This is the essential question Ms. O'Hara and I ask 4th graders to consider during our Aerie Unit on Primary Sources. During our first class, the children examine 3 photographs and a ship's manifest to see what they can learn about immigration, at the turn of the century, from these documents. After looking at the various pictures and manifest, we gather together to discuss what surprised them and what they learned from the primary sources.
IMMIGRANTS ON SHIP, c1900. - Steerage passengers on the 'S.S. Pennland' in New York Harbor, c1900.. Fine Art. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/140_1634535/1/140_1634535/cite. Accessed 28 Oct 2018.
In our second class, the kids listen to recorded recollections of immigrants who entered the US through Ellis Island. They also read remembrances from those who immigrated through Angel Island. We wrap up the rotation by creating a list of all the things we learned about immigration from looking at pictures and reading or listening to people's memories of immigrating. The 4th graders will use the ideas they generate when they take on the persona of an immigrant and write journal entries as that immigrant.
Here are just some of the things they learned:
At Angel Island people were locked in their dorms after dinner like prison.
People were asked lots of questions when they immigrated through Angel Island including things like how many windows in your neighbor's house.
This year the Wheeler Community was so fortunate to welcome authors and illustrators Kazu Kibuishi and Rosemary Wells. Students in Nursery through Grades Seven enjoyed presentations last Friday, October 12th in order to celebrate Wheeler and the amazing reading community we have built. Rosemary Wells presented to students in the lower school in Grades Nursery through Three, and Kazu Kibuishi presented to a grand crowd of students in Grades Four through Seven as well as faculty, staff and administration.
Each author highlighted the hard work that is required to create books for children and shared their journey to becoming writers and illustrators. Rosemary Wells, who has been writing and illustrating picture books for the past forty years, shared unique art techniques and the story of how the beloved Max and Ruby characters came to be. I am sure Kazu Kibuishi had a few cringing teachers in his presentation as he shared his secret to holding a pencil when he draws. Students asked amazing questions. Many students wanted the inside scoop on the final book in the Amulet Series, Amulet 9.
The Celebration of Reading could not have been as amazing as it was without the help of the Parents Association and our two amazing volunteers, Wendy D'Amico and Magda Kryzstolik. Ms Strachan and I were also grateful to see many Wheeler students come to the Book Festival at Lincoln School to meet other authors and illustrators who were a part of the amazing celebration of children and books.
We have two phenomenal authors and illustrators visiting us on Friday, October 12:
Rosemary Wells author of Max and Ruby series. 9:15-10 Meet with Grades 1-3 Hale 10:45-11:15 Early Childhood LS Library
(video from Reading Rockets)
Kazu Kibuishi,author of the Amulet Series
1:45-2:45 in Hale with Grades 4-7
(video posted by Kazu Kibuishi)
Thanks to Ms. Williams for these profiles of the authors:
Rosemary Wells grew up on the New Jersey Shore. It was on the shore where she would hunt for rats with bows and arrows. She started her artistic career at the young age of 2. She loved to draw, copy and then start drawing again. Those experiences led her to create the well-known characters of Max and Ruby. Over the past 40 years she has written and illustrated over 120 children's books. Many of her picture books use animal characters to tell stories that are fun and relatable for children. In addition to Max and Ruby, readers may be familiar with Mr. McDuff, Nora, Timothy and Otto. For more information visit her website.
Kazu Kibuishi is the creator of the graphic novel series Amulet. He has also created the graphic novel series Flight. Born in Tokyo, he moved to the US with his mother and brother in 1981. He attended the University of California, where he pursued studies in film. He found a connection to comics through the school's newspaper. In addition to his graphic novels, he also has a webcomic series called Copper. Kazu recently released the 8th book in the Amulet series. For more information about Kazu Kibuishi and his work visit his website.
