S y d e l l W a x m a n

By Sydell Waxman, Illustrated by Patty Gallinger. Published by Napoleon Publishing

Pre-Reading Activities
Look at the cover. What is it a picture of?
What is a mannequin? Do you still see them today? Where?
How do you know the story is in the past? How long ago? Does it look as though the girl is enjoying herself? Why? What do you think she has done?

Note: the word "by”…What did Sydell Waxman do?
Note: the words "illustrated by”…What did Patty Gallinger do?
What would it say if one person did both?

Sometimes it says, "retold” by Sydell Waxman (as in The Rooster Prince) What does this mean?

While we are reading the story, find the picture and the spot in the book that you like the best.

Reading My Mannequins
Cut out a black mustache from Bristol board. When you put it on your upper lip, this will represent the father. The children will call "Production!" with you. When you put this black "mustache" in your hair it becomes a bow for the mannequins and their part is, "Yes, yes, yes."

Have them rehearse their parts before you begin. Read the Story. Have them discuss which part and which picture they liked the best.

Dora compares everything to images of fashion. Mention the words simile and metaphor. Find one example of each. Note that Dora thought in fashion terms. (Examples: voices soft like silk; felt as though I'd swallowed a spool).

Creative Writing
The children choose a shop they would like to work in after school. They are the only child in the shop. Have them share ideas or make suggestions...future shop, donut shop, bakery, shoe, music or pet store etc. Then one day something happens. What might happen? Share ideas. Then write your story. If they are stuck they can be, like Dora, working in a dress shop and dressing the mannequins.

History
Tea Time. Look up the origins of tea and tea time.
Discuss the tradition in England and the usage of the word as a light dinner.
Prepare tea time in class with small sandwiches, squares and an array of different teas. Discuss the many attributes of cups and saucers, tea bags, steeping, warmers etc. Many Russians drank tea in a glass with a sugar cube in their teeth. Why would they put a spoon into the glass before pouring in the hot water?

Famous Tea Parties: The Boston Tea Party, The Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Jewish History
Read the historical note at the end of the book. Why was the needle industry a predominantly Jewish industry for decades?
Discuss the history of Jews in Europe which led to their interest in the needle trade. Mention that some of the greatest tailors to royalty were Jewish.
What does the word anti-semitism mean to them? What does racism mean to them? Are they the same? What other groups have been treated unfairly because of their race, colour or religion? What can be done to change this?

Children and the Work Force
Discuss children and the work force in the early part of this century. Mention the sweat shops and cotton mills. Use pictures from Children At Work by Russel Freedman. Tell them the story of Pit Pony and Laddie. Have they seen a movie or T.V. show where children had to work? Have they ever had to do work? What is a "work ethic"?

Fashion Show and Tell
Bring a piece of fashion to class, a hat, shirt, scarf, shoe or pin. How old is it? When was it fashionable? Discuss how fashion is a yardstick for time periods. (If they do not have an item, they should bring a picture.) Show pictures and have them guess the time line of the photo by using fashion. Note such things as full round skirts in mid 1800's to straight skirts early 1900's. Note formality of dress, men's work outfits of suits and ties, girls and women in skirts and then pants. Choose pictures from the 50's, 60's and 70's.

Visit a museum's fashion section and note the size of people in the past as well as the fashions.

Math
Draw and discuss shapes and patterns. Note that a pattern repeats itself. Let them draw patterns using triangles, squares, rectangles, lines etc. and guess which shape will come next. Let them design a pattern with shapes and images of their choice.

Art
Have the children look for patterns in their own clothing and bring in samples (or pictures) of scarves etc. with patterns that they like.
Introduce the colour wheel. Choose colours for their pattern. Then draw and colour their own scarf....this can be a pre-printed template of a scarf.

Also have the children draw different outfits as though they were a designer. Present these to the class in two's. One person is the interviewer, questioning the designer, who then describes and explains the outfit they have created.

Read the story again. Have the children read their stories and show their own scarf creations. Do the interviews. This could all tie in nicely if done at the Tea Party!