The Girl Who Thought In Pictures Visualizing Freebie

The Innovative Press has just published this fabulous book called The Girl Who Thought in Pictures The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca.

I was given an advanced copy to review, and fell in love with it instantly. What an amazing story of this truly inspiring woman.

Julia masterfully tells this story in rhyme which makes it even better. The story not only tells of Dr. Temple Grandin's struggles as a child, her autism and her persistence as a professional woman, but it's ultimate message is that we are all "different, not less".

The following information is a list of reading skills and strategies that will help make your lesson planning a little easier if you are looking to make your read aloud a bit more meaningful.

Reading skills and strategies:

• Asking questions – these are just possible questions or wondering from either the student or teacher
• Before –
1. I wonder why she thinks in pictures.
2. I wonder who she is.
3. I wonder what kind of Dr. she is.
• During –
1. I wonder why people thought she was different.
2. I wonder why the boy that teased her in school didn’t get into trouble too.
3. I wonder what autism is.
4. I wonder why it took so long for other people to listen to her ideas.
• After –
1. I wonder what other inventions Dr. Temple Grandin will make.
2. I wonder if all farms have her inventions.
3. I wonder what door she is talking about.

  **Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.

• Author's point of view – 3^rd person
• Author's purpose – Inform
• Evidence
1. The author explains how Dr. Temple Grandin thought in pictures.
2. The author explains why Dr. Temple Grandin worked so hard to make inventions for animals.
3. The author tells how Dr. Temple Grandin persevered when others tried to stop her.
• Beginning, middle, end – the most important event from each
• Beginning – Little Temple Grandin was told she was different and was kicked out of school.
• Middle – When Temple Grandin lived on the farm with her Aunt she connected with the animals which inspired her to create new inventions.
• End – Dr. Temple Grandin is spreading the word that you are different, not less. She is helping others treat animals with compassion and helping autism be more understood.
• Cause and effect  
1. Why was Temple kicked out of school?                    
• Because she was teased and threw a book at the person.
2. Why was Temple sent to visit her aunt?
• Because she was kicked out of school.
3. Why did Temple fit in so well at the farm?
• Because pigs didn’t care if her hair was a mess.
4. Why did Temple create her first invention?
• Because a teacher opened the door and helped her soar.
5. Why did Temple invent a machine that hugged her with boards?
• Because she did not like to be hugged with arms.
6. Why did people ignore her ideas?
• Because they said ladies weren’t experts on farms.
7. Why does she say, be kind to animals?
• Because they have feelings too.
8. How come farms started building her designs?
• Because she changed their minds.
9. Why does the world need your ideas?
• Because it takes brains of all kinds.
• Character analysis - describe character {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character, how others think/see the character}
• Character changes –
• In the beginning – Temple didn’t speak and had a hard time in school.
• In the end – Temple speaks all over the world sharing insights on autism and how each person is special.
• Compare & contrast
• You and Temple Grandin
• A teacher you have had and inspired you and Temple’s teacher that helped her
• An invention you made and one that Temple made
• Connections
• Text-to-self   
1. Spending time on a farm
2. Having a teacher that inspires and helps you
3. Inventing something
4. Not liking loud noises, crowds and itchy clothing
5. Getting upset and angry because you have been teased
• Drawing conclusions & inferencing –The story keeps talking about walking through the door. What does this mean?
• Text clues – The text says that she went forward and took on the world.
• What I know – Sometimes walking up to a new door you don’t know what is on the other side, and that can be scary, but you knock and walk through anyway.
• My conclusion – I think walking through the door is talking about what is unknown, like something on the other side of a door you don’t know. You can let the fear keep you from entering or you can face the fear and walk through.
• Fact & opinion – about or within the story
• Facts
1. Dr. Temple Grandin was autistic.
2. Dr. Temple Grandin helped animals with her inventions.
3. Dr. Temple Grandin didn’t talk for her first 3 years.
4. Dr. Temple Grandin earned 3 college degrees.
5. Dr. Temple Grandin had a movie made about her life.
6. Dr. Temple Grandin travels all over the world speaking to people about how unique they are.
• Opinions
1. It is scary to speak in front of lots of people.
2. Dr. Temple Grandin is grand.
3. Dr. Temple Grandin’s farm designs were awesome.
4. Ladies are not experts on farms.
5. Meeting new people is scary.
• Main idea & details
• Main idea – the story is mostly about Dr. Temple Grandin’s life.
• Details
1. Little Temple Grandin didn’t talk for her first 3 years.
2. Dr. Temple Grandin helped build better farms
3. Dr. Temple Grandin speaks around the world telling everyone how unique they are and how the world needs their ideas.
• Plot - the turning point or climax in the story was when she met a teacher that helped open that first door for her. He helped her find her love and soar with her ideas.
• Predict
1. What do you think the story is going to be about?
2. Why do you think she sees in pictures?
3. Do you think she will ever like school?
4. Do you think the farmers will ever listen to her?
• Problem & solution
• Problem – People thought Little Temple had brain damage.
• Solution – Her mother and some special teachers thought they were wrong. They helped her find her dream and persevere to accomplish it and more.
• Sequencing
1. Temple was born.
2. She loved spinning and twirling.
3. She hated loud noises and big crowds.
4. Doctors said her brain was not quite right.
5. Special teachers helped her talk.
6. Temple got kicked out of school.
7. She went to visit her aunt in Arizona.
8. Temple connected with the farm animals at the farm.
9. A teacher at her new school helped her soar.
10. Temple built her first invention.
11. She earned 3 college degrees.
12. Farms built her new designs.
13. She won honors and prizes.
14. She had a movie made about her.
15. She travels the world giving speeches about how unique your brain is.
• Story elements –
• Title – The Girl Who Thought in Pictures – The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin
• Author – Julia Finley Mosca
• Characters – Dr. Temple Grandin
• Setting – Farm, her home, school
• BME – listed above
• Problem & Solution – listed above
• Strong thought – someplace in the story that the reader has a strong reaction for example an “I knew it”, or “Don’t do it” type of moment while reading.
• Little Temple was kicked out of school for becoming so mad that she threw a book at a student that was teasing her. Temple was autistic and might not have known how to handle a situation like that. How could you have helped Temple?
• Summarize
• Someone – Temple Grandin
• Wanted – wanted to help animals on farms
• But – but some people wouldn’t listen to her because she was a girl
• So – so she worked hard and learned all she could.
• Then – Then one day farmers started to listen to her more and more until
• Finally – finally farmers started installing her designs.
• Theme – the lesson, message or moral of the story is that you are different, not less and that the world needs your ideas because it takes brains of all kinds.
• Visualize – what do YOU picture…
• The book explains that Temple stepped through that door and went forward even though people weren’t taking her seriously. The author tells you to stand tall and like Temple and march right through the door. When you think of your future, what do you see behind your door?

**Images created by Daniel Rieley are used with permission from The Innovation Press**

 IT'S FREE!!

Happy Reading,