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Comment by Janelle Bowers on November 11, 2011 at 11:05pm

Recently attended a conference Gretchen presented in Garland, Texas. Had a fantastic day learning strategies to help our kids on the new STAAR test.  Thanks!

Comment by Carol Gorman on June 19, 2011 at 10:51pm

How fun.  I really like this idea.  I think I will use this activity at the beginning of the year as a way for the students to share about themselves.

Comment by Mary MacKay on July 16, 2009 at 11:42pm

I make a sheet of numerous copies of each child's head to use throughout the year, and have them at-the-ready when the muse visits. I have amassed a collection of paper dolls/clothing books over the years-- featuring various countries, cultures, and time periods. I make color copies of those so the booklets can be used again and again without cutting them up. Yes, I DO put my own head on all sorts of things. It can get pretty hilarious, and the children love that! After that, motivation is extreme-- and magical to behold. Putting their photographic heads on all manner of magazine people and objects opens all sorts of doors. They especially like putting their heads on animal bodies. The kids who are into manga or superheroes or sports figures incorporate that. During our studies of folk and fairy tales, I am sure you can imagine the sorts of out-of-body opps! ;-)

Comment by Jerard Lafuente on July 16, 2009 at 10:49pm

Gretchen, sorry this is so late. I have used different pictures of many different subjects. The music that I love to use is foreign music. "Songs of the Kovno Ghetto", a collection of Jewish music has a hauntingly somber sound to it. Upbeat, Brazilian sambas or African tribal music are a perfect contradictions to these. The students seem to interact more with foreign music as opposed to just music. They seem to want to interpret what is being said, and the feeling heard in the voices invites my students to translate.

Comment by Jerard Lafuente on July 16, 2009 at 10:45pm

Mary, would you model the out-of-body prompts with your own picture? That would have to be done in my classroom to get my kids to buy in to it. Your pictures brought a smile to my face.

Comment by Julie Koontz on July 13, 2009 at 8:16am

I think it would be great to use these "out-of-body" prompts for a Flat Stanley project that you send out to people. A couple of years ago, my youngest daughter's (Emily) class did themselves as Flat Stanley and they had to write about their weekend with their flat counterpart. Hers of course was Flat Emily. I think my first graders would enjoy sending themselves out into the world!

Comment by Mary MacKay on July 12, 2009 at 11:43pm

Glad you like the ideas. You've read the Flat Stanley books, right? You can use the paper character w/photo head idea for just about any purpose you can dream up. Think about your curriculum goals for various subject areas, and choose one or some that could be enriched with your students having an "out of body" experience. ;-) Let me know if you want to brainstorm around a theme in your teaching, tossing around ideas about how the paper kids creation might be a good vehicle for addressing learning goals.

Comment by Jason Lilly on July 12, 2009 at 7:15pm

What an awesome idea, Mary. And hands-on, as well, which is really great. Do you have a lesson plan for that? I would love it if you sent it to me: jlilly@kcs.kana.k12.wv.us

Thank you for your comments and contributions.

Comment by Mary MacKay on July 12, 2009 at 1:33pm

Thanks, Gretchen! Here is a child with congenital spine issues, who "got to play golf" at the St Andrews Golf Course in Scotland...

Comment by Gretchen Bernabei on July 12, 2009 at 7:26am

That is hilarious! It makes me want to play, Mary!

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