Fish in a tree, by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Hunt, Lynda Mullaly. Fish in a tree. New York: Puffin Books, 2015.
Lexile Level: 550L

	To see critical acclaim, visit http://www.lyndamullalyhunt.com/books/fish-in-a-tree/ Selling tool: A Character Interview with Ally Nickerson, 6th Grade Fantastico and creative person extraordinaire

Q1: Ally, what advice would you give to kids who struggle with reading?

A1: First of all, you are not alone! Just because you get headaches when you read, or the letters crawl all over the page doesn’t mean that you are dumb. Some kids, and even adults might treat you like you are dumb but don’t let them get to you. Find someone who cares about you and don’t be afraid to admit when you need help.

Q2: Describe the feeling you get when you stick up for someone.

A2: Sticking up for a friend, or even someone you don’t know can be scary! There’s something in your gut that tells you it’s the right thing to do, and if you do it, your heart might race, you might feel like running away and hiding, or you might feel angry towards the bullies. All of these feelings are normal, and I would suggest that everyone should try to stick up for someone the very next chance you get. I’m so glad that someone decided to stick up for me!

Q3: What does it feel like to know someone believes in you?

A3: My story, Fish in a Tree, was possible because someone believed in me. Sometimes it can be hard to accept that someone believes in you, especially if you don’t believe in yourself. Now I can ignore the small voice in my head that says I’m dumb, and I believe the positive things instead: like I am creative, clever, persistent and kind.

Q4: What’s your favorite quote?

A4: “Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking that it’s stupid.”

--Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Fish in a Tree     

Learning Activity:

In the novel FIAT, Ally, the main character, talks about what she calls “mind movies.” Often, she will get lost in thought and before she realizes, she is directing a movie in her own head. She thinks this is one of the reasons she is good at things like drawing.

In this activity, geared for a public library book group, kids will create a movie centered on something they feel is hard for them. For example, Ally has a hard time reading. This activity will help students creatively express something that they normally keep to themselves and may feel bad about. If students have a difficult time admitting or finding a topic on their own, the librarian can give suggestions that they can choose from, regardless of whether or not they personally find it a struggle.

Worries: 

·         Speaking in front of the class

·         Sticking up for someone when they are being picked on

·         Sharing their opinion

·         Making friends

·         What people think of them

·         Teachers

·         Family troubles

·         The future

·         Etc…

Movie Specs:

·         Movies can made on any of the free websites listed in the box:

http://www.powtoon.com/ http://www.animaker.com/ http://wideo.co/ http://goanimate.com/ http://animoto.com/ https://www.moovly.com/ http://www.stupeflix.com/ iMovie on Mac or iPhone/iPad (Thank you Shannon Mersand for these great resources!)

·         Movies must have beginning, middle and end

·         Movies must be 3-5 minutes long

·         Movies may be live action or animated

Presentation:

At the conclusion of the movie-making, we will hold a red carpet event in which kids will see their movies and their classmates’ movies displayed on the big screen. (      Thank you Kristin Charles-Scaringi, Kingston Library for the red carpet idea!)

Standards, Goals, Outcomes and Objectives:

Learning Standards	6a Students choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication. 6b Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.
Learning Goal	Students will express a challenge through digital media.
Learning Outcome	Students will direct a movie/animation related to a fear, challenge, or struggle they, or others may face.
Learning Objectives	Students will direct a movie/animation related to a fear, challenge, or struggle they, or others may face, and will effectively communicate the challenge to their peers in a film viewing.

 

Resources:

http://www.iste.org/standards/for-students under 6

International Society for Technology in Education

Creative Communicator

Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.