Thoughts on Extension Activities

As a former first grade teacher, I naturally think about ways to extend lessons to create a more meaningful learning experiences for students.  We all know that making connections makes the learning and memory potential stronger.  Many of my author friends are very good at coming up with activities and projects to go along with their books.  I have come up with my own little list of possibilities.  

Of course finding the time to write in the first place is a challenge in itself.  But, I think it is worthwhile to get more mileage out of a book or article, especially if it is something you are passionate about.  Some of the things I am thinking about are articles for parent magazines about amblyopia to go along with my book, I am Not a Pirate.  I am working on a play script and reader's theater script for my upcoming book, Nicken Chuggets.  This book also lends itself to some phonemic awareness lessons for teachers I could develop.  I may take another upcoming book, Maggot Man, and write a magazine article spotlighting a career as a forensic entomologist. 

This can work backwards too.  Instead of taking a book and adding small things to go with it, you can take a smaller thing you have had published and make a book out of it.  Why not take an article or poem you have published and develop it into a book?