"The Big Leak" is a digital story created by the children. We have been learning all about the elements of fictional texts, and decided to interactively write one of our own! We were sure to incorporate all five elements: characters, setting, plot, problem and solution. Much of the content in our story didn't just happen by chance. You'll see that the main character is a mayor. Recently, in Social Studies, we completed a small unit on Laws and Leaders. The children discovered that rules and laws exist for two main reasons: to keep communities clean and to keep people safe. We "tested" this idea by analyzing various signs that can be found in most local communities. We asked ourselves, "What is the purpose of this sign? Is is to keep people safe, or keep communities clean?" Choosing a local leader for our main character came quite easily to the children!
In addition to the main character, we were sure to include other characters that matched our chosen setting... a gingerbread village called Snowytown, set high in the mountains of Vermont. :) The main problem, (which I won't reveal), again, was not just happen-chance. As part of our integrated gingerbread unit, we conducted a literature-based science experiment in class. When reading The Gingerbread Man, the children wondered why the gingerbread man didn't just swim across the river to avoid his fateful ending. So... we made a "river" of our own, put a gingerbread cookie in it, and observed to see what would happen if he did in fact slip off the fox's back. We did what all good scientists do... We recorded our predictions, drew what the gingerbread cookie looked like before being submerged in the water, what it looked like after, and wrote about what our findings were. Now we know why he couldn't get even one toe wet! :) This experiment is what led to the idea behind the main problem in our story. I hope, you too, will make eye-opening connections to "The Big Leak," and that this story will provoke wonder, as the children hoped it would. Enjoy!
**FYI... Page 12 is showing, instead of the front cover and title page, in the beginning of the story, (as the children are reading the title). This needs to be edited, but I can't insert the front cover picture until I get back to school after the new year. I didn't want to wait to post this adorable creation, so here it is! I will re-post the final edition on the third. Thank you!!
