TITLE: Prop Box AUTHOR: Cathy Flummerfelt, Hugoton, KS GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT: 4-12; Works best with literature and language arts lessons, but can be used for any subject matter as a motivation process for group interaction. OVERVIEW: Students thoughts involving literature are not intense enough to receive visual images from words. The react to words as printed letters and not as a thought. They should look at words and phrases from all perspectives and challenge print to allow them more visual and thought stimulus. PURPOSE: It is of extreme importance to obtain and retain intense attention of students. Their minds should be open to all alternatives of thinking in order for them to explore words and the visual images words can create. OBJECTIVES: To stimulate thought and verbal participation by exposing students to a common object. Students will be able to challenge and explore reasons for word choices in literature. RESOURCES/MATERIALS: prop bag, box, or basket filled with common items: pencil, sunglasses, bowl, rope, fork, ear muffs, brush, clothespin, shoe, toothpick, matchbox ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES: Students will voluntarily select one common item and demonstrate how it can be used other than what it is intended for. An explanation of color, texture and shape should preclude this activity. Ex: sunglasses as hair bows - shape concept, ear muffs as rabbit's tail - texture concept, bowl as ice - color concept. TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: This activity works with small and large groups. Students immediately see that people all have different concepts and insights to items. The transition from this activity goes smoothly into working with words. Why is this word used, or a phrase used by an author? With challenges made by students come alternative and more intense understanding of word impact.
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