"A" is Awesome

Materials: copy of book, The Absolutely Awful Alphabets by Mordicai Gerstein; chart paper, whiteboard, etc., marker, paper for each student, pencil for each student; digital camera(s) access to word processing program, printer

Procedure:
1. Read book, The Absolutely Awful Alphabets by Mordicai Gerstein.
2. Present idea to the students that maybe the alphabet was having a bad and that on another day, they may be seen behaving more positively. Using white board, chart paper, etc. and marker, solicit ideas of positive characteristics of the alphabets such as “A is Awesome!”, B is Brave!”.
3. Write student ideas on board or chart. Then have students write their idea on paper. (Depending on grade level, students may just write their idea on paper and chart may not be necessary. Younger students may need the help with spelling.
4. Students are then paired with a partner (or trios). Students are to walk around the school looking for the “alphabets”. The class may take a trip to the playground where many alphabets hide. (A may be a tree limb attached to the tree, X may be a fence link, etc.)
5. Once students find their alphabet, they will take a digital picture of their alphabet.
6. At the computer, students will upload their picture and type the sentence.
7. Once each student’s alphabet and sentence are printed, all the printed pages may be bound into a class book, or strung along on a clothes line.