Discussion

Tne book we revisited many times was Polar the Titanic Bear  by Daisy Corning Stone Spedden; a story based on the true life experiences of a survivor of the Titanic and her young son. This book sparked many discussions about water safety, dispelling the Hollywood version of what happened, the importance of ships in the past, and how children's lives are different now versus then. Some children designed water safety posters, others acted out the story in the puppet theater, while others built models of the Titanic. The children internalized the idea of water safety. The children's later work showed people wearing life jackets when in boats; even the plasticine renderings.

The book Abbie Against the Storm by Marcia Vaugn was another favorite. The children were fascinated the power of water and the sea. This true story is a portrayal of a young girl's manning a lighthouse at the turn of the century. At the block center model light houses were built and the children acted out daring rescues.

Back to Phase Two