From: Beth Martin <BMartin>
Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2006 12:29:51 -0500

The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E. L. Konigsburg is one of my very favorite books. As someone already mentioned, it asks the essential question "What is art?" but it also asks "Who gets to decide?" I use this book with reading students in our school and I always begin by setting up an "art" museum in the library. I display items such as orginial paintings, a pinecone, a seashell, bleach bottle craft project, a photograph, a chinese hat, worry dolls....whatever I have on hand. When the students come through I explain what each object is so that they have background knowledge of where it came from and then I ask "Which of these items is art?" A spirited discussion always follows. That sets the tone for reading the book. During the weeks that we read the book, small groups of students choose an extension project that adds to the story. They might take photos of sculptures in our comunity, they might choose to research the Watts towers and present the information to the class, some students investi gate the work of Christo and lead a discussion about his unusual art. I always look forward to reading this book and reconnecting with wonderful Magaret Rose Kane and her uncles but more importantly experiencing how my students connect to art through literature.

Beth Martin Teacher Librarian DC Everest Middle School IMC bmartin at dce.k12.wi.us 715-241-9700 ex.2320
Received on Tue 06 Jun 2006 12:29:51 PM CDT