Abstract

"I have an elephant. It is green and eats my sunflowers." Wonder, disbelief, excitement, and humor showed in the faces of my twenty-five first grade students as some replied: "Incredible." "Who ever head of a green elephant?" This launched a discussion about whether the story was whimsical or realistic. As each child responded, he/she was asked to give a reason for his/her claim. The story initiating this discussion was from Dr. Ronald Reed's Rebecca, an unpublished manuscript written for analytic teaching to be used in kindergarten and grade one.