Green Elephants? - Wonder in a First Grade

Abstract

Introduction:  "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 Ronald Reed's Rebecca, an unpublished manuscript written for analytic teaching to be used in kindergarten and grade one.