Minds On
Making connections
Sometimes the knowledge or experience we have about something influences our thoughts about that topic. As you explore the following video about stop motion animation, consider what connections you can make to this video from your own knowledge and experiences.
Record your connections using a method of your choice.
Explore the following TVOK News episode entitled “Stop Motion Animator” to learn more about stop motion animation.
Action
The art of connection
Access the following audio recording titled Making Connections to examine an example about the importance of making strong connections with the text.
Making Connections
There are three main ways that we make connections to oral and written texts.
Press each tab to learn about the three ways to make connections.
These are connections between the text and our own knowledge and lived experiences. If we are about to explore poetry in class, we begin to make text-to-self connections about this text. What, if any, poetry have I experienced before? Do I have a favourite poem? Do I enjoy this form of text?
These are connections we make between texts and other types of texts. What are the similarities between these two text forms? What are the differences?
These are connections we make between texts and the world around us. If we return to the example about the poem, as we are experiencing the poem, we may begin to connect the message of the poem to the world around us. Where have I explored this message in the world around me before? What facts have I learned about this topic? What current day events in the world or my community does this poem make me think of?
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
Work with a partner, if possible, or independently record your thoughts to make one or more connections to the following examples of oral texts.
- an audio book about friendship
- a song about the artist’s lived experience
- a short video clip on stars
- a short story about creativity
- a debate on cell phones for teens
- a presentation on a new type of energy resource
Record your connections in the following fillable and printable document or using another method of your choice.
Be sure to share the detailed connection that refers both to the text AND the connector for each of the examples.
|
Example of Oral Text |
Text-to-Self |
Text-to-Text |
Text-to-World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Audio book about friendship |
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A song about the artist’s lived experience |
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|
A short video clip on stars |
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A short story about creativity |
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|
A debate on cell phones for teens |
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|
A presentation on a new type of energy resource |
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Connections Chart.
Be ready to share your connections with others.
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Consolidation
Finding connection points
Find an oral text to explore.
Consider one of the following examples:
- a song OR a podcast
- a magazine article OR the evening news broadcast
- social media influencer
- YouTube recipe tutorial OR a TED Talk
You can also choose the following video option.
Access the TVOK News episode entitled “Sideways Skyscraper” to explore an oral text for this activity.
Whichever text you chose, you will now make at least one text-to-self, text-to-text, or text-to-world connection to that text. If you are unable to make one of the connections, explain why you could not find a connection point.
Be sure to discuss in detail your connections that refer both to the text and your connector.
How do you want to demonstrate your knowledge? In an oral presentation? In a visual presentation like a storyboard, images, or a comic? In an artistic way? Through writing or digitally on the computer? You can also record your connections in the following chart.
Complete the Oral Text Connections chart in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document to record your ideas.
|
Chosen Oral Text |
Text-to-Self |
Text-to-Text |
Text-to-World |
|---|---|---|---|
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Oral Text Connections.
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel…
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.