4th and 5th Graders Read, Watch, and Connect with Hugo

The HCSD Elementary Library Media Specialists developed a unique Multi-Media Enrichment Workshop around the Caldecott Award winning book The Invention of Hugo Cabret and the movie Hugo from Academy award winning director Martin Scorsese, adapted from the book by Brian Selznick.

Fourth and fifth grade students across the district, who had read the book and seen the movie, were encouraged to attend the one day after school event. Students engaged in many aspects of digital literacy, blogging about memorable scenes in both the book and movie, writing book reviews, and offering alternative endings to the book.

“Having the children interact with each other in a multi-media event was inspiring,” said Deborah Goldstein, Library Media Specialist at Purchase School. “Children truly enjoyed interacting with mixed media, the technology, the art, the literature!”

Sarah Palefsky, art teacher at Purchase Elementary, worked with students on cross-hatching with pencils, one of the shading strategies that is an integral part of Brian Selznick’s masterpiece. Students created their own “Inventions” using these artistic techniques.

“The Multi-Purpose Room was simply transformed into a Hugo Cabret Workshop Wonderland,” said Palefsky. “Since author Brian Selznick is also the illustrator, we had a seamless connection with the visual arts, and plenty of new pencil shading techniques to explore.”

The use of video was incorporated into the workshop in two ways. First, students watched videos on the creation of both the book and the movie. Finally, students were “interviewed” about the personal experiences they had reading the book, watching the movie, and connecting the two together.

“Students could float from different learning stations, intermingling with peers from other schools, and reflect on the entire book-turned-movie process,” said Palesky.

Thomasine Mastrantoni, Library Media Specialist from S. J Preston elementary agreed.

“This inquiry-based, multi-media workshop enabled students from different schools to come together and share their thoughts,” she said. “As 21^st Century learners, our students need exposure to live events, virtual experiences and multi-media content to build their skills and broaden their learning community.”

The students were asked to vote on whether they preferred the movie or the book – the book won among those participating. What would you choose?