Early Childhood Resources-Reading and Writing Center

Goal: Write and illustrate a class story.

Instructions:

1. Have one member of your group read the story Leaf Man to the group.

2. Within your group, talk about writing a group book about a leaf person or animal.

3. Together, decide who or what the book will be about and what will happen in the story.

4. Illustrate the story using the leaves we used in the leaf dance earlier in the day.

5. There are enough leaves for each participant to use one leaf on his/her page.

6. After talking about your ideas, each member should complete one page of the book. (For this workshop, keep your page sample for yourself.)

7. If time permitted, we would press the leaves and dry them before gluing them on the paper.

Guiding Questions:

In the guide, this activity is used in a large group and has been adapted for this workshop.

How would you carry out this activity in your classroom?

How would you approach the activity with children not yet writing?

What is the worth of this activity?

Materials:

• Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

• Leaves

• Basket to hold the leaves

• Glue

• Markers

• Assorted pens and pencils

• Art paper (p. 52)

• Assorted art supplies

---