Introduction

What do you want to do when you grow up?  You probably have been asked that question a million times!  Perhaps you are interested in becoming a butcher or baker or candlestick maker.  Well, it is never too early to check out all your options!

Our class has been asked by your first and second grade teachers to create ABC books on careers.  The books are to be read by their students.  You will need to read several ABC books. You may also bring in ABC books from your younger years!  While reading these books, look at the author's writing style, the illustrations, and the format of each book.   Come up with an original idea and interesting format for a new ABC book.  This is your challenge!

Help! I need a good book to read!
 
 
 

The Task

Opportunity knocks!
 
 

This is your chance to be an author, illustrator, editor, and/or publisher.

Are you ready to DAZZLEyour future readers with your creativity?

• Read the books Q is For Duck: An Alphabet Guessing Game  by  Mary Elting and  The Z Was Zapped by Chris VanAllsburg.

• Read a variety of other ABC books to analyze style, format, and illustrations.

• Collect information and illustrations for the subject chosen for each letter.

• Create the format of the book.

• Write and illustrate the final copy.

• Bind your book!

Resources

Q is For Duck:  An Alphabet Guessing Game (Elting, Mary)
The Z Was Zapped (Van Allsburg, Chris)
Alpha Bugs:  A Pop-up Alphabet (Carter, David)
Brought to You by the Letter_____ (Sesame Street)
The Ocean Alphabet Book (Pallota, Jerry)

BLS Career Information
Do you like Math? Music? Science?  At this site you can investigate future careers for kids in Math, Music, Science, and many more areas of interest!

What Do They Do?
Find out about over fifty careers at this site.

WOW Careers
Read about an occupation from interviews of real people!

eXploring Careers
Visit the  Job of the Month and Career Families (business, health, arts, etc.)
 
 

The Process

Your will work groups of 3-4 students assigned by your teacher.  Browse through the various alphabet books available. Compare the format, author's writing style, and illustrations.  With your group members, discuss and decide the format of your ABC book. Be sure to check out the Book Rubric and Group Participation Rubric.

Each group member should choose letters of the alphabet to research for careers.  Prepare a rough draft of the pages that are your responsibilty.  Make sure that each letter (career) has 2-4 sentences of information about that career.  You also need to have an illustration for each letter.

The group will need to assign roles for each of the members.

Share your book with your classmates and the first and second graders!.
 

Evaluation

• The teacher will evaluate your group with the Book Rubric. Hopefully, you will check out the expectations before you hand in your complete ABC book.

• The Group Participation Rubric will be filled out by you.  In addition, each of your group members will also complete it.

• Each group member will need to e-mail the teacher.  Answer these questions: "What did you learn from this experience?" and "How can we improve this activity?"        Mrs. Cryder's e-mail

Conclusion

ABC...Is This the Job For Me? 

Perhaps one day you will become an author, illustrator, publisher, or editor!  In the meantime you will learn a great deal about many other careers.

                  BEST SELLER   with first graders!

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