Overview and Outcomes:

In this ten-session Writing Root, which we suggest will take 3 weeks to cover, the children arrive to class to find signage indicating that the role-play area/outdoor space is an inventor’s workshop. The children create signage for the workshop and then a toolbox appears, labelled, Izzy’s Tools. The text, Izzy Gizmo is discovered and then shared over several days. Children explore things that have gone wrong for Izzy – writing her a letter of encouragement – and then go on to invent their own gadgets and gizmos to help a creature/pet just like Izzy helps the crow in the story. Their creations are shared verbally before the children draw labeled diagrams and write simple explanations.

Synopsis of Text:

Izzy Gizmo, a girl who LOVED to invent,
carried her tool bag wherever she went
in case she discovered a thing to be mended,
or a gadget to tweak to make to make it more splendid.

Izabelle Gizmo just loves to invent, but her inventions never seem to work the way she wants them to. And that makes her really CROSS! When she finds a crow with a broken wing she just has to help. But will she be able to put her frustrations to one side and help her new friend to fly again?

Text Rationale:

This is an award-winning, lyrical book that highlights the enjoyment that comes from problem solving, inventing and improving on past mistakes. Told through the eyes of Izzy Gizmo, a young, Black girl who loves inventing, this is a tale about perseverance and not giving up when things go wrong.  Izzy is a positive female role model who encourages girls into STEM subjects. 

Links and Themes:

Inventions, gadgets, friendship, design and technology, STEM subjects, representation and diversity, positive female role models

Date written: March 2022