TRICKSTER TALES

Lesson 3    Where in the World is...?

Grade Levels      6-8
Subjects       Language Arts, Social Studies, Math

Learner Outcomes
Students will become familiar with tricksters from other cultures and will be able to locate their geographic location.

Time Frame
2 (50 minute) class period - Language Arts
1  (50 minute) period - Math

Materials
"Magic Anansi" from A Ring of Tricksters  by Virginia Hamilton
Wall Map

Technology Tools/Courseware
Student Computers/Lab
Internet
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel

Teacher Notes
This lesson takes students from North American tricksters to the world.  West Indian trickster tales represent a combination of  African, East Indian and Native American cultures, therefore it is a good place to start world travels.

Procedures

• Read "Magic Anansi" aloud to class.  Identify the setting of the story on a map and the multicultural influences on the West Indies.  Show Powerpoint to discuss setting.
• Students will work in pairs to find information about multicultural tricksters.  They may use books or Internet resources.  Each pair will need to find one new region with a trickster story.
• Students will continue to work in pairs to create a Powerpoint presentation for their trickster.  It should include at least four slides:  Character, Country or Region of Origin, Setting, Notes on Story including trickster character traits.
• Students will do their Powerpoint presentations.  As presentations are made, class will take notes so that they can add data to spreadsheet.
• Students will print pictures of their animal tricksters with names and post them in the appropriate location on a wall map in the classroom.

Modifications
Students may be paired to optimize peer help.

Enrichment Activities
Students may brainstorm a word list pertaining to geographical regions that can be used for word puzzles, spelling lists, vocabulary studies, etc.

Evaluation/Assessment
Use rubric to evaluate PowerPoint presentation.

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives(IGO's)
Language Arts
    Listening/Speaking 6.8  7.9  8.6
    Reading Comprehension 6.16  6.26  7.19  7.25  8.15  8.20
Social Studies
    Geography  6.21  7.20  7.60  7.61  8.85  8.91
    Computer/Technology  6.63  6.64
Math
    Computer and Technology 6.59  6.56  6.58  7.55  7.56  8.57  8.58

National Standards
Language Arts Standard 6, Grades 6-8, Benchmark 5
Geography Standard 2, Grades 6-8, Benchmark 1
Mathematics Standard 6, Grades 6-8, Benchmark 4

Workplace Process Skills
GOAL II:    Skills to interact with others.

References
Hamilton, Virginia.  "Magic Anansi."  A Ring of Tricksters:  Animal Tales from America, the West Indies, and Africa.  New York:  Scholastic, 1997.

Clipart Sources:
           Pictures and Scenery
           Maps

Created By
Mary Hansen
Sally McCumbee
Susan Thomas
Warm Springs Middle School, Berkeley Springs, WV
 

Lesson 1  whatsup.doc/	Lesson 2  Fearless and Foolish	Lesson 3  Where in the World	Lesson 4  How in the World	Lesson 5  From Stories to Graphs

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