What is a Book in a bag?
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VideosWhile this strategy is definitely a great one to use, there are not many videos available of people using the strategy. Below is a video of a teacher explaining the project to her class. This teacher gave the book in a bag as an assignment, and added a few more criteria. While she explains her items thoroughly, she could improve in the area of making the book seem more interesting to students, perhaps she gave too much detail away.
The video below features a middle school student's book in a bag project. The student made a highly interesting video, using different parts of his house, and interacting with his bag. He incorporated set components, like main character, setting, and conflict. This is a variation of the "book in a bag" strategy, as the student gives away parts of the book, but it is a nicely put together video.
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Resources:
One variation to this strategy is to have students present a book they've read independently, as a way to promote the book to other students. This could be assigned instead of a traditional book report. Some great ideas and rubrics are available here, here, and here.
How can I use this strategy?
Use this strategy in a reading class, before reading a text. For example, if your class was preparing to read Jack London's Call of the Wild, you would identify 5-7 concepts from the book, and an object or picture to represent each. Then, you would present the box or bag to your students. Pull each object out, and conduct a "think-aloud," ponder how each object could be connected, or what it could represent. The idea is to give the students some information, just enough to get them excited to read!
Alternatively, you could use this strategy in a math class. For example, prior to starting a geometry unit, identify a few key concepts, such as: 3d shapes, angle, area, volume, parallel lines, and the coordinate plane. Then, find objects to represent each concept, maybe a Kleenex box for a 3-D shape. Present your objects to the class, while thinking aloud what each could represent. Get the students to start thinking about how the objects connect to math. |
Incorporate Writing:
Writing can be tied to this strategy in two ways.
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Examples of Book in a Bag
The examples below show two different novels as a "book in a bag" the objects each represent something from the book. The bags in these examples are also decorated to depict the title, author, and main character.
The examples below show two different novels as a "book in a bag" the objects each represent something from the book. The bags in these examples are also decorated to depict the title, author, and main character.
References:
Bithell, S. (n.d.). Fun Book Reports - Paper Bag Book Report. Retrieved May 19, 2015, from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fun-Book-Reports-Paper-Bag-Book-Report-289335
Book in a bag Project. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2015, from http://curry.dadeschools.net/documents/pdf/bookbag.pdf
Book in a bag Project. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2015, from http://curry.dadeschools.net/documents/pdf/bookbag.pdf
Cleaver, S. (n.d.). WeAreTeachers: The Case for Frontloading: Why Kids Should Talk about Texts Before they Read Them. Retrieved May 19, 2015, from http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2014/11/04/the-case-for-frontloading-why-kids-should-talk-about-texts-before-they-read-them
Courtemanche, A. (2014, January 14). Book in a Bag Presentation Demo. Retrieved May 19, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrePRs0bUpY
English Language Arts Standards » Writing » Grade 6. (n.d.). Retrieved May 18, 2015, from http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/W/6/
Fulcher, J. (2013, June 9). Book In A Bag - Bee Tree (School Project). Retrieved May 19, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ib9VBfyxQo
Miller, M., & Veatch, N. (2011). Literacy in context (LinC): Choosing instructional strategies to teach reading in content areas for students grades 5-12. Boston: Pearson.
Mills, K. (2012). Paper Bag Book Report and Rubric. Retrieved May 19, 2015, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DshAGkQq-g6Joyd4XrBECWtahL91-lgT1I9NPaN00YY/edit
Bithell, S. (n.d.). Fun Book Reports - Paper Bag Book Report. Retrieved May 19, 2015, from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fun-Book-Reports-Paper-Bag-Book-Report-289335
Book in a bag Project. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2015, from http://curry.dadeschools.net/documents/pdf/bookbag.pdf
Book in a bag Project. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2015, from http://curry.dadeschools.net/documents/pdf/bookbag.pdf
Cleaver, S. (n.d.). WeAreTeachers: The Case for Frontloading: Why Kids Should Talk about Texts Before they Read Them. Retrieved May 19, 2015, from http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2014/11/04/the-case-for-frontloading-why-kids-should-talk-about-texts-before-they-read-them
Courtemanche, A. (2014, January 14). Book in a Bag Presentation Demo. Retrieved May 19, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrePRs0bUpY
English Language Arts Standards » Writing » Grade 6. (n.d.). Retrieved May 18, 2015, from http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/W/6/
Fulcher, J. (2013, June 9). Book In A Bag - Bee Tree (School Project). Retrieved May 19, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ib9VBfyxQo
Miller, M., & Veatch, N. (2011). Literacy in context (LinC): Choosing instructional strategies to teach reading in content areas for students grades 5-12. Boston: Pearson.
Mills, K. (2012). Paper Bag Book Report and Rubric. Retrieved May 19, 2015, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DshAGkQq-g6Joyd4XrBECWtahL91-lgT1I9NPaN00YY/edit