This document outlines a visual diary assignment for students to complete after reading the story Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin. Students will choose a part of the story that they enjoyed or found meaningful and draw how it made them feel. They will then write a journal entry explaining their drawing and feelings. The teacher will evaluate the drawings and journal entries based on criteria such as how well the drawing expresses the student's feelings about the story and how complete the thoughts in the journal entry are. Links to resources about the book and using drawings to express feelings are also provided.

1. Becca Mills
WebQuest
CI 350
Visual Diary Assignment
Introduction: Students need to examine their feelings about what they have read in order to
fully understand the story. If students are able to examine their feelings and explain them
through pictures, it may help them express how they feel more fully. Students in younger grades
are just beginning to learn how to write, so having them draw what they want to say first many
help them when they begin to write.
Task: For this assignment, students will create a drawing of how they felt after reading a
passage of their choosing from the story Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin (Harpers Childrens,
2003). After drawing and explaining how they feel, students will write a diary entry about their
feelings.
Process:Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin will be read as a class. After we have finished the
book, each of you will choose a part from the book that you really enjoyed or that you really
remember because it meant something to you. Think about that part of the book and draw how it
made you feel. After you have finished your drawing and we have discussed everyone’s
drawings as a class, you will write a short journal entry to go along with your drawing and
explain your feelings.
Websites/Pictures:
Diary of a Worm video: http://vimeo.com/17563063
http://www.toddlerapproved.com/2010/01/book-of-week-diary-of-worm.html
http://www.pinterest.com/dharland/worm-unit/
http://www.squidoo.com/DiaryofaWormLessonIdeas
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-healing-arts/201004/cool-art-therapy-intervention-5show-me-how-you-feel-today
http://www.drawingonearth.org/resources/10-reasons-why/
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/discovering-the-joys-of-drawing.html

2. Evaluation:
Project
Drawing
Journal Entry
Fantastic 6
Drawing
expressed
student’s feelings
about a specific
part of the story.
Journal entry was
connected to
drawing and
expresses a
complete thought.
Good 4
Drawing vaguely
expressed
student’s feelings
about the story.
Incomplete 2
Drawing did not
relate to the story.
Journal entry was
connected to
drawing, but did
not express a
complete thought.
Points
Journal entry was
incomplete or did
not relate to the
story.
Conclusion: It is important for you to think back about what you liked most from the story or
what affected you most. Try to think of a part of the story that reminded you of yourself.
Express these feelings with your drawing, and then write out these feelings in words.
Standards:
VA.O.2.4.1
RLA.S.2.2