Earth Day books.

Making books is an exciting way to approach the entire curriculum. Through this art form, students extend their practice of writing skills beyond English class creative writing into every subject and special occasion, including social studies, multicultural studies, math and science.

Integrating bookmaking into the curriculum does more than reinforce skills. According to teachers, making books motivates students. Teachers report that writing along with the construction of a pop-up book helps reluctant writers remain focused and encourages hesitant readers to read their work.

Making books fills students with pride. Having a book in hand that they created and "published" makes students eager to share their stories. "Even the poorest reader reads his own work with enthusiasm," one second grade teacher said.

One concern about making books is that they will take too much time or be too labor intensive for one teacher with thirty students. but, there's a way around that. First, not all books are complicated; most are easy to make even with a large group.

Endless Possibilities

The possibilities are truly limitless and are not difficult to accomplish. Books can have pop-up pages, flaps and wheels. They can be cut into shapes, engineered to unfold into delightful images; they can inspire, delight and stir the imagination.

The Earth Day book involves a single sheet of 12 x 18" (31 x 46 cm) paper (paper grocery bag) folded and cut once with scissors. No glue, no mess. The result is a child-size book measuring 4 1/2 x 6" (11 x 15 cm) with six pages inside for story and illustration. This is an environmentally friendly mini book that can be used to celebrate Earth Day.

Students can write about Earth Day, ways they recycle or how they would improve the planet. It can also be used for a report on recycling practices in their community. The supplies are simple: a grocery bag, crayons and scissors. And, it's easy to construct at a classroom desk.

Begin by cutting a 12 x 18" (31 x 46 cm) sheet of paper from a recycled brown paper grocery bag. Don't worry if the bag has printing on it, this side will be folded in and will not be seen.

While this book was made from a brown bag any 12 x 18" (31 x 46 cm) sheet of paper will do. The resulting book can be used for any project from a creative story to a homework notebook.

Natalie Walsh is a writer and teacher living in Rexford, New York. The ideas in this article are adapted from her book, Making Books Across the Curriculum, Scholastic, Inc., 1994.