Each year at my school we host a visiting author. As a part of that author visit, teachers create workshops that focus on different aspects of writing. Over the years, I've tried a variety of workshops -- none of them particularly interesting or well attended. This year, I decided to try something new!
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg is a truly unique book. The preface to the story is that the drawings that followed were a part of a book that was lost. Unfortunately, no one has been able to track down the originator of the drawings or find the text. Each picture does have an interesting caption. But, the caption isn't enough to truly explain all that is going on in the picture. And, with that idea, a workshop is born!
My workshop idea isn't unique at all. It's been done before, but Van Allsburg stunning picture book provides a wonderful opportunity to help get students writing. In fact his pictures have inspired the likes of Stephen King! A short story based on one of the Burdick illustrations was included in one of King's short story compilations.
The portfolio edition is fabulous to use with students! The drawings are poster sized, so students can see the illustrations in closer detail. Using the details, student created some of the most phenomenal short stories. I was truly impressed. This book will surely get anyone's imagination going!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
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