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There is much more to explore in our calendar. Find other important events in literary history, authors' birthdays, and a variety of holidays, each with related lessons and resources.
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Home › Classroom Resources › Calendar Activities
March 22
Randolph Caldecott was born on March 22, 1846.
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| Grades | K – 12 |
| Calendar Activity Type | Literacy-Related Event |
Randolph Caldecott was a British artist whose illustrations delighted young Victorian readers. In addition to his children's books, Caldecott also illustrated novels, created humorous drawings and cartoons, and sketched Parliament. His sculptures and paintings were exhibited in the Royal Academy and art galleries. The Caldecott Medal, named in his honor, has recognized the best illustrators in children's literature since 1938.
Create a classroom literary award modeled after the Caldecott Medal. Begin by having your students explore the history of the Caldecott and review the criteria used for selection of Caldecott winners and honor books. Then have students work in small groups or as a whole group to create a class award:
- Select a name for the award. This may be based on the school name or mascot, or students may want to honor a student, staff member, or even their favorite author/illustrator.
- Decide on selection criteria and create a written document.
- Design the award, in the form of a ribbon, medal, or certificate.
- Select a book from those read during the school year or a previous year. Have students nominate their favorites, and then write essays justifying their selections. After essays have been read aloud, have the class vote on their choice.
Share your selection with your school with a display outside your classroom or in the school library. You may wish to have students "present" the award by locating author websites to contact the authors of the selected books.
- The Randolph Caldecott Medal
The American Library Association provides information on the Caldecott Medal and Randolph Caldecott. Link to related resources, including a list of winners from 1938 to the present.
- Randolph Caldecott
The Randolph Caldecott Society of America offers this page, detailing the life and work of Randolph Caldecott.
- 2008 ALA Awards
Kidsreads offers information about the ALA 2008 awards, including the Caldecott Medal, honoring the best books published in 2007.
- The Caldecott Medal
This site offers biographies of Caldecott Medal winners, as well as links to reviews of their books, primarily at Amazon.com.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Using Snowflake Bentley as a Framing Text for Multigenre Writing
Using Snowflake Bentley as a model, students create a working definition of multigenre text and then use that definition to create their own multigenre piece about winter or another theme.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Unwinding A Circular Plot: Prediction Strategies in Reading and Writing
Students use graphic organizers to explore plot in circular stories while focusing on prediction and sequencing. After exploring the features of circular plot stories, students write their own stories.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Mind Pictures: Strategies That Enhance Mental Imagery While Reading
Students create mental images while reading using a three-pronged approach: developing schemata and visual awareness; Watch-Read-Watch-Read (W-R-W-R), using video clips; and a strategy similar to the think-aloud approach.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Postmodern Picture Books in Middle School
Students analyze the structure of a postmodern picture book, Black and White, to uncover how authors create unexpected plots and connections and form relationships between words and illustrations.
