Text Box/Bag Activity
What is it?
* This strategy takes the use of artifacts to build background knowledge, allowing students to create a connection between the words in the text and the objects or concepts represented.
* Students are being introduced to the text by seeing and holding real objects that are featured in the text.
* Students should be given access to these items throughout the text/ lesson.
* These items should be placed in a box or bag that is used as the "Text Box/Bag", engaging the students in the reading.
* Examples of Text Box/Bag Activities:
* Students are being introduced to the text by seeing and holding real objects that are featured in the text.
* Students should be given access to these items throughout the text/ lesson.
* These items should be placed in a box or bag that is used as the "Text Box/Bag", engaging the students in the reading.
* Examples of Text Box/Bag Activities:
How to use the Text Box/bag activity in the classroom:
1) Choose an appropriate text that covers the necessary concepts.
2) Choose 5-7 words or concepts that can be represented by objects in the text and are important to the meaning and understanding of the text.
3) Place together these objects into a box or bag.
4) Introduce the topic to the class, pulling one object out at a time and discussing how each object may relate to the text as a class.
5) After discussing all of the objects, have students read the text and mark where they see the concepts/ words discussed from the objects throughout the text.
6) After reading, review each of the objects and discuss how they related to the text.
2) Choose 5-7 words or concepts that can be represented by objects in the text and are important to the meaning and understanding of the text.
3) Place together these objects into a box or bag.
4) Introduce the topic to the class, pulling one object out at a time and discussing how each object may relate to the text as a class.
5) After discussing all of the objects, have students read the text and mark where they see the concepts/ words discussed from the objects throughout the text.
6) After reading, review each of the objects and discuss how they related to the text.
How this strategy benefits student learning:
* "The purpose of the Text Box/Bag Activity is to help readers build background knowledge about a topic" (Miller, 2011, p.59).
* "By thinking about these items before they begin reading, students are poised to engage with the theme of the relationship between scientific inquiry and natural beauty" (Miller, 2011, p.59).
* Students are building background knowledge through direct experiences of holding artifacts.
* Building background knowledge helps to ensure that a diversely experienced class of students are approaching the new content on similar footing.
* "By thinking about these items before they begin reading, students are poised to engage with the theme of the relationship between scientific inquiry and natural beauty" (Miller, 2011, p.59).
* Students are building background knowledge through direct experiences of holding artifacts.
* Building background knowledge helps to ensure that a diversely experienced class of students are approaching the new content on similar footing.
using this strategy with writing:
* Students can develop a piece of writing based on what they predict the story is going to be about and how it will connect to the items shown from the text box/bag.
-Supporting Common Core State Standard in Writing Grades 6-8: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.2.a: Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories as appropriate to achieving purpose; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
-Supporting Common Core State Standard in Writing Grades 6-8: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.2.a: Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories as appropriate to achieving purpose; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
Supporting videos
* The video below discusses how using items to introduce a story and throughout the story creates a more engaging experience for the reader. The teacher discusses how the students then create a writing piece based on the story and artifacts.
* The video below is an example of a secondary geography teacher using props and visual aides to introduce concepts to her students, allowing her students to discuss how their props in front of them relate to the concepts being taught.
Research says....
* "Learners construct meaning by participating in authentic interactions that enable them to transform the knowledge they acquire" (Miller, 2011, p.59).
* "Props help children to feel part of the story and adds another dimension and learning style- visual as well as auditory" (Hudson, ND, para.2).
* "Props encourage children to interact with the story, talk about the story, and help develop listening skills" (Hudson, ND, para.2).
Sources:
Hudson, Nicky. (ND). Props for Storytelling. It's All About Stories!. Retrieved July 21, 2014 from http://itsallaboutstories.blogspot.com/2013/10/props-for-story-telling.html.
Miller, M., & Veatch, N. (2011). Literacy in Context: Choosing Instructional Strategies to Teach Reading in Content Areas for Students in Grades 5-12. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
* "Props help children to feel part of the story and adds another dimension and learning style- visual as well as auditory" (Hudson, ND, para.2).
* "Props encourage children to interact with the story, talk about the story, and help develop listening skills" (Hudson, ND, para.2).
Sources:
Hudson, Nicky. (ND). Props for Storytelling. It's All About Stories!. Retrieved July 21, 2014 from http://itsallaboutstories.blogspot.com/2013/10/props-for-story-telling.html.
Miller, M., & Veatch, N. (2011). Literacy in Context: Choosing Instructional Strategies to Teach Reading in Content Areas for Students in Grades 5-12. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.