In this session delivered by a high school librarian and public librarian, a template for examining multiple works of fiction under a specific theme will be examined. In this pilot project, high school students from three high schools in Trillium Lakelands District School board worked with teacher librarians and a public librarian. Each student read 3 selections of dystopian fiction, annotating in the text and switching with other group members, commenting on a “big” question as formulated by the librarians. A follow-up forum was held, gathering all of the students to present findings, and to design extension activities to share with other schools and individual communities. This template can be applied to any reading group, students or adults. A second adaptation focusing on female empowerment and empathetic fiction will be highlighted as well, to illustrate the ease of adapting this model to other subjects or venues.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will leave with a template for an enrichment project at the secondary school level that can be applied to a variety of disciplines and circumstances.
Participants will learn how this template was incubated through cross-sectoral collaboration and a “let’s go for it” attitude.
Participants will see an example of how the template has been adapted to a second project aligning with a different focus.
