ThemeTheme

Thematic focus = Friendship, Neighborhood, Thematic focus = Friendship, Neighborhood, HomeHome

Vignette = “Our Good Day”Vignette = “Our Good Day” The story is ABOUT three girls riding a bicycleThe story is ABOUT three girls riding a bicycle The MESSAGE/THEME: The MESSAGE/THEME:

Friendship makes even the most simple Friendship makes even the most simple experiences more fun.experiences more fun.

What are they doing?What are they doing?

Using your binoculars to zoom in on Using your binoculars to zoom in on gestures and motions of your gestures and motions of your

characters.characters.

It’s difficult to describe faces in writing but It’s difficult to describe faces in writing but easier to describe what people are doing with easier to describe what people are doing with their hands, how they walk, etc. Mannerisms their hands, how they walk, etc. Mannerisms give readers a chance to see your characters give readers a chance to see your characters and tell how they are feeling without you and tell how they are feeling without you having to overtly state it—this is SHOWINGhaving to overtly state it—this is SHOWING—not telling! One way to practice is to go to a —not telling! One way to practice is to go to a public place and record the gestures of public place and record the gestures of strangers; another is to think of an emotion or strangers; another is to think of an emotion or feeling and come up with a gesture for your feeling and come up with a gesture for your character that shows this emotion.character that shows this emotion.

• For example, instead of saying (telling) that he For example, instead of saying (telling) that he was really, really nervous, you could show it by was really, really nervous, you could show it by writing, “He tried to talk but the words strangled writing, “He tried to talk but the words strangled in his throat and only a squeaky ‘hello’ came out in his throat and only a squeaky ‘hello’ came out and when she looked at him, he could feel his and when she looked at him, he could feel his knees give out under him.”knees give out under him.”

• Learning to see characters in action takes practice. Learning to see characters in action takes practice. We need some volunteers to get a slip of paper We need some volunteers to get a slip of paper with an emotion written on it from Mrs. Scow, and with an emotion written on it from Mrs. Scow, and then act out that emotion. See if the class can then act out that emotion. See if the class can guess the emotion by using words to describe guess the emotion by using words to describe what was acted out.what was acted out.

• When you are writing, look for places where you When you are writing, look for places where you can do this same thing with one of your characters.can do this same thing with one of your characters.

Section Three: Section Three: Freedom and EntrapmentFreedom and Entrapment

Pre-reading question: Pre-reading question: In what areas of your life In what areas of your life are you most free to do what you like? In what are you most free to do what you like? In what areas of your life do you have the least freedom? areas of your life do you have the least freedom? Consider the roles gender, race, religion, Consider the roles gender, race, religion, education, class, age, and upbringing play in education, class, age, and upbringing play in limiting an individual’s personal freedom. Work limiting an individual’s personal freedom. Work on showing a character (YOU!) in action.on showing a character (YOU!) in action.

Read pp. 26-38Read pp. 26-38 “Marin”; “Those Who Don’t”; “Marin”; “Those Who Don’t”; “There Was an Old Woman…”; “Alicia Who Sees “There Was an Old Woman…”; “Alicia Who Sees Mice”; “Darius and the Clouds”; “And Some Mice”; “Darius and the Clouds”; “And Some More”More”