Ryan Bromwell Science Department rbromwellloyolablakefieldorg Book Title The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey Players Me Advanced Honors Biology 9 th graders Semester long project ID: 405624
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "The Sound of a Wild Snail in the Biology..." is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
The Sound of a Wild Snail in the Biology Classroom
Ryan Bromwell
Science Department rbromwell@loyolablakefield.orgSlide2
Book TitleThe Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova BaileyPlayersMeAdvanced Honors Biology 9
th graders Semester long projectExpanded to Migratory Book Project in its 2nd yearAuthor collaborationComponents
Individual Reading assignmentsReflection questions collected via Google Drive (formerly Google Docs)Classroom discussionSkype with the AuthorComing soon! – Migratory Book Project
Overview of the ‘Snail Project’Slide3
Origin of the Project(or Why Did I Pick a Book About a Snail!?)Be careful what you listen to on NPR!
Personal enjoyment – translates into classroom enthusiasmFilled a void – vehicle to achieve a particular objectiveSlide4
So What Is This Book About?
In a work that beautifully demonstrates the rewards of closely observing nature, Elisabeth Bailey shares an inspiring and intimate story of her encounter with a Neohelix albolabris – a common woodland snail.
While an illness keeps her bedridden, Bailey watches a wild snail that has taken up residence on her nightstand. As a result, she discovers the solace and sense of wonder that this mysterious creature brings and comes to a greater understanding of her own confined space in the world.Intrigued by the snail’s molluscan
anatomy, cryptic defenses, clear decision making, hydraulic locomotion, and mysterious courtship activities, Bailey becomes an astute and amused observer, offering a candid and engaging look into the curious life of this underappreciated small animal.
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
is a remarkable journey of survival and resilience, showing us how a small part of the natural world illuminates our own
Existence and provides an appreciation of what it means to be fully alive.Slide5
Acclaim for the Book(Apparently Other People Are Reading Books About Snails Too)
Book AwardsWilliam Saroyan International Prize for Nonfiction 2012John Burroughs Medal Award 2001 for Distinguished Natural HistoryNational Outdoor Book Award for 2010 in Natural History Literature
Selected Book ListsGreat Titles to add to the New York Times Best of 2010 Lists – The Huffington PostTop Ten Science & Technology Books for 2010 –
BOOKLIST
by the American Library Association
Memoirs That Will Last: Collection Department –
Library Journal, 2013Slide6
Worldwide EditionsSlide7
Appreciation for the natural worldDevelop observational skillsFoster an understanding of the connections that humans innately have with the natural worldInitial Objectives
(…because things always change)Slide8
Concurrent with the curriculum but not necessarily integrated.Weeklong assignments – roughly 25 pagesStudents expected to respond to questions posed on Google Drive survey or to complete the activities provided.Student Reading AssignmentsSlide9
Student Reflection
(or How I Figured Out if the Students Actual Read and What Were They Thinking?)
Google Drive Survey ToolsOnline SurveysSlide10
Oh, But It Got More Involved!
Online Survey – Part 2
Each set of reflection questions/ activities built upon the theme of each particular part of the book.
J
FK
-
Adolescent Observation Times
MEAN – just under 13 minutes
MEDIAN – 12.5 minutes
MAX – 27 minutes
MIN – 7 minutesSlide11
Interesting Responses…(The Ordinary)
"This is my brother reading a book in his roomHe
would always make a noise with his mouth while reading, whether humming or making a popping noise.He would spin in his chair a lot, but then would suddenly stop, as if he reached an interesting part.
He
would either scratch his neck or run his fingers through his hair a lot
.
He
would check his watch often, as if to check how long he had been reading
.
Whenever
he heard a noise, he would look at his closet, not at the door."Slide12
Interesting Responses…(The Special Occasion)
"At the wedding:One guy kept taking pictures with the cap onThe
people that kept going to the bar were really red at the end of the nightThe Junior bridesmaid kept taking her shoes off then putting them back onMy brother kept taking
mints
My
brother kept putting salt in my dad's water"Slide13
Interesting Responses(The Enlightened Observer)
"I observed people on a bus ride. One person was blowing pink bubble gum, but not only that, he was blowing a bubble inside a bubble. The bubble popped and left sticky residue on his face. Also, I saw one kid with his shiny, black phone in his hands. He was playing Doodle Jump and had a score of 13,355. I also observed that half the people on the bus were listening to iPods, but also half these people were asleep which I wouldn't have realized if I had not been paying close attention. I looked at an upperclassman's tie which was green and yellow. I hadn't realized that the tie had lacrosse sticks on it until I gave it second look. Finally on my way off the school bus, I saw a kid fall. What really happened was a middle-
schooler stuck his foot out and tried to trip him on purpose. I realized this because the kid that tripped him started to giggle soon after."Slide14
Other Integrated Topics..(or Where a Trade Book Can Easily Take You That A Textbook Might Not)
Bioengineering – i.e. the kingfisher and the bullet trainFractals, Logarithms, and the Fibonacci sequenceLatin – and why learning it helps you in scienceYour five senses Empathy vs. SympathyAnimal Reproduction – the weird, bizarre, and outright ‘ouch!’Slide15
Meeting the Author 40 minute Skype sessionStudents brainstormed, narrowed, and finalized questions to ask of Ms. BaileySelected book reading
2nd year – Discussed the Migratory Book ProjectSlide16Slide17
Sampling of Student QuestionsHealth Did the doctors ever diagnose you officially with a disease?How are you feeling now? Will you ever be able to at least come close to fully functioning again?
Natural WorldDo you respect bugs more now that you have connected with the snail?
Do you still keep snails at home as of now?What is your favorite characteristic of the snail?
Writing
Why did you decide to write this book?
Did you ever want to stop writing about the snail?
you as the snail?Slide18
Sampling of Student QuestionsPerspectiveDo you feel completely caught up to the world yet or do you still feel as if you’re still getting back into the swing of things?
How much time do you spend in nature quietly relaxing every day?Do you wish you had not gotten the disease?How would you compare your relationship to the snail with a relationship that we might experience in everyday life?Would you change anything in your past if you had the chance
?Slide19
Migratory Book ProjectPremiseWhat if you left this book in public for anyone to take, read, and pass on?What would happen?Who would read it?Would the experiment work?
New Directions(So You Just Leave the Book There?)Slide20
Focused on two main questions:How do books move through society?What about this book is relevant to readers
?Essential Questions(or So What Do You Want to Know About People and a Book About Snails?)Slide21
How do books move through society?Where a book is placed will influence whether it is read and who will read it.Person to person transfer will be more effective than simply leaving it in public.Estimated project will last 9 months at maximum with only 15% of books in circulation for this duration.
Essential Answers(It’s a Science Class – Students Have to Make Hypotheses?)Slide22
What about this book is relevant to readers?Book will appeal most to people who are elderly or infirm or who share the similar demographics as the author (female, middle-aged, married)People who do not like the book, will stop reading and may not complete the on-line survey thus skewing results.Girls will prefer over boys
Unemployed, retired, or ‘empty nesters’ will preferEssential Answers(It’s a Science Class – Students Have to Make Hypotheses?)Slide23
Launch – September 201335 studentsSurvey Tool – Using Google Drive to collect voluntary dataNext wave to be launched in Winter 2014What’s Next?Slide24
To receive a complimentary desk copy of The Sound of a Wild Snail Eatingfor curriculum consideration contact:Michael Rockliff
Director, School & Library Sales and MarketingWorkman Publishing Company (Algonquin Books)225 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014-4381212-614-75721-800-722-7202 x 7572
mrockliff@workman.com
Also, Ms. Bailey is available via e-mail contact from her website
www.elisabethtovabailey.com
Would You Like to Use the ‘Snail Book’ Too?