DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / November 15, 2000

ST. JAMES – For six weeks the fifth- and sixth-graders in Veronica Hughley’sreading class at Fifth Ward Elementary School have been studying humanity through the eyes of a mouse and a pig.

In the second of six, six-week periods, the students studied two classic novels that discuss life through the eyes of animals, “Stewart Little” and “Charlotte’s Web,” By E.B. White. This period the students read one of thenovels and Monday, in conclusion, the sixth-graders gave oral presentations of the novel they read.

The presentations included a wide variety of visual aids, from paper hand puppets to a large mural to a student dressed in full mouse regalia with ears a nose and tail. “Doesn’t everyone sometimes feel like the mouse in the familyin a world of tall people?” summarized Brandon Joseph, the mouse-like presenter.

Many students worked together to act out different parts of their book, with some climbing down imaginary drains to fetch mother’s wedding ring, like in “Stewart Little.”Readers of “Charlotte’s Web” gave their rendition of scenes and summarized the plot for the teachers, students and parents who attended.

Afterwards, the students who presented their reports stood before the class to answer questions. They discussed the themes of the books, such as friendshipin “Charlotte’s Web” and how little appearance matters in “Stewart Little.”Following the presentations the kids settled into their seats with some cake, soda and popcorn to watch the movie version of their book.

Every six weeks the students will study a new novel, on top of their regular reading and studying of current events, said Hughley. The next period Hughleyplans to give a list of possible books for the students to choose from. Theclass will be broken up into groups, with each to read a different book. Theimportance of such a project, with the reading and the final oral presentation, is “they can show their talents in other ways than with tests and with pencil and paper,” said Hugely.

The students are learning to analyze the books to understand the main ideas, supporting details and connections with real life and how that all fits together into story. The projects “bring everyone together,” said Hugely.Monday the students enjoyed themselves and each other’s presentations. Eachone had their own way of explaining what their novel was about and what happened in the story. Each presentation then showed what in the story hadimpact and left an impression on the student.

Four more periods and four more novels are left for Hughley’s class at Fifth Ward Elementary. If Monday was a prime example of what to expect from thereading class, the rest of the year should be full of good reading, fun and excellent learning.

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