Intermediate Inquiry for Literature Study

Students from five Grade 6 classes and one Grade 8 class in one school started their literature study with 'big idea' questions for inquiry. The teachers chose from books written by one of the TDSB Writers in Residence, Eric Walters. The pre-reading, during reading and post-reading learning tasks were guided by the big idea questions for critical thinking and development of a message for the final production of digital book trailers. A focus on Media Literacy learning abut the elements of effective trailers gave the students a new medium by which to demonstrate their understandings about the books. The collaborative development of digital book trailers involved script writing for dramatized scenes and creative uses of technology for video production.