TRICKSTER
TALES
Lesson
4 How in the world...?
Grade
Levels 6-8
Subject
Language Arts
Learner
Outcomes
Students will determine
the theme of a story.
Students will be able
to re-write a tale making themselves the trickster.
Time
Frame
2 (50 minute) class
periods
Materials
Assorted trickster stories (see Teacher
Notes)
Technology
Tools/Courseware
Data Projector/Computer
Student Computers/Lab
Microsoft Word
Inspirations Software
Teacher
Notes
-
This assignment emphasizes
the concept of "theme" as the "lesson the reader learns from any story."
The lesson should be one that can be applied to the students' life (Example:
"Do not be afraid to try new foods" as opposed to "Do not be afraid to
eat fried alligator.")
-
The writing assignment
is based on re-telling a story in which the student replaces the trickster
with himself.
-
We are using books and
web sites that should be readily available, however other trickster tales
may be substituted. (See bibliography.)
-
Since these stories are
from a storytelling tradition they should be read aloud or performed as
skits.
-
Demonstrate the Inspiration
Software by showing how to make a story web using the information
from a sample story (teacher's choice).
Procedures
-
Students will use books or Internet
Resources to select a trickster tale to re-tell.
-
Students will Inspiration software to web the
story--characters, setting, cause and effect. They will save this web,
and then use it as a template to change the characters (from animals to
student, friends, or family member) and setting (from story location to
student's school, home or area.)
-
Story web template will be used for outline
when writing new story. Cause and effect should mimc original story,
but needs to be of appropriate content.
-
New web can be used as outline to write new
story.
Unit Project
Please note: Students
will not add information to spreadsheet in this lesson
Modifications
Students may work in teams of two or three to
read stories orally.
Students may be teamed to complete webbed outline
of story elements before composing paragraph. They may also work
with a partner to edit rough draft.
Enrichment
Activities
Language Arts - Students
may present the stories as skits.
Math - Students may plot
themes on a graph
Evaluation/Assessment
Story
Map/Paragraph Rubric
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
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
Mathematics Standard 6,
Grades 6-8, Benchmark 4
Workplace Process
Skills
GOAL II:
Skills to interact with others.
References
See Lessons 1, 2 ,3
Created By
Mary
Hansen
Sally
McCumbee
Susan
Thomas
Warm
Springs Middle School, Berkeley Springs, WV
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