Friday, January 13, 2006
"Where the Red Fern Grows" Book club & modern coon hunts!
Prairie Lane 4th grade teacher Dianne Epping and Grewenow 4th grade teacher Marci Wolke have joined forces with our friend in Georgia, Beau Sherman to create an amazing videoconference exchange!
Students are reading the novel, "Where the Red Fern Grows"- a story about a loving threesome that ranged the dark hills and river bottoms of Cherokee country. It is there that they set out to be the finest coon hunting team in the valley.
With the help of library media specialists Phil Bruno and Regina Baker, students will then discuss the book in a videoconference.
Enter Beau Sherman- a modern day ringtail (racoon) hunter and dog breeder from Georgia! Beau will meet with the kids and talk about everything from redbone coonhound dogs and sycamore trees to present day hunts and competitions. We'll even get to meet one of Beau's pups!
Following the book discussion connection, students will meet with Beau two more times and meet AKC Coondog judge Mr. Jimmy Philips and join a few southern gentlemen who are Tall Tale Champions!
Experiences such as these add deeper, richer meaning and understanding to "just" reading a novel.
Great project everyone!
