Seek and Find Symbolism Project

To wrap up our final reading unit, I gave students a big list of STEAM activities that they could complete to show comprehension of their novels. My favorite is the Seek and Find Jar. It requires students to think of 7 important symbols from their novel and explain their importance. Then, students fill a jar with their objects and either beads or rice. The fun part is trying to find the hidden symbols inside the jar!

My students love craft-based projects, so this one has also been a top choice for them. The activity lends itself well to our theme and symbolism study. I may even make it a required project in the future!

Symbolism Seek and Find Jars for The Giver, One Crazy Summer, and Coraline. 

Teaching Symbolism with "I Spy" Pages

My class wraps up our reading curriculum by discussing theme and symbolism in novels. To add some STEAM to our reading curriculum, students were given some options for how to show their understanding of symbols in their novels. One option is the "I Spy" page. Students must find at least 7 important symbols from their novel to hide in an image full of objects. Each included symbol must also include a 2-3 sentence explanation for the item's importance and connection to the plot and theme of the novel. Students are choosing a variety of ways to construct their "I Spy" page using the Chromebook technology, their art skills, and Google apps. Check out the example below!

An "I Spy" for Abduction by Peg Kehret. 

Symbolism and Mood Pyramids

The grade 7 author's techniques lessons continued with a study of symbolism and mood. Students reviewed symbolism and had to create a Mood Pyramid. Students chose a mood from a class list. They then had to think about what object, action, people, and setting most represent that mood. Students filled in the sides of their pyramids with images that represented each studying both mood and symbolism.

I have modified the online Plato course curriculum many times. The Author's Technique lesson is a worksheet that includes definitions and short answer responses for each. Instead of using that worksheet, I am using more interactive materials to teach the same concepts. Check back for info on the dialogue and description section of the Plato worksheet!

Student Mood Pyramids.