Applying Icons of Depth and Complexity and Content Imperatives
Most students don’t understand the background of Veterans Day and simply take for granted that they get a day off from school. Help your students learn the history and build appreciation for the holiday.
There are three different versions of the frame to download, including one blank so students can write their own questions. Download Veteran’s Day Frames (3 versions).
Background information on Veterans Day can be found at the Department of Veterans Affairs https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp
History.Com http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-veterans-day
Download Frame Dia de los muertos 3-Sided Frame
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Apply Depth and Complexity- Oscar’s Enormous Purr
Have students apply the icons of depth and complexity to the 2nd Grade HM read aloud, Oscar’s Enormous Purr by Jeanne Richardson Rondoe. Guided by the teacher, students identify words and details (actions) from the story to determine the perspective of the characters in the story. They also identify the perspective of the main character, Oscar, and how his perspective is related to other characters in the story. Finally, students will determine how and why the perspectives of the characters change over time.
Teacher Model- Depth and Complexity Oscar’s Enormous Purr
Teach Students to “Read” the Cover of a Book Using Depth and Complexity Icons
We all know the importance of having students read the title and look at the cover of book. Don’t stop there! Consider pushing them one step further by using the elements of Depth and Complexity. So you notice the title… but what does it mean? What about the details in the pictures? Beyond being entertaining, what do they tell us? What can we learn from the cover before we open the book? Click on the details icon to read more.
Think about the power this gives a student before reading. This sets the stage, because they already have a general understanding of the plot before the first page. This frees up cognitive energy to understand the story and its message at a deeper level.
Consider the importance of words in a title. The Recess Queen: “Queen” is an important word in this title that reveals a great deal about the story. A queen rules things.
When I look closely at the details of the pictures, I can tell which character is the queen (the one wearing the crown!). I can gather a lot of information from the details that tell me not only about her demeanor, but also the perspectives of the other students around her. This girl obviously rules the playground. It is fairly easy to predict the conflict without even opening the book.
What’s in a Name?
Using Depth and Complexity Icons to Better Understand Ourselves and Influence How We Treat Others
I opened this lesson by introducing the rationale that by looking at situations through multiple perspectives helps us understand the impact we have on ourselves and each other.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit“. These words, from Aristotle help to remind students to build good habits and work toward excellence. This striving for excellence should be an overall mentality and not isolated to how students perform academically. Students need to be reminded of the tremendous power they have as individuals. Their behavior, good or bad, may have a rippling impact beyond what they imagine. In fact, how we treat others says a great deal about who we are as people.
Together we examined how rules (both written and unwritten) serve a purpose. We also looked at how words have the power to impact others, and the importance of patterns in behavior. After going through this process as a class (seen left), students responded in writing to what it meant to them.
Close Read Images Using Depth and Complexity Icons
Download File Multiple Perspectives Blank
By the Great Horn Spoon – Jack’s Perspective vs Aunt Arabella
Using Multiple Critical Thinking Tools of Depth and Complexity and Content Imperatives
A great example of how students used the depth and complexity critical thinking tools to gain a deeper understanding of a concept. This was a project completed by two 5th grade students. Notice how they integrated ethical issues, change over time, and contribution, among others.
Students used multiple depth and complexity and content imperative tools to analyze the story, Ben and Me.
Depth and Complexity and Content Imperative Frames
More Depth and Complexity and Content Imperatives
Download the file here. Double Frame With Depth and Complexity
