Learning Targets
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Students studied the Aztec/Mexican folktale, La lagartija y el sol, or The lizard and the sun, as retold by Cuban American author Alma Flor Ada. Students first learned what a folktale is by connecting it to our study of tradiciones de las familias (family traditions). We talked about how folktales are fictional stories, but there is some truth to them. Students used their background knowledge from their folktale study from first grade as well, when they read and performed re-tellings of El conejo en la luna (The rabbit in the moon).
We then read the story in Spanish and looked for story elements- los personajes (characters), el escenario (setting), and la secuencia (story sequence). Students put story pictures in order and then matched the story parts to the pictures. Finally, we created a circle map with the entire group to come up with the ideas principales (main ideas) of the folktale. Students made connections to the perseverance of the little lizard and to their expedition last year, What can one little person do? They also identified the science or the truth in the folktale as an explanation for a solar eclipse. We talked about how the ancient Native American groups in México and Central America studied the stars. This folktale was a creative explanation of what was happening during a solar eclipse. After our study of the folktale, Sra. García took student feedback to write a simple readers theater. Questions asked to the students: What vocabulary can we use that we already know? What characters should be involved? Should we include all of the action or cut some? How can every student have a part/be involved? What costumes, props, and background should we use (that are easy/doable)? Then, students reflected on what was needed to accomplish a readers theater, skit, or play. Students used a reflection form to guide them in the process of practice and performance to help them show collaboration, perseverance, and craftsmanship! |