teaching literature using the five senses

Teaching Literatureusing the Five Senses

Malu SciamarelliIATEFL Hungary – October 2015

Creativityexperience

enjoyment

• help us keep safe• help us experience the beauty and wonder of the

world around us

Positive Effects:

• deep association with memory

• strong influence on emotions

• perception of time

• comfortable and relaxing environment

• increase our productivity

• Having a fine-tuned sense of smell, taste, sight, hearing and touch enhances our every day life experiences

• Exercises to sharpen and heighten our senses

How can we help students to activate the senses in the classroom when they are introduced to a new topic, e.g.,

Literature?

• through close observation of the senses and their effect• exercises

Exercise1. identify it by smell

• describe it as accurately as possible (writing)

• share it with your group (speaking)

2. discuss: smells you remember associated with it (speaking)

3. Write down key words

4. Read the introduction of chapter XXXIV Let Them Laugh - The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett,

And Underline 3 – 5 words and short phrases that remind you of smells

5. Write a haiku about smell using words from your description, the smells you remember, the chapter

Gabriel Delgado:

The smell of the stonesremind me of the wet beachand humidity.

Gabriel Giro:

The smell of cottagereminds me of trees and earthin a cold morning.

Matheus Durante:

In a quiet roomwith the sweet smell of mint teais where I want to be.

Leonardo Puttini:

Nothing better thancarrots for my lovely dog.He loves them a lot!

Pedro Vienna:

Go to a cottageand smell the nice humid grassof the dense forest.

Nicole Medina:

In a nice garden, I remember my grandmaplanting rosemary.

Tiemi Nakasone:

Smelling the nice rainLying down on the ground…Feels good to be here!

Bruna Gonçalves:

Sat on the soft ground,camping close to a forest,scents of wood and grass…

6. Choose one word from your lists and write an acrostic poem

Gabriel Delgado:

Smells areWhere we touchEverything andEveryoneToday and forever.

Gabriel Giro:

The refreshing smell of anEmpty cottage reminds me ofA big forest in autumn.

Matheus Durante:

Memories areInside theNice momentsThat you live.Pedro Vienna:

Dawn is still standing hereEven though it is getting darkWith the sun fading away.

Leonardo Puttini:

Can they think? Can they fell?A really weird thought, I know…butReally, I mean,Re-think your actions next time you rip them off the groundOr cut them on your plate.Taking them away from their beloved familiesSlicing them open without regrets.

Bruna Gonçalves:

Take meWhereI canLaugh andIGuarantee it will beHomeToday and forever.

Tiemi Nakasome:

Nature gave usAmazing gifts,Told us to take care of herUnless those words Run out of controlEnding up in grey.

7. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett

• Have you read the book?

• Do you know the story?

8. Watch the film Trailer: https://youtu.be/cl6ihoF8Hrg and make predictions about the story

8. Reading

Literature Circle

1. Arrange the class in literature circle groups

2. First class:

• Decide how much of the book to read and which role each of the students will fill during the next class.

• Make sure the students have a copy of the correct role sheet.

• Students read the book and prepare for literature circle class.

3. Literature Circle classes (repeat until the book is finished). Tell students to: • Use written or drawn notes to guide the group’s discussion, according to the role you are filling for this class. • Be open and make sure everyone has a chance to participate. • Remember that personal stories that connect to the reading and open-ended questions about the book are welcome. • Rotate the roles that each of you will fill during the next class. • Make sure you have a copy of the correct role sheet. • Read the next part of the book and prepare for the next literature circle class.

Literature Circle Roles

Discussion Director • creates questions to increase comprehension • asks who, what, why, when, where, how, and what if

Vocabulary Enricher • clarifies word meanings and pronunciations (5 words / class)• writes how the word was used in the book and looks up the word in the dictionary

Literary Luminary • locates three sections of the passage to share with the group and states the reasons for choosing the selections. • examines figurative language, parts of speech, and vivid descriptions

Checker • checks for completion of assignments • helps monitor discussion for equal participation • evaluates participation

9. Post- Reading: Write a short story using the five senses

10. Cooking Class

The object we call a book is not the real book, but its potential, like a musical score or seed. It exists fully only in the act of being

read; and its real home is inside the head of the reader, where the symphony resounds, the seed germinates. A book is a heart

that only beats in the chest of another.

– Rebecca Solnit

Thank you!Email: malusciamarelli@gmail.com

Website: www.malusciamarelli.weebly. com

The C Group: http://thecreativitygroup.weebly.com

Book sculptures by Su Blackwell:http://www.sublackwell.co.uk