Category: Nonliguistic Representations

Tite: #13 Sketch to Stretch

Time Needed: 45-60 minutes
Room Arrangement: Cooperative Groups
Materials: A story book, it can be picture book or a longer chapter book, larger piece of paper or
a poster, drawing materials.
Process/Directions: Read story (or several chapters of a longer book) to the class, or have the
students read the story themselves. After reading, have students respond to the story through a
class discussion, small group discussion, or in their reading response journals. Students and
teachers should discuss the themes, settings and characters of the book. Make sure to talk about
ways themes and characteristics can be represented, i.e. lines, shapes, colors, symbols, and
words. Then have the students draw a sketch, remind students that they should focus on what the
story means to them, not the artistic quality or their favorite parts of the book. Then, have
students meet in groups to share their sketches with each other. Encourage some students to try
and figure out what others are trying to convey. The groups will share one sketch each. Then the
students will edit their sketches, using the feedback from their group members, making a final
copy to hang up in the room.
Example of when I would use this: During a study of a novel or after reading a book that I think
is important for my students to understand on a deeper level.
Source:
Tompkins, G. (2009). Sketch to Stretch. In 50 literacy strategies: Step by step (3rd ed.).
Boston: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson.