Rudy is a book with fiction and non-fiction elements that is researched, written and shared by middle school students. The students are provided with a 10 chapter outline of the story of a mouse who escapes a pet store in Northgate Mall and travels down the south fork of Thornton Creek to Lake Washington. Students use this outline to guide their fieldwork and research as they write the fictional story and the non-fiction sidebars that explain vocabulary, history, stream hydrology and watershed ecology.
Students integrate many subjects, particularly writing and science, as they develop the story.
When drafts of chapters are complete, the book is shared with lower elementary school students for evaluation and illustration. Complete Rudy books are posted on the Thornton Creek Project web site. Objectives To learn about stream hydrology, watershed ecology and urban ecosystems using our home community To integrate writing, reading, research, math, science and art To provide watershed curricular materials for lower elementary classes To engender cooperation between middle school and elementary school students, providing an authentic audience for the middle school writers and a real use for the feedback and reflection of the elementary students. Field trips to the setting to connect the story with a real place. A professional artist helps the students with book illustrations.