Our latest focus after reading The Fisherman and the Theefyspray by Paul Jennings and illustrated by Jane Tanner is to create their own 3D model from which they will then draw top, side, front and other views. This is what the illustrator, Jane Tanner, had to say about the process she went through when she read the text and produced the illustrations.
"This poignant story about loss and personal responsibility
by my friend Paul Jennings was very challenging as I needed to invent a fish
that was ancient and amazing...one that had never be seen.I used lots of blue
to emphasise the sad mood.The humped over body language of the sea creature
when you first meet her continues this mood.
The Theefyspray model was made from clay and cartridge
paper.I kept the clay wet so I could change its position... I could hold it in
my hand and draw it from different perspectives: above, underneath, the back
and front. The colours were imagined and Paul wanted them to be very bright
although I’d have preferred to draw the creature in glowing white. Part of the
compromise needed when working in a team.
The fisherman was drawn from photos of my father.
We had so much fun as he tried to act naturally for the
camera.
I used more paint than usual to keep the watery effect."
We then brainstormed different way students could construct their own imaginative model of this majestic fish. I have a few materials but am encouraging students to field a few of their own. We discussed the challenge together and I made some notes on the whiteboard and modelled a few techniques which could be used. I have a small amount of clay, Plasticine and some felt available in the classroom.
We discussed the message in the book and also the illustrations and looked at the figurative language employed by Paul Jennings. This book really got the students thinking about preserving what is special in our world and helped them think about the integrity shown by the fisherman. Students will be making a documentary on how they designed and made their Theefysprays.
Our brainstorm session:
Theefyspray: Ideas for models
balloons, papier
mache (takes a while to dry) Thereare quite a few recipes available on the internet.
wire sculptures (I have safety goggles if any student needs to borrow some).
cake/cooking
pipe cleaners
electronic kit
light emitting diodes
origami
lego
clay - hollow it
out
built up collage
felt
litho/pastels/shape
of the fish/cut out the two shapes, staple...stuff with smaller scrunched
paper...stuff some more until closed up. (Technique demonstrated for students).
tin foil models (We viewed some websites).
loom bands
Plasticine
Plasticine
music
Lateral
thinking/creativity/practicality/ability/adaptability
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| Collage |
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| Lego |
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| Woollen Theefyspray |
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| Papier mache |
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| Lego model by JS |
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| Yummy cake by JH |
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| Felt Theefyspray by AE |
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| Papier mache model by GL |
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| Theefyspray Corner |
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| Two layered Theefyspray painting by H |
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| Delcious Theefyspray cake by AL |
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| Innovative Loom Band Theefyspray by JHG |
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| Lego model |
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| Tinfoil model |
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| Origami model |
We have a small amount of clay left over from last year, so some students will get the opportunity to design and craft a Theefyspray in clay which will then be baked in the school kiln. They will then be painted and lacquered.
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Claywork inspired by The Fisherman and the Theefyspray
by HK
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| By KL |
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| By AG |
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| By NB |
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| By NB |
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| By SG |
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| By CG |
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| By GL |
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| By KS |
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| By AG |
Students have also written a response to the book. This will be published and displayed in the room early next week (September, Tuesday 8th). Here a few examples:
Theefyspray
Book Response
I think that this is
a beautiful book about two wonderful little fish. The book is a very inspiring,
heart-warming, positive book that everyone should read.
The story starts off
in the dark, gloomy blue sea that represents sadness and loneliness. But as the
story goes on the shades brighten to adjust to the mood of the creatures. The
mother is very protective of her baby and always loves to see her little one
happy and swimming around. When the fisherman captures the little Theefyspray
and pulls it aboard he realises when the colours start to fade off the little
Theefysprays scales he should place it back where it belongs, and he showed
great integrity when he placed it back into the water.
This beautiful book
was written by Paul Jennings.
By CS Grade 6
Theefyspray
Book Response
The Fisherman and the Theefyspray is a very inspiring
and poignant book with a meaningful moral of separation, compassion and
survival.
The story begins as a
dark, gloomy blue shade; representing sadness and loneliness then as the story
progresses as the one Theefyspray discovers she has offspring. They have a
close connection with each other and with their natural surroundings. The
colours used by the illustrator brighten to adjust to the mood of happiness and
hope. As
the fisherman captures what he thinks is the only fish of its kind, he
discovers the mothers magnificent colours and shades as she leaps clear out of
the waves to save her only child and companion. The Theefysprays colours start
to fade after being pulled aboard the boat and the fisherman realises the
changed Theefysprays scales, the connection and the relation between the two
fish, he shows great integrity as he places the Theefyspray back into his
world, a world of wonder, his home.
By SG (grade 6)
Book Response – August 2015
The Fisherman and the Theefyspray is a heart-warming book about separation,
compassion and survival. An old man is out fishing and catches a rare fish
called the Theefyspray and there are only two left on the planet. The colour
blue represents the sadness you experience throughout the story. When Mrs Coote
read the book I felt like I was going to cry. The story has an optimistic
ending and the reader is left feeling hopeful for the survival of the species.
By JS (Grade 5)
