Complete Final Exam and Post Test.
LESSON 11: CURIOSITY
I Dreamed of Flying Like a Bird written and photographed by Robert B. Haas
With compelling aerial nature photographs, anecdotes, and informational text, I Dreamed of Flying Like a Bird reveals how one photographer's curiosity about the natural world turned into an amazing career. Campers will learn about what you can discover from following your dreams and looking at things from different perspectives.
The Curiosity Unit encourages you to actively explore the world around them. Through books and shared experiences, you will view the world of ideas, information, people, and interactions with wonder, and actively engage in exploration of the world in ways that may challenge your perspectives.
With compelling aerial nature photographs, anecdotes, and informational text, I Dreamed of Flying Like a Bird reveals how one photographer's curiosity about the natural world turned into an amazing career. Campers will learn about what you can discover from following your dreams and looking at things from different perspectives.
The Curiosity Unit encourages you to actively explore the world around them. Through books and shared experiences, you will view the world of ideas, information, people, and interactions with wonder, and actively engage in exploration of the world in ways that may challenge your perspectives.
Quick Write
Thingamabob
Imagine you have come to this planet for the first time from another world. Look around you. What types of strange objects do you see? What do you think they do? One thing you're curious about is a phone that can also take pictures and play games. What else do you see?
Choose an object and write a two-minute news report on what it looks like and what you think it does.
Imagine you have come to this planet for the first time from another world. Look around you. What types of strange objects do you see? What do you think they do? One thing you're curious about is a phone that can also take pictures and play games. What else do you see?
Choose an object and write a two-minute news report on what it looks like and what you think it does.
Vocabulary WORDS OF THE DAY
Review and add these words and definitions to your vocabulary tab:
- aerial (p. 7): in or from high in the air
- critical (p. 7): of extreme importance; key to success
- stampeded (p. 14): wildly rushed movement in a single direction by a mass of animals
- mudflats (p. 57): tracts of land lying just below the surface of water
Reading
Today we start our Curiosity Unit by reading selections from a book of photo essays called I Dreamed of Flying Like a Bird. Being curious helps us connect with texts we read, with the world, and with each other. Robert B. Haas, the author and photographer of today's book, found a career that fulfilled his dreams and helps him satisfy his curiosity about the world.
As we read, we'll share in Haas's amazing discoveries that may inspire you to pursue whatever you are most curious and passionate about.
DURING READING
As you read, pause for discussion as noted below. The first section starts on page 6 and ends on page 21. The second section starts on page 56 and ends on page 59.
AFTER PAGE 9: What part of Haas's job do you find most appealing? Which part sounds the most dangerous? Would you like to be an aerial photographer? Why?
AFTER PAGE 15: How do the photos of the lions and buffalo help you better understand the textual description? What questions do you still have about these animals?
AFTER PAGE 21: How does knowing that Haas was shooting the same scene for "a very long time" make you feel about this photo? How might having patience and determination help you discover new things in your own life?
AFTER PAGE 58: How does the photo on page 56 connect to the text on page 57? How does the author compare the subjects of his photographs with himself? How does this comparison connect to the book's title?
AFTER READING
Robert Haas offers us lessons about curiosity and working to make big dreams come true. Haas also taught us about his job-both its risks and joys and about the many animals he photographed.
As we read, we'll share in Haas's amazing discoveries that may inspire you to pursue whatever you are most curious and passionate about.
- Think about the title of the book. What do you think you'd want to do if you could fly like a bird?
- What do you like to photograph? Why?
DURING READING
As you read, pause for discussion as noted below. The first section starts on page 6 and ends on page 21. The second section starts on page 56 and ends on page 59.
AFTER PAGE 9: What part of Haas's job do you find most appealing? Which part sounds the most dangerous? Would you like to be an aerial photographer? Why?
AFTER PAGE 15: How do the photos of the lions and buffalo help you better understand the textual description? What questions do you still have about these animals?
AFTER PAGE 21: How does knowing that Haas was shooting the same scene for "a very long time" make you feel about this photo? How might having patience and determination help you discover new things in your own life?
AFTER PAGE 58: How does the photo on page 56 connect to the text on page 57? How does the author compare the subjects of his photographs with himself? How does this comparison connect to the book's title?
AFTER READING
Robert Haas offers us lessons about curiosity and working to make big dreams come true. Haas also taught us about his job-both its risks and joys and about the many animals he photographed.
- Which of the photos do you find most fascinating? Why do you feel strongly about it?
- Does the book or Haas's descriptions of his job make you more curious about animals or photography? What would you be interested in exploring?
BRING THE TEXT TO LIFE: Exploring Our Dreams
Everyone has something they are curious about. Have you ever dreamed about doing something you have never done before? It might be surfing the ocean, riding a roller coaster, or climbing a mountain, for example.
Today, we are going to draw a dream. Jot down an activity you have always dreamed of doing. Next, take the dream you selected and draw an illustration of it. Spend some time thinking about how you can best depict the dream. What do you dream of doing as an adult: Doctor, Firefighter, Zookeeper, Hairdresser, Actor, Scientist, Chef, Author,Artist, Teacher, or Other.
Use plenty of colors and give your drawing a brief caption, just as Haas did in our book today. Don't worry about your drawing skills-just do your best! We are working to make this a judgment-free zone.
Today, we are going to draw a dream. Jot down an activity you have always dreamed of doing. Next, take the dream you selected and draw an illustration of it. Spend some time thinking about how you can best depict the dream. What do you dream of doing as an adult: Doctor, Firefighter, Zookeeper, Hairdresser, Actor, Scientist, Chef, Author,Artist, Teacher, or Other.
Use plenty of colors and give your drawing a brief caption, just as Haas did in our book today. Don't worry about your drawing skills-just do your best! We are working to make this a judgment-free zone.
READING POWER: Analyzing Photographs
You may have heard the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Sometimes that is true. In today's book, we saw just how important photos can be, but we also learned that when photographs are accompanied by supporting text, we get a fuller understanding of what we are seeing. We can see that Haas's spectacular pictures offer great beauty and interest.
Model your thinking as you complete the first row of the "Analyzing Photographs" Graphic Organizer.
In the photo on page 15, we see a herd of buffalo stampeding away from the lions. In the bottom left-hand corner of the photo, one buffalo is not close enough to the herd for protection. We see a charging lion ready to pounce on the buffalo.In the text on page 14, Haas describes what he saw- that one buffalo wasn't fast enough, and a lion was able to "bring it down." While this can't be described as a beautiful scene, it is dramatic and it does contribute to what is seen in the picture.
Today you'll practice building understanding photographs with descriptions in the text.
CLARIFY: Strong readers use photos, illustrations, and other visual elements to help them understand and appreciate texts that they read. In a book such as I Dreamed of Flying Like a Bird, the photos take center stage because they are the focus of the text.
Model your thinking as you complete the first row of the "Analyzing Photographs" Graphic Organizer.
In the photo on page 15, we see a herd of buffalo stampeding away from the lions. In the bottom left-hand corner of the photo, one buffalo is not close enough to the herd for protection. We see a charging lion ready to pounce on the buffalo.In the text on page 14, Haas describes what he saw- that one buffalo wasn't fast enough, and a lion was able to "bring it down." While this can't be described as a beautiful scene, it is dramatic and it does contribute to what is seen in the picture.
Today you'll practice building understanding photographs with descriptions in the text.
CLARIFY: Strong readers use photos, illustrations, and other visual elements to help them understand and appreciate texts that they read. In a book such as I Dreamed of Flying Like a Bird, the photos take center stage because they are the focus of the text.
WRITING POWER: Describe a Photo
The book we read today might inspire you to pursue your dreams and to explore the things you're most curious about.
Think about a career, a job, or an activity that you dream about pursuing as you grow older. Visualize yourself realizing your dream, and write a description of what we might see if we had a camera that could take a photo of you in the future.
For example, if I am curious about sea creatures, I may dream of working as a marine biologist on a large research ship. In this photo of the future, I would be wearing a black wet suit with a yellow oxygen tank on my back, a clear face mask, and giant rubber flippers on my feet, swimming with smiling dolphins.
There would be rays of sunlight streaming through the water, small silver fish swimming around, and the bottom of a ship nearby. I would be smiling behind my mask and giving a thumbs-up. With this visual in my mind, I will use descriptive words to write about how I look fulfilling my dream.
Think about a career, a job, or an activity that you dream about pursuing as you grow older. Visualize yourself realizing your dream, and write a description of what we might see if we had a camera that could take a photo of you in the future.
For example, if I am curious about sea creatures, I may dream of working as a marine biologist on a large research ship. In this photo of the future, I would be wearing a black wet suit with a yellow oxygen tank on my back, a clear face mask, and giant rubber flippers on my feet, swimming with smiling dolphins.
There would be rays of sunlight streaming through the water, small silver fish swimming around, and the bottom of a ship nearby. I would be smiling behind my mask and giving a thumbs-up. With this visual in my mind, I will use descriptive words to write about how I look fulfilling my dream.