Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One
by Kate Duke
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
1. Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One by Kate Duke
2. Large paper and marker for webbing ideas (optional)
3. Photocopies of your graphic organizer (optional)
4. Pencils and crayons (optional)
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. Read the story pausing intermittently to ask questions and discuss story
elements. For example, Who are the main characters?, Why is it important
for Aunt Isabel to add a problem to the story?, or How do you think Lady
Nell will solve the problem?
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
Brought to you by Penguin Young Readers Group.
The Penguin Group is the second-largest English-language trade book publisher in the world. The company possesses perhaps the world's most prestigious list of best-selling authors and a backlist of unparalleled breadth, depth, and quality. Penguin Young Readers Group features books by authors and illustrators including Judy Blume, Brian Jacques, Eric Carle, and beloved characters like Winnie-the-Pooh, Madeline, The Little Engine that Could, and many, many more.
