ELECTIVE TWO: EXPLORING TRANSITIONS
Related text:
'Belonging' By Jeannie Baker
Synopsis
'Belonging' is a wordless picture book and companion book to Baker's earlier book, 'Window'. Throughout the picture book 'Belonging', an alienating city street gradually becomes a place to call home. Little by little, baby Tracy grows. She and her neighbours begin to rescue their street. Together, children and adults plant grass, trees and bushes in the empty spaces. They paint murals over old graffiti. They stop the cars. Everything begins to blossom. 'Belonging' explores the re-greening of the city: the role of community, the empowerment of people and the significance of children, family and neighbourhood in changing their urban environment . The streets gradually become places for safe children's play, and community activity and places for nature and wonder. ' For more information regarding the Baker's picture book 'Belonging' please see the following link: http://www.jeanniebaker.com/focus_web/belonging_interview.htm Publishing details/ Reference: Baker, J. (2004). Belonging. United Kingdom: Walker Books Kingsley, Jonathan ‘Yotti’ & Townsend, Mardie. “ ‘Dig In’ to Social Capital: Community Gardens as Mechanisms for Growing Urban Social Connectedness.” Urban Policy and Research. 24.4 (2006) : 525-537. Web. |
How will the picture book 'Belonging' enrich the study of 'The Story of Tom Brennan' in the context of exploring transitions?
'Belonging' explores a range of transitions: - Like 'The Story of Tom Brennan', the picture book 'Belonging' traces the effects of new and provocative experiences upon the individual and family unit. i.e Tom's family unit are forced to move from their home town of Mumbilli as a result of their treatment, guilt and shame.The change in setting acts as a catalyst for a new view on life and new opportunities/experiences for Tom. Similarly, Tracey's family are confronted with the detrimental effects of consumerism on the urban environment they call home. -Like 'The Story of Tom Brennan', "Belonging' shifts between the present and the past. i.e. As 'Belonging' progresses we see Tracy transform from a baby to an adult who brings back her own child, all the whilst the environment surrounding her transforms. - Transition/change of self: Tracy growing from a baby to a young adult wearing make-up, to a mature 22 year old woman. - Transition of society: as Tracy grows we can see a change in the social cohesiveness of the community in which she lives. -Transition of the physical environment from a predominately 'built' environment toward a 'green', natural environment. -Changes in the geographical setting appears to create a warm, inviting social setting. - Using 'Belonging' as a related text would ultimately enrich a students study of 'The Story of Tom Brennan' as it provides students with a text that has differing forms and features which would make comparing and contrasting more accessible. - Additionally, students will be able to identify the connections which exist between the two text. I.e The effects of a change in geographical location. Sample analysis of the 'transition' of the environment: Jeannie Baker’s picture book Belonging depicts the detrimental effects that urban growth and development have had upon communities on environmental, social and political levels. It could be argued that the representation of nature and the favourable reaction of one community to the effects of urbanisation whereby an idyllic, sustainable future is ultimately presented lends itself to a Utopian interpretation of the text Belonging. From the outset of Belonging, the absence of written text directs readers solely to the interpretation of illustrations, signs and symbols in order to gain an understanding of the text itself and the issues it presents. In addition, it is important to note that the window through which the story progresses should not be considered as merely a window but rather an observation device through which the changing environment, community and the little girl Tracey are viewed. 'Belonging' appears to be an attempt at redirecting increasingly urbanised communities back to nature with the premise that in doing so they will enjoy an increased level of social cohesion. |
Teaching Strategy
Outcomes:
2. A students demonstrates understanding of the relationship among texts.
4. A student describes and analyses the ways that language forms and features, and structures of text shape meaning and influence responses
Activity:
Students are divided into groups of 3 and assigned one of the first and last pages in the book 'Belonging'.
Students are then to:
1) Identify and account for the changes to both Lucy and her community observed between the two pages.
2) With the aid of the 'Visual Literacy Techniques' powerpoint, students are to complete the table by identifying visual techniques from the picture book 'Belonging'. Students are to account for the effects of these techniques with examples from 'Belonging'. Finally, students are to describe how their examples relate to the concept of transitions as well as 'The Story of Tom Brennan'.
Example:
Through compare and contrast of Baker’s first window with the last two windows it becomes clear that when urbanisation is interweaved with a collective appreciation for the environment social cohesion begins to form.
Students, please click on file for visual literacy PPT
Outcomes:
2. A students demonstrates understanding of the relationship among texts.
4. A student describes and analyses the ways that language forms and features, and structures of text shape meaning and influence responses
Activity:
Students are divided into groups of 3 and assigned one of the first and last pages in the book 'Belonging'.
Students are then to:
1) Identify and account for the changes to both Lucy and her community observed between the two pages.
2) With the aid of the 'Visual Literacy Techniques' powerpoint, students are to complete the table by identifying visual techniques from the picture book 'Belonging'. Students are to account for the effects of these techniques with examples from 'Belonging'. Finally, students are to describe how their examples relate to the concept of transitions as well as 'The Story of Tom Brennan'.
Example:
Through compare and contrast of Baker’s first window with the last two windows it becomes clear that when urbanisation is interweaved with a collective appreciation for the environment social cohesion begins to form.
Students, please click on file for visual literacy PPT
visual_literacy.pptx | |
File Size: | 2890 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Justification:
This teaching strategy will enrich students study of 'The Story of Tom Brennan' in the context of transitions as it forces students to draw out visual literacy techniques from the text 'Belonging', and comment upon the effects of these techniques. In effect, the first two boxes from the table ask students to describe and analyse the ways that language forms and features, and structures of text shape meaning and influence responses. Along with identifying techniques, the table, specifically the last box which asks students to relate their example to the concept of 'transition' and 'The Story of Tom Brennan' asks students to draw out thematic similarities from both texts. In doing so, students demonstrate understanding of the relationships among texts.
This teaching strategy will enrich students study of 'The Story of Tom Brennan' in the context of transitions as it forces students to draw out visual literacy techniques from the text 'Belonging', and comment upon the effects of these techniques. In effect, the first two boxes from the table ask students to describe and analyse the ways that language forms and features, and structures of text shape meaning and influence responses. Along with identifying techniques, the table, specifically the last box which asks students to relate their example to the concept of 'transition' and 'The Story of Tom Brennan' asks students to draw out thematic similarities from both texts. In doing so, students demonstrate understanding of the relationships among texts.