Title:  Special Talents

Grade Level: 3

Subject(s):  Reading, Art, Social Studies

Learner Outcomes:
    The student will be able to:

• identify Native American legends.
• complete an animal hide showing his/her talents.
• write a short story about his/her special talents.
• use a word processor to type and edit the story.

Materials:

• copy of the book The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola, or a similar legend.
• brown paper grocery bag
• paint and paintbrushes

• word processor software
• multimedia computer with Internet access
• printer

• gather paints, brushes, and brown paper needed
• allow brown paper to soak in water for 10 minutes to give it a hide like texture - allow dry time
• obtain copy of a book

• Read the book The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola, or similar legend.
• Discuss the story's main idea that answers a "Why or How" question.  In this book,  "How did the plant get its name?"
• Have students talk about their special talents or interests.
• Prepare brown paper by allowing it to soak in water for about ten minutes.  This loosens the glued seams.  Open the bag and carefully squeeze out the excess water.  Spread out to dry.
• Crumple up the "hide" and then uncrumple it.  Do this three or four times to make the paper appear more like an animal hide.
• Have each student tear from a brown paper grocery bag a shape that resembles an animal hide.
• Then, ask them to paint on this paper a picture that reflects a special talent or interest.
• While paintings are drying, have each child use a marker to sign the bottom of his work.
• Students will write a short paragraph about their special talents on the word processor.
• Display the paintings with the paragraphs.
• Allow students to share their completed projects with the class.

• Allow students with reading and writing difficulties to partner throughout the project.
• Allow students to use clip art from computer program such as Print Shop to complete their projects.

• Have major events from the story listed on strips of paper for the students to cut out and put together in the right order. They could illustrate their story after it's in order.
• Have collection of Native American literature for students to read.
• Write a journal entry - they can tell how they caught the animal hide they used to paint on.
• Do a Word Search with vocabulary from story
• Go to the ALFY web site to explore Native American information.
• Invite a Storyteller from Kanawha County Library to tell authentic Native American legends to the class

•      Students will be evaluated with a rubric.
•     Save paintings and paragraph to put in portfolio.

•     The History of Peoples of Many Cultures Around the World
•     Understands the folklore and other cultural contributions from various regions of the United States and how they helped to form  a national heritage.

•    Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process.
•    Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions.
•    Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process.
•    Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes.

•     Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs.
•     Understands the nature and uses of different forms of technology.

•      Effectively uses mental processes that are based on identifying similarities and differences.
•     Applies decision making techniques

•      Understands and applies media, techniques, and processes related to the visual arts.
•      Understands the characteristics and merits of one's own artwork and the artwork of others.

•     The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush can be purchased at Amazon
•     word processing program
•     Print Shop by Broderbund
•     Word Search was developed at web site Discovery School.

•     Kanawha County Library

Overview	Lesson 1	Lesson 2	Lesson 3	Lesson 4	Lesson 5
	Exploring Legends	Storytellers	Create a Legend	Special Talents	Web of Life