By Lisa Carolin
The sixth-grade-kindergarten book creation has almost become a rite of passage for both kindergartners and sixth-graders in the Chelsea School District. Students from both grades get the chance to learn about each other by putting together a story.
The first step in creating those stories took place Wednesday, March 23, at Beach Middle School, when kindergarten students from North Creek Elementary School came to Beach to spend some time with the sixth-graders, touring the school, reading books and chatting.
The older students had a chance to ask the younger ones questions about themselves with the goal of writing an adventure story just for that age group.
“My book will be about Lilly and what she likes to do,” said sixth-grader Sophie Mitchell.
“I wish I had a pet elephant,” said Kindergartner Lilly Nielsen, who said that she and Sophie were “getting along good.”
Sixth-grader Landon Napieralski was paired with Kindergartner Landon Owen.
The younger Landon said he was excited to be visiting the school, and shared some ideas with his sixth-grade partner.
“He really likes alligators so that’s what the book will probably be about,” said the older Landon.
“Sixth-grade curriculum requires a complete understanding of the elements of an action/adventure story and being able to write a story that uses all those elements,” explained Beach Language Arts teacher Amy Doma. “Having the sixth-graders write stories for an authentic audience allows them to really feel what it’s like to go through the writing process.”
Doma says it is one of the top experiences for sixth-graders.
Principal Nick Angel said, “The sixth-grade-kindergarten book creation is a long standing tradition in the Chelsea schools. Students enjoy creating a keepsake for the kindergartners and they often remember when they themselves were here as kindergartners. It’s a unique and special experience for kids.”
Sixth-graders will work on writing and illustrating the stories for the next couple months and then go to North Creek to share their stories with their kindergarten buddies.
“This is the final step in publishing their final draft and always incredibly fun,” said Doma.
The sixth-graders will visit North Creek on May 23 with their finished product and give it to their kindergarten counterpart.
