A LitWits activity from the Exposition

Sam’s diary entries always end with a question, to leave him with something to think about. One of OUR favorite questions is What if ?  Isn’t that an excellent question? What if a writer were to ask “What if a swan was born without a voice?” What if that writer were to answer that question by imagining a beautiful story?

What if anyone could imagine an answer to a what if  question?

But of course anyone can!

Have the kids write “What if…” at the top of a piece of paper, then give them five minutes to write a sequence of “what if” events as fast as they can. (This can just as easily be done verbally instead of in writing, if that works best for your kids.) Tell them not to overthink it — just go with what comes to mind first. The point is to wonder, not analyze.

 

This activity revs up imaginations and gets kids thinking creatively.  Anyone can come up with at least one event — and that one event might lead to a whole story someday!

A LitWits activity from the Rising Action

BookBites is the part of our literary experience when we get to “taste the story.”  We choose a food right out of the book, and it has to meet at least one criterion:

For our bite of this book, we had a couple of options. In one workshop we served some Ritzy watercress sandwiches like those Louis and Serena enjoyed. (You can slip your kids a room service bill with their order, and ask them to fill it in--we've included that "straight from the story" form in our printables.)

While they ate we talked about the magnificent Louis Armstrong and heard him sing "Summer Song."  This was a great opportunity to talk about the many different ways of expressing yourself, through art and actions, with or without words.

In a different workshop on this book, we focused on the other end of the fine dining experience, representing Louis's first trumpet gig. We've made you a S'Mores label to turn any S'mores-flavored treat (like these) into Camp Kookooskoos fare.

You'll find this fun label in our printables for this book.

A LitWits activity from the Rising Action

What an impression Louis made on Serena with that sweet serenade he wrote! Reading about that made us want to compose our own, so we knew the kids would love that idea too.

We simply told them that musical notes read from left to right, like words, and that notes would sound higher or lower depending on where they were on the staff.  No musical knowledge or skill necessary — it’s impossible to do it “wrong”!  As Louis shows us through this story, it’s best not to focus on can’t but instead on will.

While the kids are composing their own music, point out the connection between Serena’s name and the word serenade.  You might ask them why a song is such an effective expression of love, and talk about other musicians who overcame difficulties and touched hearts, like Roy Orbison, who sings “Beautiful Dreamer.”

SUPPLIES

All you’ll need are markers and copies of the staff paper (included in our Printables).  If an instrument is available and you or a student can play, let the kids hear their compositions! Our kids were thrilled to hear their music go from mind to paper to ears.

 

A LitWits activity from the Falling Action

Every reader wonders how Louis manages to carry such a great load, and over such a great distance! (He wonders himself, along with worrying about looking like a hippie.) We let the kids take on his objects to feel how that would feel. As they took turns adding each cumbersome object, we asked them to describe what that item meant to Louis — how it helped him fulfill his own needs.

This activity naturally leads to talking about themes, as everything Louis carries is symbolic of the universal quest for independence, self-expression, and self-esteem. His dad knows how important those are; that's why he risks his neck to get Louis the trumpet. The cob's  long fancy speeches might be a little obnoxious, but there's real wisdom in them, and lots of love, and a sincere desire to help his son get what he needs.

Here's a chance to teach some natural science, too.  Ask the kids to imagine a real swan holding this stuff.  How tall and heavy is a Trumpeter Swan? (5’, 30 lb.)  Measure each child’s armspan and compare it to the 7-8’ wingspan of a Cygnus buccinator.  Talk about the sounds, flight patterns, and colors that differentiate Trumpeters from other swans and similar-looking geese. You can get swan facts galore on The Trumpeter Swan Society web site, including an identification brochure.

SUPPLIES

You’ll need the props pictured under our Prop Ideas — the slate and chalk, trumpet, moneybag, and medal. (You can also use mini party-favor trumpets or mini-kazoo trumpets and mini-slates, if that option better suits your needs.) Our printables also include some mini songsheets to put in the moneybag, to represent the real reward of his playing.

A LitWits activity from the Falling Action

Louis is definitely a frequent flyer! And by the end of this story, he's made a complete round trip. Travel stories always make us reach for maps, so we had the kids help us plot out the protagonist’s journeys.

Have volunteers follow compass-based directions to plot Louis’s journeys on a wall map. Sure, you could  just track it point to point on a screen, but the kids really love taking turns plotting Louis’s flights themselves. Besides, this activity makes the trip (and geography lesson) both visual and tactile.

SUPPLIES

All you’ll need are a big wall map of North America, giant pushpins or magnets, and yarn. The journey guide and map worksheet (and key) are included with our printables.