AUTHOR CONNECTIONS:
About his youth, Paul Fleischman writes: "I was exposed to books, but was not
a reader and certainly had no plans to be a writer." He spent his childhood days
in Santa Monica, California, riding his bike, playing at the beach, and searching
in neighborhood alleys for "neat stuff." All these activities shape and influence
Paul Fleischman the writer, for he maintains that his experiences growing up are
an integral part of his books for children and young adults. Passionate about
music, history, and nature, Fleischman has written highly acclaimed books on these
subjects; more importantly, they are books that children and young adults savor
reading. Fleischman garnered the 1989 Newbery Medal for his Joyful Noise: Poems
for Two Voices, a slim volume that celebrates the insect world.Click here
for more www.paulfleischman.net.
CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS:
 Listening
to WHIRLIGIG serves as a perfect introduction for an author study on Paul Fleischman.
Many other books - and audiobooks - by this critically acclaimed author will become
the subject matter for this study. Divide class into five or six small groups,
assigning each group a Fleischman novel or audiobook. Originality and versatility
mark Fleischman's impressive body of work, which includes the audiobook BULL RUN,
Townsend's Warbler (1992), Dateline: Troy (1996), Seedfolks
(1997), and Mind's Eye (1999). Each small group will share with the whole
class the following about its assigned title: genre type, thematic concerns, synopsis,
and discuss specific passages that contain some of Fleischman's rich and figurative
language.
At the novel's end, Brent Bishop thinks of creating other whirligigs, perhaps
even beginning a "lifetime project of putting one up in every state." Have each
student in the class select a state not yet visited by Brent, make a drawing of
an original whirligig, and then write a creative anecdote that takes place in
that particular state. Students' stories should continue Brent's journey of making
whirligigs and setting them up in the United States, so that Lea Zamora's tributes
- as desired by her mother - will spread joy to people all over the country. Compile
the whirligig drawings and creative stories into one volume.
Have
each student make a character web for Brent Bishop, which identifies some of his
character traits. Below each trait cite specific parts from the text that demonstrate
each of the traits. Have students add to their character webs as they learn more
about Brent's growth and development as the protagonist. Use the completed webs
to enable students to craft individual essays about how Brent Bishop's character
changed and evolved throughout the novel. Display character webs and essays on
bulletin board in classroom.
Fleischman
mentions music quite frequently throughout WHIRLIGIG. Have students find as many
examples as possible in which the author introduces names of songs or musical
instruments. Record them on paper, then discuss the significance of the role of
music in the story. How is that related to the growth and development of Brent
Bishop? Invite classroom musicians to perform a concert for the rest of the class.
Have
students brainstorm creative alternatives to teens drinking together at parties.
As a class, select five of the favorite alternatives; divide class into five small
groups and assign each group the task of creating an entire party that revolves
around their selected alternative to drinking. All groups should plan specific
details about their parties, offering activities, foods and drinks to be consumed,
and even costs of their events.
Reading Richard Henry Dana's Two Years Before the Mast profoundly moves
Brent Bishop. The German youth Brent met at the hostel had given him the book
and Brent later traded it for another at the campground office's book exchange
shelf. Have students create their own "Book Exchange Corner" in their classroom;
they may take as many titles as they donate to the corner. Provide bulletin board
space nearby for student-generated book reviews of those that they've read. This
may also be an ideal time to introduce the literary term, allusion; discuss its
definition and function
INTERNET CONNECTIONS:
 Just
One Night
http://www.pbs.org/justone/
This site shares the unforgettable story of an adult from New Hampshire, who,
while drinking one evening, got behind the driver's wheel, only to become responsible
for a fatal accident. Individual state laws, educational resources, and sobering
facts about drinking and driving comprise part of the knowledge available to an
adolescent audience.
Stately
Knowledge
http://www.ipl.org/youth/stateknow/
These World Wide Web pages share general information about all fifty states,
knowledge about famous people who hail from a particular state, and three other
links as resources to teachers and their students.
From
Windmills to Whirligigs
http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/vollis/index/frontvollis.html
Affiliated with the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Web site creatively combines
science and art as it offers project plans for a variety of whirligigs, most of
which use ordinary household materials. Here educators and students will find
worthwhile information presented in an attractive, engaging format.
Be
A Stargazer
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worlds/stargazer.html
Stellar NOVA Web site for amateur and backyard astronomers; includes tips
on naked-eye sky-watching and planet-gazing. These Web pages may serve as a superb
springboard to begin a scientific unit on astronomy.
FOR FURTHER LISTENING AND READING:
 JOYFUL
NOISE/I AM PHOENIX -POEMS FOR TWO VOICES by Paul Fleischman. Adult and young actors
provide a soaring, energetic musicality into this Newbery Medal winner (Joyful
Noise) book of performance poems for two people. UNABRIDGED
AUDIO CASSETTE AND CD and books available from Audio Bookshelf.
BULL
RUN: Paul Fleischman's award-winning historical fiction as an UNABRIDGED
AUDIOBOOK offers listeners an inimitable account of the American Civil
War's first battle. The sixteen distinct voices include Northerners, Southerners,
generals, infantrymen, runaway slaves, and women, among others: all perspectives
combine to create an unforgettable symphonic performance.
 SEEDFOLKS
by Paul Fleischman. Sixteen separate lives become a community. Unabridged
audiobook and book available from Audio Bookshef.
Behind
the Wheel: Poems About Driving (McElderry Books, 1999) by Janet S. Wong
Driver's
Ed (Delacorte, 1994) by Caroline B. Cooney
Rules
of the Road (Putnam, 1998) by Joan Bauer
Walk
Two Moons (HarperCollins, 1994) by Sharon Creech
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