5th Grade Enrichment Student’s Discover their “Praiseworthy Gifts” during my 3rd Author School Visit

Last Friday, January 24th, I enjoyed my 3rd Author School Visit to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Elementary School in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. I was looking forward to working Laura Newcomer’s 5th grade Skills Block (Enrichment) class because they have read the first third of my children’s Princess Shayna’s Invisible Visible Gift for their novel/book study unit.

Before the children begin to read about the 4 Brain Color Villages in the Kingdom of Kindness (the Village of the Yellow Sunflowers, the Village of the Blue Forget-Me-Nots, the Village of the Green Healing Herbs, and the Village of the Orange Tiger Lilies) Mrs. Newcomer and I wanted the students to discuss understand the meaning of Princess Shayna’s Precious Gifts in Chapter 3. The student’s responses were accurate and thoughtful!

Then I asked the student’s to share their definitions of Praiseworthy Gifts. I loved their thought-provoking comments: “accomplishment”, “applause”, “abilities” and “talents”. Then Mrs. Newcomer handed out the Praiseworthy Gift Figure page from my Teacher’s Activity Guide for “Princess Shayna’s Invisible Visible Gift” and gave the class their directions to color and decorate the figure and space on the page with words and/or pictures of their Praiseworthy Gifts, which were attributes and abilities they are proud of and like about themselves.

Mrs. Newcomer also gave the class Yellow Organized/Green Systematic directions: “Use a pencil first and then color in the page.”

The following photos are examples of each Brain Color Perspective and Personality:

Yellow Brainers made sure they were following Mrs. Newcomer directions.

Blue Brainers shared their ideas with one another while they were drawing.

Green Brainers worked independently and looked up words in the dictionary.

Orange Brainers had lots of fun and were the students to complete their drawings!

Mrs. Newcomer’s and my Yellow Brain Lesson Plan for my 4th visit (depending on our frigid Chicago weather) will have the children share about their Praiseworthy Gift drawings. Then the other students will add more Brain Color attributes and abilities, from their perspective, to each others’ praiseworthy works of art! This Cooperative Learning Group Activity will help the students understand that how you see yourself may not be how others see you and your Brain Colors.

Stayed tune and warm…

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