Depth and Complexity-Rules

This concept from Kaplan's Depth and Complexity is a hard one to implement with young students. Rules to them means "don't run in the hall". Rules with this concept from depth and complexity means more "what is always true". I introduce this by talking about cars. What is always true about cars? We make a list.

You can use this to identify what is always true about non-fiction books, Eric Carle books, the number 10, adding, plants, rain, etc.

Here is an example for our Mo Willems author study. We read the Pigeon books over the course of a week. What is always true about the Pigeon? This is hard for them-you can see some students focused on one book-he wanted to drive the bus or he didn't want a bath. The goal is to get them to think about all the books and identify what is the same-what is always true?

Here are some examples from the Pigeon unit:

He likes to change his mind.

The Pigeon persuades us.

always wants something

he is so crazy

He does not wear clothes.