The Art and Science of Hugo Cabret

ELA
Students will keep a dialectic journal of their reading of The Invention of Hugo Cabret to strengthen reading comprehension skills, inference, summarizing, prediction, ability to write detailed descriptions from illustrations, compare and contrast, and vocabulary. Non-fiction reading and research skills will also be honed through related studies of Paris (setting), the author, Georges Melies, and film history.

Art
Students will replicate Caldecott Medal recipient Brian Selznick’s artistic process to create small pencil drawings through sketching and photography. Emphasis will be made on the use of composition, perspective, light and details for artistic purpose.

Film
Students will view clips and learn about the history of film (particularly those described in the novel) as well as the use of cinematic techniques such as montage, mis en scene, editing, and camera angles to tell a story. Students will use flip cameras and imovie to explore these cinematic devices and create their own films. Collaboration and teamwork skills will be strengthened. Flip cameras will also enable students to understand how the illustrations of the novel relate to silent films.

Science / Technology
Students will learn about automata, experiment with gears, cams and levers (simple machines) and use the engineering method to create their own mechanical devices. At the same time students will strengthen their understanding of simple machines, models, and mechanical and sound energy. Flip cameras will be used to create videos of the Automata in action.

Culminating Activity
Students will share their drawings, films and automata in a school-wide celebration of The Invention of Hugo Cabret as well as on the school website.