Nineteen Hale Junior School boys participated in a Language Challenge Master-Class run over four days focusing on the concept of environmental sustainability and the development of creative writing and visual literacy skills. Ms Pippa Depiazzi, Coordinator of Curriculum Enrichment, said that the unit would culminate with a published picture book, written and illustrated by each boy using digital photographs altered using computer graphics programmes.
The voyage from creative idea to finished product began with each boy undertaking independent research into the Cape Peron area of Western Australia. Award winning author Matt Ottley spent a day with the boys immersing them in the writing process and outlining the development stages of a picture book, imparting some special tips along the way.
The history, flora and fauna of Cape Peron were explored in more detail, through a visit to Naragebup Environmental Centre. From there it was on to Point Peron where a tremendous beach scene, heightened by the blustery and wintery conditions, met the boys as they alighted from the bus. By now each boy had a good idea of the text they would write and was intent on achieving the perfect ‘set’ of images to accompany it.
With research and real life experiences of the Cape under their belt, the journey of the picture book was well underway and the boys settled down to develop a storyboard for their picture book and begin altering and enhancing images to fit the text.
One boy was heard to remark that ‘making a picture book wasn’t quite as easy as I’d thought but it’s also a lot more fun. I’ve learnt such a lot.’
With the text and images in the hands of the publisher, the boys watch and wait for their finished picture books to arrive on the Library shelves.
Alex Stanisis takes photographs at Point Peron
The boys face the blustery winds at Point Peron to get their perfect shots
Louis McAuliffe and Richard Zhang work on their script Ben Sondergaard and Luke Rao work on their script
The cover of Liam Stricklands book