We are currently reading the book, Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. We focus on several skills while reading the book. One of these skills is visualization. In this book, Gary Paulsen uses a ton of descriptive writing. We reread a section of the book and then the students had to use watercolor paints to show what they saw as they read this descriptive passage. We discussed and compared our visualizations in table groups and then displayed them in the hallway.
They turned out pretty good for our first try!
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Have you ever read Brian’s Winter? It is the book that would come at the end of Hatchet if he did not get rescued. So good! I did this book with my highest reading group several years ago (when I taught reading) and it was a great read for both me and my students!
I love your idea of using visualization as a creative way to engage students in a novel. It allows each student to interpret descriptive passages in a unique way. Comparing and discussing their interpretations encourages them to share their thoughts and participate in a positive way. Love the display of their work!