FRANKFORT, IL — AP Literature students in Amy Cavanaugh’s class at Lincoln-Way East High School spent this semester turning creativity, collaboration and compassion into published works by partnering with kindergarten students from Grand Prairie Elementary School to write and illustrate original children’s books, the District shared in a news release.
The project connected high school seniors and kindergarteners, allowing all the students to brainstorm story ideas centered on lessons meaningful to young readers, the District said. The high school students wrote the stories, while Grand Prairie's kindergarteners did illustrations.
For many of the seniors, the experience was deeply personal.
“This book was truly a moment of full circle for me,” Gabriela Tsoukatos said in a news release. “I remember kindergarten and how impactful it was for me. I even remember seeing the older, bigger kids and thinking how far it was away. But now being a senior, time flew by so fast. I get to stand as the older, bigger kid helping the younger ones. It’s so nostalgic to be working with kids in their first year of school while we are on our last. It’s amazing to have gotten to work on this project with my fellow classmates and our kindergarten students.”
AP Literature students were challenged to think beyond typical academic writing and adapt their skills to writing a children's book.
“Being able to apply my learning in AP Literature to a real-world product through these short stories has been a rewarding and fulfilling opportunity,” said Alexander Hendel. “Writing for a younger audience presented unique challenges that I hadn’t considered before I actually sat down to write. It’s incredible to think that so many great stories we read when we’re younger can condense advanced meaning and lessons in just a few short pages.”
Hendel also highlighted the importance of collaboration throughout the process.
“Writing in a style that we have not been exposed to in such a long time requires creative thinking. Having other minds contribute to these stories was very beneficial. I couldn’t have written this without the insight and ideas of my partner,” he said. He credited AP Literature teacher Mrs. Cavanaugh for guiding students through the experience and supporting their success.
“Creating this book was a special experience for me,” said Tirenioluwa Oladele. “It brought me back to kindergarten and how special our young years truly were. Seeing the kids using their imagination and having fun drawing and coming up with a story was a special thing to witness. It made me realize how fast time truly flies.”
The finished books now serve as keepsakes for the kindergarten students—and as lasting reminders for the high school seniors of the impact they can make beyond the classroom, the District shared.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Frankfort, IL Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.