Dear Rappers,
We’ve been busy with our Book Week Rap this week, and in case
you have not been able to check your email regularly, here are some of the
highlights. Unfortunately it is difficult to comment on all responses because
several rappers did not include their full school and class name. Please make
sure you use correct email signatures, not just abbreviations, as you conclude
each message.
Four new schools have joined us this week, so a special welcome to 6H at
Penrhos College in Western Australia, St. Scholastica’s in Melbourne, and two
more Sydney schools: Glenhaven Primary and the Year 6 Dem Demons at North Sydney
Demonstration School. We hope you
all enjoy the rap as much as we are.
Lots of schools have sent their response to Rap Point 1, with a wonderful
array of tokens being suggested. The best part has been reading your
explanations of the symbol you chose. For example Room 12 rappers at
Hawthorndene, suggested a dog tag and food collage as tokens for “Mutt Dog”
explaining in detail how these would signify Mutt Dog’s journey.
A popular symbol for “Belonging” was a tree or a plant,
symbolising new life, a return to the natural environment, and new growth.
Tokens for “At the Beach” were varied but it was great to see rappers
considering the context and the characters in their final choices. For example,
Carlton South suggested a deep-sea diver’s helmet, explaining its significance
in clever detail, 6M rappers (no school given) suggested a shell, while Maroubra
Junction rappers suggested the dog with the backpack.
Rap Point 2 asks you to look closely at the pictures from one book and
discuss a powerful technique the illustrator has used. Annandale North rappers
have done a fantastic job, looking at each of the books and using the criteria
from Rap Sheet 3. Your carefully constructed sentences, with helpful paragraphs
made your response a joy to read. Well done, Annandale North!
The SHS Cool Rappers (no school mentioned) have pointed out how Jeannie
Baker uses lots of objects to depict the passing of time, together with colour
and direction, to bring her story to life. Silver Foxes Class SPJ (?) have also
used some appropriate technical language in their analysis of the illustrations
in “At the Beach”, referring to camera angle and use of light.
No one yet has responded to the second part of Rap Point 2, which asked
you to identify the use of these techniques in other contexts, perhaps in books,
advertisements or websites. You can
still send your thoughts regarding this aspect of the rap point by labelling it
Rap Point 2(b) in the subject line.
We look forward to hearing more of your thoughts about these great books
during the week. Send all your messages to this address:
bookweek05_rap@list.schools.nsw.edu.au
Keep rapping!
Mrs Chapman
(Book Week Rap Coordinator)
