Lesson Plan #3
Writing Tall Tales
Duration: 2 to 4 days
Objectives: Students will:
Materials:
Examples of good tall tales
Internet Access
KidPix Deluxe
Key Vocabulary:
tall tale, exaggeration,
Procedures:
1. Read some tall tales to your students. Have students visit the following websites to read some of the more popular tall tales:
Paul Bunyan: A Giant Lumberjack
2. Tall tales are difficult to write so make sure that students get some good examples before they attempt to write their own. Pick some characters to discuss.
Sample discussion questions:
What makes them so interesting?
What obstacles did they face (an enemy, a grizzly bear, a tornado, a winter storm)?
How did they use their wits or their strength to overcome that obstacle?
Tell students that some heroes win by their wits and some use brute force, but they almost always prevail in the end.
3. Make copies of the Story Pattern Sheet for each student. Allow the students to create their tall tale using the pattern given. Let students read their tales to the class.
4. Make copies of the Tall Tales Planning Sheet. Fill the first one out about a tall tale they have read in class or you have read aloud. Once students have a clear understanding of the parts of a tall tale, they are ready to begin planning their own.
5. Have students complete the Story Board Planning Sheet before going to the computer to create a KidPix Slideshow about their tall tale.
6. Have students present their slideshow using a projector.
Assessment:
The following rubric will be used for evaluation of the Tall Tales created by students.
Home Learning:
Students will write a "Whopper of a Story" using the following directions.
Tell students to use four of the following words to write their own tall tale. They must use at least four of the words. Tell them to have fun and to be sure to exaggerate!
ELEPHANT, WHIPPED CREAM, ROLLER BLADES, BIKE, FLYING SAUCER, GIANT MOUSE, TICKLE, SNEEZE, SNORE, STRIPES, SKUNK, YO-YO, SNAKE, TEDDY BEAR, COMET, PURPLE, STAR, RAINBOW, COWBOY, CHOCOLATE.
Have students share their Whopper of a Tale with students the next day in class.
Extension Activity:
Students can complete the Web Quest: Tall Tale News
The students' assignment is to choose a
news story from today's headlines and use it to create a four-paragraph Tall
Tale. They must follow a rubric and use alliteration and hyperbole in
their story. The result will be an exaggerated version of the news,
complete with any imaginative elements they choose to create and include.
