Using the State Curriculum: Reading/ELA, Grade 6

Prior to this activity, the teacher has already instructed student in the process of visualization. The teacher will select an age-appropriate text for students and choose a portion of the text where visualization techniques will work. The teacher will read this portion of text aloud. Next the teacher will ask students what is missing from the text. For example, what else might be seen? What might be heard? etc…Students should offer suggestions for the missing but appropriate things. To extend this activity, students may use the text of their choice to find a like portion of text to share with the class. Students can, again, supply missing element.

To practice visualization, the teacher should place students with a partner and assign them the same portion of text to read. Once reading is complete, the students should be assigned to draw a picture that represents that portion of text, but that each student should keep his/her drawing concealed from his/her partner. Once the drawing is complete, the partners should share their drawings to note likenesses and differences between them. The student partners should discuss why they included certain elements and through the discussion build their understanding.