colored Pencils, Construction Paper, Glue, Marker (Black), Scissors, Tape (Double-Sided), Yarn

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

1. Die-cut the Album Cover and Pages from cardstock or construction paper.
2. Die-cut the Happy Train, Railroad Track and Sun from various colors of cardstock or construction paper.
3. Keep one Train whole and cut away highlights from other colors. Layer and adhere to embellish the train.
4. Hand-cut hills to create the background and adhere to the Album Cover.
5. Adhere the Tracks, Train and Sun to the Cover. Add a title to the Cover.
6. Highlight the images with colored pencils.
7. Assemble the Cover and Pages with yarn (see Main Photo).