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Writer's pictureLusi Austin

BOOKS VS MOVIES

Do you have a movie lover child, a book lover of a child who loves both? I do here too!


We have always enjoyed reading books that have had one or movies made about them. We try to read the book first and then enjoy a movie-watching-party together. Sometimes the kids have dressed up for the last chapter of the book read aloud or for the movie. It's just a little fun we like to have around here ;)


Comparing Books and Movies


When we compare books and movies, we are engaging various parts of our brain (you might like to read THIS with your kiddo about how the brain functions - there's a lesson right there hahaha!).


We are inviting our children to practice their critical thinking skills, getting them to analyse and express what they thought was similar and what they thought was different in the book vs the movie. We might ask a question like, 'do you think the character in the movie was as was described in the book? If not, why not?' Most kids will talk about these things (especially if there is some popcorn or a treat of their fave type around).


We might talk about the science and technology behind the graphics and effects shown in the movie. We might talk about the genre that the book is a part of. We might discuss various book genres and think about other books we know that can fit under the same umbrella. (THIS might be helpful to read about basic book genres).


We might talk about why we hated the book compared to the movie (usually vice versa!).


How we might record our learning


We might talk about what we liked/disliked and I might make a record of that conversation.


We might set up a private YouTube channel and get our kiddo to record themselves doing an oral book vs movie comparison video.


We might get them to create a mind-map on a big piece of paper making points about how the movie and book differed or how they were similar.


We might fill in the movie or book analysis printables that I have created and have printed off for our kiddos in our template folder. They are ready to go and with the prompts already on the sheets, you don't have to come up with the questions. They are done for you!


How we might further build on that learning


We might write a letter to the production company of the film telling them how much we enjoyed/disliked the film and why. Or we might write to the book's publisher!


We might join a Movie Analysis and Social Group for Teens like THIS one through Outschool.

Or we might try and write a fan-fiction alternate ending for the movie or book.


If our kids thought the book *sucked*, I might suggest they write a report one why NOBODY should EVER read this book again (and why they should watch the movie instead!) ;)


We might think about creating a costume for our fave book/movie character and maybe even go to Comicon dressed in said costume! There are so many possibilities.


THIS example gives lots of references as to how a book and movie comparison of Paper Planes can be tied into the Australian Curriculum Outcomes. Tell me: do you and your kiddo do book and movie comparisons? If so, how does it play out for you in your learning setting? More soon, Lusi x






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