What's included
10 live meetings
8 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursProjects
2-4 hours per week. Our main project will be the completion of each student's children's book. Smaller projects to that end include planning, writing, and layout.Assessment
includedClass Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
Beginner Level
In this 10-week live and engaging course, students will take their ideas for a children's book from brainstorming to writing to illustrating and publishing. We'll begin by analyzing award-winning children's books to discern which elements make them such compelling pieces of literature and art. We'll discuss each book's purpose: to entertain, to inform, to inspire, or to teach a life lesson. After analysis, we'll move on to the planning stage. What do you want your book to be about? Which elements of storytelling should you include? Open discussions and brainstorming in the classroom can be an element of our time together, but we will also respect the author who likes to contemplate their work on their own. Next, we'll work on writing. Will your book include poetry? Free prose? Is it wordless? This is where the writing and revising begin. Our course will include thinking critically about the work of children's book authors before us as well as our own work so that we can become the best cheerleaders for our creativity and ideas. Finally, we'll become familiar with the publishing industry. What does it take to get a children's book published? How can you publish your book independently? I'll take us step-by-step through self-publishing and give you the tools you need to query your book to the publishers of your dreams.
Learning Goals
Our ultimate goal will be for each student to write and consider publishing a children's book.
Other goals will be to learn to analyze children's books, plan the writing and layout, seek critical advice, and navigate the world of book publishing.
Syllabus
Standards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)10 Lessons
over 10 WeeksLesson 1:
Class Intro and Analyzing Great Children's Books
Hello and welcome! In this first class session, we will spend time reading some classic children's books and some new titles, too. What makes these books so compelling? What can we borrow from their formats and ideas?
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Analysis of Books You Love
In Lesson 2, we will look at children's books you love and have analyzed at home. We'll discuss strengths, format, and take-aways.
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Planning Your Book
In Lesson 3, we'll discuss how to plan your children's book. How do we go from great ideas to writing and illustrating? Will you write it yourself? Illustrate it yourself? Do all the work it takes to get to publication? I'll give you strategies and we'll work through brainstorming checklists.
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Presenting a First Draft
In Lesson 4, we'll look at first drafts. I'll write one, too, and together we'll talk about what works, what doesn't work, how to use words effectively, and what might need to be improved. If you are creating a wordless book, we'll discuss illustrations, strategies, and what is working for you.
50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Supply List
Planning handouts will be provided.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
We will be analyzing a variety of children's books, including:
Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina
The Giving Tree, by Shell Silverstein
The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter
The Monster at the End of This Book, by Jon Stone
The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats
Reviews
Live Group Course
$19
weekly or $190 for 10 classes1x per week, 10 weeks
50 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-4 learners per class
Financial Assistance
Tutoring
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