Objectives
Using elementary texts, I would like my students to be able to focus on differentiating among these texts. They will compare and contrast different fairy tales and be able to identify the common denominators that connect these tales. Comparing and contrasting is a skill that they are learning in all of their classes. The problem with my student population is that once students have made comparisons, they are unable to use those comparisons to draw conclusions, and support those conclusions with evidence. One of our school goals is to teach our students strategies for learning how to use supporting evidence. After students have decided what elements are necessary to compose a fairy tale, I will have them explain why each element is necessary in a fairy tale, citing fairy tales we have read as supporting evidence.
I would like to gear the class toward breaking the fairy tale into five different elements: characters (antagonist and protagonist), setting (usually a castle or enchanted forest), conflict (between good and evil), and moral and resolution (a "fairy tale" ending). Students will be able to identify these elements in any fairy tale and eventually will be able to effectively utilize these five literary elements to create their own fairy tale.
Besides the written texts, students will also be comparing illustrations. They will experiment with the elements and principles of design that will help them create interesting compositions illustrating their fairy tales. They will be allowed to illustrate their tales using any of the materials we learn about in class, but more importantly they will need to create the mood of the text on each page, will need to successfully represent their characters through color, shape and details and will need to be sure that the text and the images are successfully integrated — that each two-page spread is considered as a whole, not as separate pages.
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