Background Information
I am creating a unit on
Native-Americans and focusing on literacy by using two anchor texts. The
anchor texts for the unit include two books, Conrad Richter: The
Light in the Forest, and Happily May I Walk by Arlene Hirschfelder.
The Light in the Forest is
written as historical fiction but it is based on true events of
Native-Americans holding captive White settlers as well as White settlers
holding captive Native-Americans. Happily May I Walk is a non-fiction
book about Native-American culture and the examination of the multiple aspects of
Native-Americans in the 21st century. Students will be comparing and
contrasting fiction and non-fiction readings in terms of their approaches to
similar themes and topics. Students will also draw evidence from literary or
informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research in the form
of short essays and personal narratives. This unit is intended for sixth
graders. It meets the Illinois common core state standards for reading #9, and writing
#9a standards for sixth grade.
Blabberize
Blabberize is a web 2.0 tool that
allows users to upload images, manipulate the mouth of said image, and
integrate one’s vocal so that it appears that the image is talking. The tool is
FREE at Blabberize’s official website. I
found this tool easy to use. I spent altogether fifteen minutes locating the
image I wanted, uploading it to Blabberize, manipulating the mouth, and uploading
my vocals. This tool should be fun and easy for students to use.
Blabberize: Native-American Unit
Click Here for the link to this Blabberized image of True Son
Since the students will be reading The Light in the Forest I decided to
Blabberize the main character True Son. I decided to show students that they
can show their creativity and imagination by Blabberizing conversations that occurred
in the book, or what they think could have occurred. This Blaberization is my
creative interpretation of what I think True Son would have said to his cousin
Half-Arrow during his stay with his biological family. The book explains that
True Son was unhappy at his biological family’s home, and explicitly stated that
he wanted to return to his Native-American family. Thus, I used this textual
information to create this Blabberize of True Son conveying a message to his
cousin Half-Arrow. Students can use this tool and recreate scenes,
conversations, as well as imaginative self-talks to illustrate their learning
and comprehension of the text. However, these are just examples, encourage
students to be innovative with this tool. As I said before, this tool was not complicated to use, and usually takes less than thirty minutes to create a
Blabberize. Once all students have created a Blabberize, they can share them by
sharing the link.
*My link to my Blabberize example is
right below the image of True Son.*
*If you have any other ideas for
which Blabberize could be integrated in this unit please share them with me via
the comments section.*
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