I am frequently asked to incorporate fun interactive writing workshops into my storytelling day at elementary schools and have had a blast using simple folktales that most kids are familiar with, including ELL students. The tales I use are Goldilocks and the Three Bears andThe Three Little Pigs. I assure the 3rd and 4th graders that although these are tales we've heard since we were babies it's now time to add the details through strong verbs, perfect nouns, and awesome adjectives. It takes storytelling power to create a new visual interpretation of these tales!
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Sample Lesson: Three Bowls of Porridge
Sharing stories, anecdotes, problem solving, and summarizing are all part of successful writing which means storytelling has to happen in every writing classroom. I ask the kids to "Pair Share" which is a protocol to turn to some one right next to you and one partner at a time summarizes The Three Little Pigs the way they remember it. This way EVERYONE has the opportunity to share! If needed, share the story yourself or read it out loud.
Here comes the fun part! Once everyone recalls the barebones of the tale, I ask the kids to draw the three bowls of porridge (oatmeal) in their writing notebooks as their graphic organizers. I ask "Why did Goldilocks say the large bowl was too hot? What made it hot? Here, I use the protocol "TIPS" aka Think, Ink, Pair, Share. All the kids think (no talking), and then jot down their own ideas to answer my question. Next, they pair-share with their partner. At this point, they are encouraged to add any new ideas that their partner talked about to there own. Now, as a large group, I ask for partners who loved their ideas to share out to the entire group. It's pretty amazing what happens. I write down what is said on my projected iPad or large white board so all can see. Great vocabulary comes out - verbs, nouns, and adjectives.
Typically the elements of each bowl of porridge is detailed (heat hot, freezing cold, and perfectly warm). So, I guide there thoughts to ingredients that might have added to Goldilock's comments. Too hot could have meant Ghost peppers, cayenne peppers, jalepeno peppers, etc. The kids go crazy over this for each bowl. The graphic organizers are filled with ideas contributing to each bowl of porridge. I believe the favorite ones are Pappa Bear's and Baby' Bear's bowls. What would the most perfect bowl of porridge have in it? Well, it's been reported that cinnamon sugar, banana pieces, chocolate chips, topped with whipped cream, coconut shreds and a you guessed it - cherry on top!!
Finally piece - Everyone pretends to be Goldilocks/Guido and spouts out the details of each bowl with pazzaz! So much fun! We then write down in sentences that piece of the folktale!
More?? Sure! Have the kids move on to the chairs and the beds of course!
By the end of the week, you should have whoppers of tales!
Here comes the fun part! Once everyone recalls the barebones of the tale, I ask the kids to draw the three bowls of porridge (oatmeal) in their writing notebooks as their graphic organizers. I ask "Why did Goldilocks say the large bowl was too hot? What made it hot? Here, I use the protocol "TIPS" aka Think, Ink, Pair, Share. All the kids think (no talking), and then jot down their own ideas to answer my question. Next, they pair-share with their partner. At this point, they are encouraged to add any new ideas that their partner talked about to there own. Now, as a large group, I ask for partners who loved their ideas to share out to the entire group. It's pretty amazing what happens. I write down what is said on my projected iPad or large white board so all can see. Great vocabulary comes out - verbs, nouns, and adjectives.
Typically the elements of each bowl of porridge is detailed (heat hot, freezing cold, and perfectly warm). So, I guide there thoughts to ingredients that might have added to Goldilock's comments. Too hot could have meant Ghost peppers, cayenne peppers, jalepeno peppers, etc. The kids go crazy over this for each bowl. The graphic organizers are filled with ideas contributing to each bowl of porridge. I believe the favorite ones are Pappa Bear's and Baby' Bear's bowls. What would the most perfect bowl of porridge have in it? Well, it's been reported that cinnamon sugar, banana pieces, chocolate chips, topped with whipped cream, coconut shreds and a you guessed it - cherry on top!!
Finally piece - Everyone pretends to be Goldilocks/Guido and spouts out the details of each bowl with pazzaz! So much fun! We then write down in sentences that piece of the folktale!
More?? Sure! Have the kids move on to the chairs and the beds of course!
By the end of the week, you should have whoppers of tales!
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