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Lesson Plan

What is a Fable? by ECSDM


Subject

English Language Arts (2005)


Objectives

  • Using four fables displayed on the SMART Board via the internet, students will create a definition for fable and moral by identifying the characteristics and literary elements common to each.
  • Using teacher supplied websites and a graphic organizer; students will analyze and interpret two fables to identify their literary elements and purpose.
  • Students will listen to a read aloud of five fables to identify the moral by connecting it to the actions of the characters.
  • Following the Six Steps of the Writing Process, students will create and illustrate an original fable in PowerPoint.

Duration

Seven 45-minute periods

Materials

Teacher:

  • Post-it notes
  • SMART Board with internet access
  • What is a fable? SMART Notebook file
  • internet access for students either through laptops or computer lab
  • class set of rubrics
  • writing paper
  • pens
  • pencils

Students:

  • pen/pencil
  • notebook
  • paper

Pre-Assessment


Day 1

  1. Working with a partner, students will review the literary elements of a story by brainstorming a written list of at least five elements on a post-it note.
  2. Students will share responses with the class as the teacher records them on the white board
  3. Teacher will review the literary elements written on the board (and their definitions) to ensure the following were covered-characters, setting, plot (rising action, falling action, climax, resolution) problem, conflict, lesson/theme, and point of view.

Procedure


Day 1 (continued)

  1. Teacher will assign each student a partner and hand out another Post-it note to each pair.
  2. Teacher will instruct the class that they will be working with a partner to listen to and view four examples of a fable (displayed on the SMART Board via the internet) in order to identify the characteristics common to each, the purpose and to record both responses on their Post-it note.
  3. Teacher will proceed to online audio visual versions of Aesop's Fables linked to Smart Notebook page 1 for whole class viewing.
  4. Students will listen for common characteristics and record responses as teacher inquires "How are these fables similar? What characteristics do they have in common? What do you see? What do you hear?".
  5. After viewing all fables, each pair of students will team up with another pair to share their written responses looking for common elements.
  6. Groups will share elements common to each fable and teacher will record responses on the white board. With student input, teacher will categorize the responses.
  7. Students will copy fable web from SMART Notebook page 2 into the Reading Section of their notebooks.
  8. Students will identify the generic characteristics of a fable that belong in the web, with teacher guidance, that are displayed on the concept web on SMART Board page 3.
  9. Students will copy completed web into their notebooks.
  10. Using the characteristics in the web and class discussion, students will write a definition for fable and moral in their notebooks following the directions on the bottom of SMART Notebook page 3.
  11. Teacher will display SMART Notebook page 4 for students to ensure that they have the completed definitions.

Day 2

  1. Students will copy SMART Notebook page 5, Let's "unpack" a fable!, into the Reading Section of their notebooks.
  2. Using laptop computers, students will work a partner to select two fables of their choice from the pre-selected list of websites hot listed on the teacher webpage at NYLearns.org.
  3. Teacher will use the SMART Board to display steps for reaching the website, as the students follow along on laptops.
  4. Students will complete a chart for each fable by identifying the literary elements listed and interpreting/explaining the moral.
  5. Teacher will circulate the room for guidance and assessment.

Day 3

  1. Students will copy SMART Notebook page 6, Can you guess the moral of the fable?, into the Reading Section of their notebooks.
  2. Teacher will read aloud (twice) each listed fable for students to correctly identify the moral from the list below. After the reading of all fables, teacher will review the answers with the class by selecting student volunteers to drag and drop moral next to matching fable.
  3. Students will select one fable to write a paragraph (in notebooks) that explains the moral by connecting it to the actions of the characters and its importance to society. "Choose one fable and explain it's moral. How is the moral shown through the actions of the characters? Why is this moral important to a culture or society?" Teacher will circulate the room for guidance and assessment.

Day 4

  1. Teacher will introduce the writing and publishing of an original fable by displaying the rubric through MS Word onto the SMART Board. Teacher will review the rubric one category at a time with the students, then hand out a rubric to each student.
  2. With teacher approval, students will choose to work either individually or with a partner.
  3. Teacher will display SMART Notebook page 7 showing a list of proverbs that students may choose for a moral.
  4. Teacher will review The Six Steps of the Writing Process on SMART Notebook page 8 emphasizing that students show the moral through the actions and dialogue of the characters not tell.
  5. Students will begin the pre-writing of their fable.

Days 5 - 7

  • Students will continue through the writing process as teacher circulates the room to guide progress. All writing will be completed first on loose-leaf. Then with the approval of the teacher, students may use laptop computers to begin publishing with PowerPoint.
  • Once all Power Points are completed, students will present their fable using the SMART Board.

Assessment

Click on the link below:

  • Rubric RS

    • Description

    This lesson was created specifically to integrate technology and the SMART Board. Students will read a variety of electronic Aesop's fables to define fable and moral, and write and illustrate an original fable. The students will publish their fable using PowerPoint.

    Website(s)

    Fables From Aesop
    Fables from University of Massachusetts
    Aesop's Fables(Adapted)
    Aesop's Fables(over 600 titles)
    Kids Crosswords(definition of moral)
    Fables and Interactive Activities
    Literature.Org the Online Literature Library
    Scholastic's Fractured Fairy Tales and Fables

    SMART Board

    This instructional content was intended for use with a SMART Board. The .xbk file below can only be opened with SMART Notebook software. To download this free software from the SMART Technologies website, please click here.

    Use the following attachment to support your implementation of this lesson:

     


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