"The power to see straight is the rarest of gifts."
John Burroughs

Pilot Studies

Award-winning nonfiction children's book illustrator Bob Marstall and I collaborated on two pilot studies with teachers and students in the Whitney Point (NY) school district. Our work emphasized the skills of organized observation. These key skills taught students to look closely and think carefully about what they were observing and then communicate their new knowledge and understanding through drawing and writing.

Click on the series of slideshows below for an overview of our first collaboration.

1. Professional Development Session

Bob presented an introductory session to students and teachers using examples from his books to investigate and illuminate organized observation. We then provided teachers with a professional development session, which included a project overview and drawing tips.

3. Writing Unit of Study

Students engaged in a narrative nonfiction writing unit that I designed. They learned a narrative structure to develop a story arc and then applied the key skills of organized observation as they conducted research to further develop their arc. Their research emphasis was on producing accurate, detailed drawings and descriptions as they recorded fact-based information.

2. Observation Skills Lessons

After Bob's initial visit, teachers instructed students in the observation techniques, guiding them through a series of inquiry-based lessons with their model organism, the African violet. In addition, students participated in three science-based lessons that focused on the care, structure and life cycle of their flower.

4. Illustration

Bob returned to work with students 6 weeks after his initial visit to teach students his process of illustration. He worked with each group of students toward the goal of producing an 8-page illustrated book, demonstrating, step-by-step, how to create accurate and detailed images based on their words. At our school’s Family Literacy Night, parents were invited to browse the gallery of students' displays.