Ivan: The Remarkable True story of a shopping mall Gorilla
Creator: Emily Drees
Part 1: Written Response
Mode: Text-Based Essay Response
Media: Document created using Word processor
Audience: Prospective students (4th grade) and Peers
Purpose: Just like individuals around the country wrote letters to the owners of the shopping mall that Ivan was in to have him moved to a better home, each will write a persuasive letter about a change he or she would like to see in the school, community, or the world. Each letter should state why you want the change and give examples of why the change should be made. Students will need to think about what approaches might work best to convince the target audience that a change is needed.
10/21/2014
Dear Principal,
I am writing to you, because I have heard you are thinking about banning gum from school. I do not think that this is a good idea, and I think you should reconsider before you put the rule in place. I think that you should keep gum in school, because it helps students concentrate better in school, and it can relieve stress.
Chewing gum can increase concentration in the classroom, which is the first good reason to have it in schools. Researchers say that chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain, which gives it more oxygen. This extra oxygen helps keep people more alert and improve their reflexes. If gum can help us concentrate better on tests and a teacher’s lesson, wouldn’t you want us to chew it so we can get better grades and higher test scores.
Chewing gum can also be a stress reliever so that make it important to have in school. With all of the homework and tests we are given, school can be stressful. If gum can reduce the stress, why not give it to us? Chewing gum is an exercise for our jaws and this exercise allows us to relax. If gum can help us relax and concentrate, we would be the best class if we could chew it.
I know that teachers do not like gum, because they think it is loud, and we will stick it under our desks, but I think as a school we can promise not to do that if you let us chew gum. Maybe we can just chew gum during tests and can see if our scores improve or not. If they do, then why not let us chew gum for the whole school day. I think that if people are not behaving correctly with gum, then they should not be allowed to have gum for the rest of the day. Overall I think gum would be a great addition to the classroom as it allows us to concentrate better and be less stressed. We should be allowed to chew gum in school!
Sincerely,
Emily Drees and her 4th grade class.
Media: Document created using Word processor
Audience: Prospective students (4th grade) and Peers
Purpose: Just like individuals around the country wrote letters to the owners of the shopping mall that Ivan was in to have him moved to a better home, each will write a persuasive letter about a change he or she would like to see in the school, community, or the world. Each letter should state why you want the change and give examples of why the change should be made. Students will need to think about what approaches might work best to convince the target audience that a change is needed.
10/21/2014
Dear Principal,
I am writing to you, because I have heard you are thinking about banning gum from school. I do not think that this is a good idea, and I think you should reconsider before you put the rule in place. I think that you should keep gum in school, because it helps students concentrate better in school, and it can relieve stress.
Chewing gum can increase concentration in the classroom, which is the first good reason to have it in schools. Researchers say that chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain, which gives it more oxygen. This extra oxygen helps keep people more alert and improve their reflexes. If gum can help us concentrate better on tests and a teacher’s lesson, wouldn’t you want us to chew it so we can get better grades and higher test scores.
Chewing gum can also be a stress reliever so that make it important to have in school. With all of the homework and tests we are given, school can be stressful. If gum can reduce the stress, why not give it to us? Chewing gum is an exercise for our jaws and this exercise allows us to relax. If gum can help us relax and concentrate, we would be the best class if we could chew it.
I know that teachers do not like gum, because they think it is loud, and we will stick it under our desks, but I think as a school we can promise not to do that if you let us chew gum. Maybe we can just chew gum during tests and can see if our scores improve or not. If they do, then why not let us chew gum for the whole school day. I think that if people are not behaving correctly with gum, then they should not be allowed to have gum for the rest of the day. Overall I think gum would be a great addition to the classroom as it allows us to concentrate better and be less stressed. We should be allowed to chew gum in school!
Sincerely,
Emily Drees and her 4th grade class.
Part 2: Podcast
Mode: Argument constructed through narration, music, and sound effects
Media: Garageband
Audience: Prospective students (4th grade) and Peers
Purpose: Create a podcast that investigates the issues of poaching animals by using evidence and details to argue for a specific side.
Because the story of Ivan begins with him being taken from his home at a very young age, the students will explore what animal poaching looks like around the world. They can explore it on a general scale or look at a specific detail of animal poaching. They will need to have research to back up their argument.
Media: Garageband
Audience: Prospective students (4th grade) and Peers
Purpose: Create a podcast that investigates the issues of poaching animals by using evidence and details to argue for a specific side.
Because the story of Ivan begins with him being taken from his home at a very young age, the students will explore what animal poaching looks like around the world. They can explore it on a general scale or look at a specific detail of animal poaching. They will need to have research to back up their argument.
Sources
Gettleman, J. (2012, September 3). Elephants Dying in Epic Frenzy as Ivory Fuels Wars and Profits. Retrieved December 5, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/world/africa/africas-elephants-are-being-slaughtered-in-poaching-frenzy.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&
Illegal Wildlife Trade. (2014, January 1). Retrieved December 5, 2014, from http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/illegal-wildlife-trade
Poaching. (2013, February 25). Retrieved December 5, 2014, from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/155274/
Africa's Poaching Crisis – AWF. (2014, January 1). Retrieved December 5, 2014, from http://www.awf.org/campaigns/poaching-infographic/
Gettleman, J. (2012, September 3). Elephants Dying in Epic Frenzy as Ivory Fuels Wars and Profits. Retrieved December 5, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/world/africa/africas-elephants-are-being-slaughtered-in-poaching-frenzy.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&
Illegal Wildlife Trade. (2014, January 1). Retrieved December 5, 2014, from http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/illegal-wildlife-trade
Poaching. (2013, February 25). Retrieved December 5, 2014, from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/155274/
Africa's Poaching Crisis – AWF. (2014, January 1). Retrieved December 5, 2014, from http://www.awf.org/campaigns/poaching-infographic/
Part 3: Digital StoryTelling
Mode: Narrative story constructed by integration of image, narration, text, movement, sounds, and music
Media: iMovie
Audience: Prospective students (4th grade) and Peers
Purpose: Create a digital story that explores a part of Ivan's story that is not told in the book.
There are elements in Ivan: The remarkable True Story of a Shopping Mall Gorilla that are not told such as Ivan's life in Africa, his journey to the zoo, and his feeling of being at the zoo. There are many different elements that this could take and explored.
Media: iMovie
Audience: Prospective students (4th grade) and Peers
Purpose: Create a digital story that explores a part of Ivan's story that is not told in the book.
There are elements in Ivan: The remarkable True Story of a Shopping Mall Gorilla that are not told such as Ivan's life in Africa, his journey to the zoo, and his feeling of being at the zoo. There are many different elements that this could take and explored.
Journey to a New Home from Emily Drees on Vimeo.
Sources:
Applegate, K. (2014). Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla. New York: Clarion Books.
Applegate, K. (2014). Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla. New York: Clarion Books.
PArt 4: Infographic
Mode: Informational handout constructed with image and Text
Media: Piktochart
Audience: Prospective Students (4th grade) and peers
Purpose: Create an infographic that uses research to present an endangered animal like Ivan the gorilla.
Because of animal poaching, other animals besides gorillas are now endangered. Students are to research and present about different animals that are affected by animal poaching. They are to give back ground information on the animal, and then explore why the animal is endangered, and how one can help.
Media: Piktochart
Audience: Prospective Students (4th grade) and peers
Purpose: Create an infographic that uses research to present an endangered animal like Ivan the gorilla.
Because of animal poaching, other animals besides gorillas are now endangered. Students are to research and present about different animals that are affected by animal poaching. They are to give back ground information on the animal, and then explore why the animal is endangered, and how one can help.