Table of Contents Parent Page...3 Introduction...4 The Making of an Inventor...5 Invention Thinking Exercises...5-6 Inventors Word Search Puzzle...6-7 The Invention of Hugo Cabret...8 About the Author Brian Selznick...9 Pre-reading Activities/Artwork...10 Check Your Understanding...11-14 Watch the Movie: A Trip to the Moon...14 More Questions to Answer...15-18
Parent Page Dear Parents and Teachers, This study packet is designed to be used across the curriculum beginning with the study of inventions and inventors for science and through biographical literature and art. The study of this great graphic novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, will increase critical thinking skills through the study of his brilliant illustrations to tell the story. There is very little text, which allows you to use this book with children as young as 9 or 10.This book won the 2008 Caldecott medal and was a finalist for the 2007 National Book Awards for Young People's Literature. The film element in the book will be of very high interest to high school students as well. It is the perfect vehicle to kick off your study of inventors or to introduce science fair projects. The websites included will be very interactive for your students as they learn about the author, the story, Georges Meleis, filmmaking, and view early films mentioned in the novel. I hope you and your family will enjoy this book as much as we have. Sue Leatherman
In this packet, we will learn about the process of invention. Our book The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick will provide the inspiration we need to make something happen! At the end of this unit, plan an Invention Convention to display your projects. There are many books and websites to help you create something of your very own making. Plan to work on your invention as part of your science study as you read 'Hugo' for your literature and art study. Here are just a few books to get you started: Mistakes That Worked by Charlotte Foltz Jones. This is an excellent book about how things came about by accident, like chocolate chip cookies, fudge, Coke, Velcro, leotards, Ivory soap, potato chips, and Post-it notes. Experimenting With Inventions by Robert Gardner Inventors At Work by Kenneth Brown Small Inventions That Make a Big Difference by Donald Crump The Unconventional Invention Book by Bob Stanish How Did They Do That? By Caroline Sutton Outlawed Inventions by Chris Winn & J. Beadle Outward Dreams: Black Inventors and Their Inventions Scholastic http://inventors.about.com/od/kidinventions/inventions_made_by_ Kids.htm http://inventors.about.com/library/blkids.htm http://www.kidskonnect.com/content/view/86/27/ http://www.uspto.gov/go/kids/
What do you think makes an inventor? Well, it should be someone who can see many potential solutions to a problem. Sometimes, ideas arise in chaos and confusion or often because something else just hasn't worked. It must be a person who is willing to take chances and who is not afraid to be different. Above all, an inventor must be curious. What are the steps in making an invention? First, there has to be a problem to solve. Recognize a need for something and investigate it from all different angles. Next, you will start to make some connections between your ideas, facts, and your experiments. Hopefully, through experiments, an idea will just pop out. No inventor works strictly alone. He must depend on the ideas and cooperation of others as well. You might want to work as a group, with a partner, or with your whole family. How can we work together to create something? Make sure everyone in the group recognizes the same need, then set your goal and stick to it. Figure out the steps you need to reach your goal. Share all information with each other. Write down everyone's ideas no matter how ridiculous. Each person should have their own space to work and think. Let's get started with a thinking exercise! Think of a new use for at least 5 of the common objects below. Exercise 1 Clothespin straws hairpin coat hanger safety pin paper clip straight pin pencil toothpick tennis ball paper plate pill bottles paper bag Velcro marbles Your own ideas (5) styrofoam cup
Exercise 2 Think about how you could create a new product for 5 of these ideas: 1. a better bookbag 2. a better feather duster 3. something to clean chalkboard erasers 4. a device for squeezing tea bags 5. waterproof pockets 6. press-on removable pockets 7. a pickpocket alarm 8. a pageturner for disabled readers 9. a better egg carton 10.skis to use on the sand or grass Exercise 3 Do some research on a famous inventor and inventions. Write a short report to add to your invention for your Invention Convention. Below is a puzzle containing the names of famous inventors. Many of them you may not have heard of. If you find an unfamiliar name, research him to see what he invented. The key is on the next page. e x k o g f j d n p w d e e q u i w q x q a i r r l b t g a r v w s m t k b c t e i p t o o c h v h y n v e r n d n o e u c r d s g n s l n m i e r e p m a t r r u m s e y w q a y l a n g m u i r w b
Key e x k o g f j d n p w d e e q u i w q x q a i r r l b t g a r v w s m t k b c t e i p t o o c h v h y n v e r n d n o e u c r d s g n s l n m i e r e p m a t r r u m s e y w q a y l a n g m u i r w b Edison Fitch Rumsey DaVinci Langmuir Oersted Morse Fulton Volta Henry Ampere( from right to left)
This book won the 2008 Caldecott Medal and was the finalist for the 2007 National Book Awards for Young People's Literature. It has been on the N. Y. Times Bestseller list and is recommended for ages 9 and up. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick In this section, we're going to learn a lot about early filmmakers and the invention of movies and cinematography. Don't be intimidated by this thick 550 page book, because Mr. Selznick tells his story mostly through his 384 beautiful black and white drawings. This book is called a graphic novel. Each drawing will lead the reader to the next as you deduce the story. The small amount of text on the other pages will clarify the story and lead you to learn who his character really is. Much of this story is the biography of the very first filmmaker Georges Meleis.
About the Author & Illustrator The websites below will answer lots of your questions as you meet the author and investigate the book links. Brian Selznick http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/about_brian_bio.htm http://ccdslibrary.wikispaces.com/third+grade This link above is a great site which will show you some early films. http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/intro_flash.htm http://images.google.com/images? sourceid=navclient&rlz=1t4acew_enus321us321&q=georges+ melies&um=1&ie=utf- 8&ei=3YGqSsaxFIq6lAeSxtjnBg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group& ct=title&resnum=4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/georges_m%c3%a9li%c3%a8s
Begin reading 'Hugo'. Get your impressions of this story through the pictures. How do you feel about reading a story told through pictures. Do you find it effective? Try your hand at drawing a picture in the style of Brian Selznick. Try using the side of your pencil or a piece of art charcoal.
Let's Check Your Understanding Vocabulary Words to watch for: horologist-- automaton-- mechanism-- croissant-- Add others as you find unknown words in the book. Answer the following questions as your proceed through this book at your own pace. 1. Why do you think Hugo has a pocket full of junk? 2.What is so important about Hugo's notebook? 3.On page 60, the old man says, Ghosts...I knew they would find me here eventually. What do you think that might mean?
4. How would you characterize the old man? 5.Why do you think Hugo's notebook is so important to him? 6. On page 114, what uses can you think of for the mechanical man? 7. Page 124, How did Hugo come to be an orphan? 8. Page 151, Do you sense a change in the old man? Why do you think so?
9. On page 162, the old man is proposing a risk. Why do you think he is doing this? 10. On page 167, Sometimes Hugo caught his eye and got the distinct impressin that the old man wanted him to see what he was doing. Do you agree? Why do you think so? 11. In chapter 8, pages 169-186, what impressions do you get of Etienne? 12. From pages 192-193, what character traits do you see in Isabelle? 13. In chapter 9, what might be the significance of the key?
14.What do you think of the author's note at the end of Part 1? 15. Are you liking the story so far? Are you curious? Part 2 Chapter 1 The Signature of Georges Melies 16. On pages 264-268, what do you think of Mama Jeanne and the mystery she wants kept hidden? 17. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=- 5523481985091852675# Go to the website above and view the film called A Trip to the Moon. Remember, it was one of the very first tries at making a movie.
18. Who do you think Papa Georges really is? Why do you think he is sad and distraught? 19. On page 306, why do you think the pieces of the old man's toys fit into the mechanical man? 20. Why does film have the power to capture dreams? Think hard about this one. This is an important question.
21. From page 374, If you lose your purpose...it's like you're broken. How is this true? What does it mean?
22. From page 387, If you've ever wondered where your dreams come from... just look around. This is where they're made. What do you think is meant by this? 23. From pages 404-407, what is Papa Georges story? Why do clicking shoes bother him?
24. In chapter 12, Winding Up, What was the automaton meant to do? 25. Write a book critique for this book. Give your opinions. Did you like this book. Why or why not?