Modeling

           
      We come across models in all shapes and sizes, as well as many forms.  The use of modeling can display the physical properties or functions of an object, idea, or concept in an accessible form.   Root Bernstein shares that "Modeling requires and therefore teaches us many imaginative skills." (Sparks of Genius. p. 230).  Modeling is an essential tool that allows us to gain a deeper understanding of something that we might not be able to see or easily experience otherwise. Models are shared in many disciplines to creatively provide a representation of an idea or concept to others.

    One of the things we do very often in the elementary grades is the use of modeling.  Teachers can use modeling to provide a simplified representation of a complex topic.  A physical representation, such as groups of blocks, can be provided to explain the concept of multiplication. Students also use models to creatively demonstrate what they understand on a particular concept or topic.  It provides a tangible example of the learning that is taking place..  For example, students can create pictures as a model for understanding of the setting of a story.    Root -Bernstein explains that "Perhaps the most important thing that modeling does is to provide the modeler with complete control of a situation, object, or idea- or conversely, to reveal explicitly where control or understanding is lacking." Sparks of Genius, p. 230.  It is so important to provide many opportunities for modeling in the elementary classroom for both the students and the teacher.

     One of my favorite genres to teach to my elementary students is the fantasy genre.  They have spent so much time while they were young pretending to be wizards, princesses, magicians, and many other characters that we see in fantasy novels.  There is a great quote by Kylen Beers that states   "Youngsters grow up believing in fantasy.  They wish on candles, wait for tooth fairies, talk to their stuffed animals and play with imaginary friends".  Students are now reading fantasy novels that provide a deeper perspective of the fantasy  genre than their original ideas as a young child.  Students will  apply their beliefs and comprehension of fantasy into a tangible model for others to see their understanding.

    Creating a model for the fantasy genre provides an accessible tool that shares the elements that make it a fantasy.  Therefore, just because a story has an evil character doesn't necessarily mean that it is a fantasy story.  It might just be a realistic fiction story of an evil man that stole something and must go to jail.  A fantasy story provides so much more. In particular, the first model represents the elements of good, evil, magic, and special setting to qualify the story as a part of the fantasy genre.
I chose a two dimensional puzzle as my first model of the elements of fantasy.  I like the idea of a puzzle to represent these elements because they all fit together to create the fantasy story.  Each piece of the puzzle is needed in order for the story to be complete.

For the the next example,  I wanted to zoom in on two particular areas of the puzzle, good vs. evil. I presented a three dimensional model of these two areas in a snow globe. The snow globe provides a container for these elements that work with each other.    Providing two characters in a globe will generate much discussion of these elements of fantasy and how they interrelate with each other.   While the use of the other elements are minimally represented (the sparkle for the  magic and the enclosed snow globe as a representation of a special contained place), the discussion of the fantasy elements represented evolves to include the other elements of the story.   The three dimensional model provides another perspective of these elements.  I look forward to students taking turns using this snow globe to model/represent elements in the story.

      The last example  is a model for discussion of the story elements. I have created a story cube for the students to use to guide their literacy group discussions to include each element of their story.  I believe this story cube will be very effective in generating discussion as well as including examples from all elements.  Each  student will be able to roll the cube and participate in the conversation about the particular element of the story.