My 2nd grade class saw your wonderful performance when you were in Pleasanton, CA this spring and I want to share a teaching idea that was a tremendous success!

After we saw your performance, we all returned to school humming the "Down in the Backpack" song. On the spur of the moment, I had each of them get their backpacks and empty them on the floor. (BIG MISTAKE!) Then they looked for the things you mentioned in the song, then identified some of the things you hadn't mentioned. You wouldn't believe the stuff and junk they found! The kids were even surprised at the accumulation!! One thing led to another, and we ended up writing about the most unusual thing in each of their backpacks, and describing one of the things that you named in the song. The kids had a wonderful time "exploring" their packs, and an even better time writing about it. We brain-stormed new adjectives for describing on the board, so they were working with fun new words, while (HEAVEN FORBID!) practicing their writing skills. While they were writing, I make a construction paper pattern of a backpack. When the writing was done,they created what they thought was the coolest backpack, then mounted their writing in the center of it. It was extremely impromptu, but I have found these "flashes of brilliance" are often the most successful.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to next year's performance!!

Sincerely,

Eileen

Fairlands Elem. School

Pleasanton,CA