Spotlight on Sources:
Welcome to Renzulli Learning’s Spotlight on Sources, some of our most engaging resources to excite and inspire your students!
We hope you are all having a great start to your school year!
This week we are highlighting our favorite activities with the Dramatic Expression Styles. Using activities with dramatic expression styles allows your students to develop oral language skills, interpersonal skills, and gives students a unique outlet to share their learning.
Check out a few of our favorite Dramatic Expression Styles activities below!
To locate these activities within Renzulli Learning you can SEARCH Enrichment Activities and type in the title of the activity you would like to locate. For more ideas to infuse enrichment activities with your curriculum, please visit the Unit Supplements on the Teacher Site, under “Teach.” We can also link these enrichment resources to your regular curriculum if you send us a theme or topic.
K-2
A Seussical Show
Fine Art
Create a puppet show based on your favorite Dr. Seuss book! Make puppets and props, and retell the story. You can even make treats for your audience!
Harold and the Purple Crayon Video Clip
Fine Art
What if everything you drew became real? You might create some dangers, but then you could always draw your way out of them. Watch this scene from "Harold and the Purple Crayon." Then go and read the book!
The Very Busy Spider Retell Cards
Reading
Can you tell a good story? Are you good at remembering all the details? After reading "The Very Busy Spider," you can use these cards to help you retell the story. Cut out the cards and read the words at the bottom of the page. Every time you tell what the spider saw, show a different animal card and make that animal's sound. Have fun!
3-5
Ancient Egypt: Burial Chambers
History
Even though they lived thousands of years before us, ancient Egyptians still had similar cultural practices, especially when a loved one died. Learn more about their mourning practices and what their tombs looking like.
Become a Character!
Writing
Imagine yourself as one of the characters from a novel, short story, or play that you are reading. List 10 adjectives that describe yourself; then make similar lists describing three other characters from "your" perspective. Can you get into character?
Fractured Fairy Tales
Reading
Whether it's The Princess and the Rutabaga or Big Blue Riding Hood, invite your students to turn familiar fairy tales upside down and inside out—and to have fun. This interactive tool gives students a choice of three fairy tales to read. They are then guided to choose a variety of changes, which they use to compose a fractured fairy tale to print off and illustrate. Useful for teaching point of view, setting, plot, as well as fairy tale conventions such as they lived happily ever after, this tool encourages students to use their imaginations and the writing process at the same time.
6-9
Folk Legends of Japan
Writing
Writing
Every culture has their own stories that get passed down through the generations. This website has over 15 folk legends from Japan that are full of colorful drawings and animations. Play games, try a quiz, and check out the gallery here too!
Local Learning
Websites
Websites
Visit this website to learn about the National Network for Folk Arts in Education. Get to know the people, locations, and traditions that bring the community to the classroom. Find out how you can bring City Lore to your school!
BBC- Bitesize: What is a debate?
Websites
Websites
Who likes to persuade? What makes a good argument? Visit this website to find out! Learn how to speak your mind and show others your point of view.
10-12
A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust
History
History
How can we begin to understand the Holocaust? This rich website offers three approaches. The time line section surveys the historical events, from the rise of the Nazis, through ghettos and concentration camps, to the postwar aftermath. The People section investigates the human drama, presenting perpetrators, bystanders, resisters, victims, survivors, rescuers, liberators, and children. The Arts section explores reactions to the Holocaust in literature, music, and visual arts. Learn more about this tragic history and its lasting impact.
Alexander Palace Time Machine
History
History
The Time Machine is the world's most popular website for Russian and Romanov history with more than a million visitors each month. You will find a glimpse of Russia, royalty, and revolution. Includes a virtual tour of the fairytale treasure house of the Russian Tsars, home of Nickolas and Aleksandra.
Circle of Stories by Electric Shadows Project (ITVS Interactive, 2002-2004)
Reading
Reading
Storytelling is an honored tradition among Native Americans. Meet four Native storytellers and learn how they began telling stories. Discover the roots of Native storytelling and see how two tribes are using stories to peacefully challenge threats to their culture, language, and land rights today. Explore the story gallery and see for yourself how stories can teach lessons and impact the way people think.
Thanks for being a part of the Renzulli Learning family and we hope you find these resources helpful.
Your Renzulli Learning Team