United StatesAunt Isabel Tells a Good One and Aunt Isabel Makes Trouble
by Kate DukePage 1 of 2
- For Grades Pre-K - 5
- Lesson Plan 1
- Lesson Plan 2
- Extension Activities
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INTRODUCTION
Create a memorable storytelling unit for your class with the help of this teacher's
guide and two lively little mice! Curious Penelope and her beloved Aunt Isabel,
the mouse stars of Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One and Aunt Isabel Makes Trouble
by Kate Duke, introduce children to the elements of a good tale. Using the lessons
here, you can enhance your students' appreciation of these books and familiarize
them with the process of creating a story. The Aunt Isabel books can be enjoyed
by a broad age group (preschool through early elementary), and the activities
presented here can be adapted for different grades. They also include suggestions
for use with students with special needs.
And now, it's storytime...
LESSON PLANAunt Isabel Tells a Good One
Story Elements: Giving the Solution a Twist!
GOALS
By isolating basic story elements – setting, characters, problem, and solution
– Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One shows students the building blocks
of a story. This lesson gives them an opportunity to identify and modify these
elements as a first step in creating a story of their own. A graphic organizer
is provided to assist the lesson. Students should be encouraged to share their
work as they develop their ideas. A large-group sharing time provides teacher
and students with an opportunity to discuss and assess the final products.
OBJECTIVES
1. Students will learn about the construction of a good tale through
a reading of Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One.
2. Students will be able to identify the setting, main characters, problem,
and solution of Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One with the assistance of your
graphic organizer.
3. To develop their own skills as authors, students will be able to modify the
tale by creating a new solution to Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One.
4. Students will be able to share their work with the class.
MATERIALS/RESOURCES
PROCEDURE & METHODOLOGY
1. Prior to introducing Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One, ask
students to share with you what they know about making a good story. You may
wish to list or web their ideas.
2. As you read the story aloud, pause now and then to ask questions and discuss story
elements. For example, ask questions like: Who are the main characters? Why is it important
for Aunt Isabel to add a problem to the story? How do you think
Lady Nell will solve the problem?
3. Using your self-created graphic organizer, assist the students in listing
the setting, main characters (you can list good characters and villains separately),
the problem, and the solution. Some students may wish to do this independently.
4. Have the students brainstorm a new solution to the story and write it down
on a story graph. They can come up with more than one! As they work, encourage
them to share their ideas. End the activity with a large-group sharing time.
Don't forget to display their great ideas!
5. For ESL and other special needs students: Rather than writing their ideas,
they can draw pictures to depict each of the story elements, including their
new solution. They can exercise their oral language skills when they share
their work!
EVALUATION
Students' work can be evaluated throughout the lesson as well as during sharing
time. The lesson provides assessment opportunities in all areas of language
arts – reading, writing, listening, and oral language.
Possible topics for your Graphic Organizer:
Main Characters
Good / Evil
Setting
Where
When
Problem
Solution
New Solution
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