This comic was first published on my monthly Substack newsletter :)
In celebration of February, the month of luv, I want to tell you about the pups I love and how they live forever in my book illustrations. It’s actually the theme of my next Pencil Pusher Kids Newspaper that snail-mails out in a week or two. But you grownups can enjoy the front page here …
A Starred Review and 25% OFF!
I’m so proud of this star from a really tough cookie … Kirkus! And it’s a fantastic time to pre-order it. These early orders are super helpful to bookmakers like me. THANK YOU to all who order it or tell someone about it!
A Friend’s New Book For Teachers!
Shannon Anderson, a seasoned teacher, author, and long-time writer friend, just released this incredible resource for teachers! Just a few pages in and I’m already salivating…
I highlighted this part because I’ve volunteered in my kid’s writing classes and tried to bring some extra excitement to the class writing assignment at hand. I’m not really sure if I did though. It’s tough to teach this stuff. Heck, I’m still learning it! But I do know that I need AN AUDIENCE THAT CARES ABOUT WHAT I HAVE TO SAY to get to the finish line whether that be in my writing or my art. I’m not the kind of person who makes art for my own pleasure. For me, it’s got to have a purpose, or it’s a no go.
Yes! Show them your strange process, imperfections, and writing struggles!
Sometimes, I still can’t believe I am an author … I have no business writing for a living … Wait! Yes, I do! I have great ideas. Though it may take me more time than others to string the sentences together, I am just as much of a writer as anyone. I don’t care how scholarly you are. Writing is a heart muscle.
Comment on this Substack post for a chance to win this copy of WRITING FROM SCRATCH: Lesson Plans to Boost Your Classroom Writing Instruction by Shannon Anderson!
This post was originally posted on Substack.
Every student can design a piece of the machine!
- Look at the table of contents inside the book, SMASH, CRASH, TOPPLE, ROLL!: The Inventive Rube Goldberg, for inspiration! It stretches over 4 pages that all connect into one long chain reaction machine! All the parts use versions of the 6 simple machines and/or some imaginary components (such as a ghost or a monkey holding bananas in just the right place at the right time)!
2. As a group/class decide what simple task your machine (as a whole) will accomplish. Will it sweep the floor, feed the dog, or something else.?
3. Note who will “start” the machine on (page 1). Use this printable as the first page if you like. Then decide who comes next (page 2), and next (page 3), and so on … and the last person “ends” it and shows the completion of the machine’s “task.”
The starter will only connect with someone else’s chain reaction at the right side of their paper. And the finisher will only connect at the left side of their paper. All the other in-betweens will connect their chain reactions at the left AND right sides of their paper.
4. Work together with your adjacent peers to properly “connect” your machines at the correct places as you plan and draw.
5. Fill the page (left to right) with your own drawn chain reactions-big or small, realistic or imaginary, just like Rube Goldberg!
The group’s complete drawn machine can be as many pages long as the number in your group, and would make a fun hallway display or accordion book!
Tips:
- Draw as clearly as possible so it’s easy to tell what is happening at each step of your chain reaction machine.
- Plan and draw lightly at first before committing to darker lines.
- Make some marks on each side of your paper to remind you where your machine needs to “connect” to the person’s machine drawing on each side.
- Discuss and Work with your peers to decide if falling dominoes (or whatever) can leave your page and enter theirs at the connection point. And vise versa. A chain reaction machine is only “believable” if the connection points flow seamlessly from one to another.
- If your machine gets too low (ex: gravity, falling, dripping), think of something to move the action “up”. Examples: a helium balloon, a swing, a catapult, a lever, a pulley, and inclined plane, heat/fire, etc.
Have fun making Group Goldberg Machines! I’d LOVE to see what your class creates. Please send me photos or tag me in social media posts :)
