Our book project for the Author's Fair 2012

OK, Families, here is the post (some of) you have been eagerly anticipating.

Those of you who came to the math party got to hear my spiel in person, but this information will still be useful to you, as I will give you the step-by-step instructions here.  Anyone who was not at the math party, NO PROBLEM.  This is a project that you can do entirely at home, and can even complete in just a couple of days, if you want to.

The Author's Fair this year is Saturday, May 5.  As usual, we will plan on meeting at the Capitola Mall on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. so the kids can present their book at the Author's Chair. : )  (Bring your cameras and impress the grandparents.)

But before that, we will have our book-making party there in the usual classrooms at Vintage Faith Church on Friday, April 27 at the usual time from noon-2:30.

Our book this year is going to be an illustrated poetry book called "This Moment in Spring."  Each child who wants to participate will compose a poem about Spring, using all the five senses.  Of course families can work together and share page credits, but please trust me that if your kid is old enough to know about the five senses, he/she is old enough to compose a beautiful poem!  I can say this with assurance because we will be using a poetry template--your child just has to insert his or her own words into the formula, and the end result will amaze you. : )  It is easy for you, easy for your child!  Trust me, Mamas, and please jump on into this project with us!

There are five steps to this book project:

1) make watercolor painted paper.
2) go to the outdoors so your kids can immerse their senses in Springtime nature.
3) record their descriptions of that moment in nature using all the five senses, plugging their words into the poem formula.
4) edit--talk through and finalize their word choices with them (encourage descriptive words), type their poem up and print it out.
5) use the watercolor painted paper to cut out and make a collage that illustrates the poem.*

*At our book-making party on the 27th, we will be making the collages together!  This way each family can bring the watercolor papers they have made and all the kids can share.  Of course if you cannot come to the party, you are more than welcome to do the entire page at home, and then add it to our group book when we meet at the Author's Fair on Saturday.


To keep this information nice and neat, I will make a separate post for each of the steps.  So, look forward to the posts coming this week!

Questions?  Please leave a comment here, so everyone can benefit!