Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By, Dr. Seuss Prototype for an amazing learning experience

Purpose Children’s books come in all sorts or shapes, sizes, textures, lengths, and colors. There is a story for every occasion to teach just about any principle you can think of. The stories are often creative and spark the imagination. Other times they relate tales of the past that help us understand events and ourselves better. The stories stick with us and change us. Storybooks are short and thus able to teach us very succinctly. They often spark curiosity and interest in subjects previously unknown. They open a world of understanding and experiences. As children learn to read they grow to love learning and develop on many levels. One of the wonderful things about children’s’ books is that they not only reach children, but their parents. Children’s books reach more of the population than any other genre. I want to create a place where children and parents learn together. A place where books come alive and children’s imaginations can run free. A room would be created according to one book or a theme for which many books may be used. Learning opportunities based on the book would be placed all around the room that will be either interactive or a discussion for parents and their children. Others in the community could get involved by us showing opportunities for children and parents to get involved in their organizations that promote the same principles emphasized in the books. For example, in a “The Giving Tree” exhibit opportunities for kids to get involved in United Way would be available. There could be reading corners and places to read. Or an area where children learn tips for reading and writing and then write their own storybooks for other children to read. Basically the room(s) will provide opportunities for transformative and experiential learning all around the room. The purpose is for children and families to develop their relationships, to leave having become better in some way, and to emphasize the importance of literacy. President McKay, former president of the LDS church said, “Character is the aim of true education, and science, history, and literature are but means used to accomplish this desired end. An upright character is the result of continued effort and right thinking. The effect of long-cherished association with God-Like thoughts.” The aim is to make literature a means of helping children and their parents build character, citizenship, and upright conduct.

Approach I will be using JavaScript to create prototypes of what a children’s book learning room will look like.

Where the magic happens… Choose your own adventure Flow: Families will enter the room and go to any of the activities located throughout the room. It will have arrows suggesting a specific order to avoid congestion.

Function The homepage will be an overall blueprint of the room that they can click on different activities. Pop-ups will come up with quotes from the books and activities that will occur at the spot. Users can just click an “x” in the corner to get rid of the pop-up and check out something else.

1 – An amazing place Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down any not-so- good street. A choose your own adventure maze that takes you to a number of decisions and adventures… decision activities

2 – Kiss your fears goodbye I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true That Bang-ups And Hang-ups Can happen to you… You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win? And when you’re alone, there’s a very good change you’ll meet htings that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on. But on you will go…On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are. Activities that help children face fears or see that they can do hard things.

3 – What shoes will you wear? You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself Any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go. There will options of many different shoes that are worn in various occupations. They an put the shoes on and learn more from someone who is in that occupation or from a book…

4 – Where would you like to go? Oh the places you’ll go!!! There will be a map that they can choose a country/state they want to go to. Once they choose where they want to go they will learn more about the places geography, people, culture, history, opportunities, etc. Different options for transportation will be shown and taught about as well.

5 – The Book Corner – Learn, Imagine, Create, and Share Kids can write their own story and put it in a format that other kids can come and read here. It could also be put in an online format for them to visit at home. Parents and kids can also read “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and other books here.

6 – Talents under construction! Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV. A place where they can learn a new skill, discuss what talents they would like to develop, and make a plan for their development. Examples from others who put in hard work to develop their talents will be available.

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.) KID, YOU”LL MOVE MOUNTAINS! So… Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray Or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way! And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.) KID, YOU”LL MOVE MOUNTAINS! So… Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray Or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way! 7 – Celebration corner What have you succeeded at? What did you do to succeed and who helped you succeed? Children can write thank you notes. We can go over how to celebrate success and what to do with it.