I. Curricular Framework

Concept:

Attachments

Essential Question:

Are children the only ones who are attached to “special things”?

Bridge:

Transitions

Content:

Outcomes:

II. Standards Aligned

III. Instruction and Assessment

1. Connect: Connecting to the Concept Experientially

Objective: To showcase the children’s “special things”

Activity: Have the children bring something (or a picture of something) to class, something that is very special to them, a thing, not a person.

Assessment:The meaning for the children

2. Attend: Attending to the Connection

Objective: To create a list of criteria for “specialness”

Activity: Help the children create a list of criteria for what makes something “special” to them i.e., it has a history, was given by a special person, makes my heart feel warm, etc…

Assessment: Quality of the criteria

Assessment, Phase One, Level of Engagement, Fascination:

3. Image: Creating a Mental Picture

Objective: To bring to memory special things. To build the idea that some needs are transitory, good for us in their time, but not necessary as we grow older.

Activity: Have the children tell a story about something they needed, but do not need now. Have them draw a picture of themselves and that special thing and show it to a partner while they tell the story about it.

Assessment: How the child was able to relate the story, and how it interested the listener.

Assessment, Phase Two, Seeing the Big Picture:

4. Inform: Receiving Facts & Knowledge

Objective: To understand and enjoy the book

Activity: Read the story Owen.

Assessment: Attentiveness and understanding on the part of the children

Assessment, Phase Three, Success with Acquiring Knowledge:

5. Practice: Developing Skills

Objective: To elicit from the children the details of the story

Activity: Ask the following questions:
What were the three things Owen’s parents tried to do to get Fuzzy away
from Owen? (The Blanket Fairy, the vinegar and saying “NO”)
Why didn’t they work?
Who was Mrs. Tweezers?
Why was she worried about Owen?

Assessment: Can the children answer the questions correctly?
If not, go back and revisit the story

Assessment, Phase Four, Success with Acquiring Skills:

6. Extend: Extending Learning to the Outside World

Objective: To transfer the idea of special things into their own personal lives.

Activity: Have students crate a “My Special Thing” book of some things they are attached to now (approximately three pages with illustrations.)

Assessment: Quality of the writing, the illustrations, the originality

7. Refine: Refining the Extension

Objective: To share their original work with their classmates.

Activity: Share their books with their fellow classmates.

Assessment: Reader/listener impact.
Question: Are grown ups attached to things too?

8. Perform: Creative Manifestation of Material Learned

Objective: To showcase the children’s work.

Activity: Make a gallery of each student’s “Special Things” and post in the hall outside the classroom

Assessment: Honesty, originality, artistic quality

Assessment, Phase Five,Performance, Creative Use of Material Learned: