Students will be able to distinguish between character traits and emotions. Students will also use details to describe the character’s motivation in each setting. Create a script and shadow puppet reflecting the events, challenges the character encountered.
Materials
Book- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, By Kate DiCamillo
Writing Journal/ notebook paper
Chart Paper and Markers
Collaborative Role Cards
Template for writing scripts
Question Stems
Puppet Materials: brads, scissors, tag board or file folders, tissue paper, glue, wood (skewer) sticks, pencils, hole punch
Shadow Puppet Theater
Activities
Weeks 1-2: Introduce the story
1. Read Aloud the book using question stems and drawings to stimulate student understanding of character traits, motivations, and setting/events.
2. Stop and Jot at certain places in the story for students to pause and reflect.
3. Create Anchor Charts to show: character traits, motivations and various settings throughout the story.
4. At some point in the story, stop and tell the students, “Where do you think that Edward should go next?” “What challenges will he face in his next adventure?” “How will he respond to these challenges and what will he learn about himself?”
Week 3: Create a Script
1. Set Expectations for Collaborative Group Learning using the Role Cards
2. Model how to brainstorm and write an example of a script as a whole group.
3. Create a menu of places that Edward might travel to next.
4. Split the students up into Small Groups of 3-4 students. They will work collaboratively to create a script depicting another event and Edward’s response to it.
Week 4: Create Shadow Puppets
1. Model techniques to create their own puppets
2. Using their question stems and their script, create a shadow puppet that depicts Edward’s traits during their chosen event in this particular setting.
3. Arrange for each group to have time to practice with the Shadow puppet screen.
4. Students present their Shadow Puppet Plays for each other.
Differentiation Approaches
1. Collaborative Learning
2. Many opportunities for students to use various learning styles
3. Anchor Charts for support
4. Leadership opportunities for enrichment
Assessment
1. Final Performance
2. Think-Pair-Share with the essential questions
3. Rubric to show that the script includes an understanding of character traits, motivation, and events in that particular setting.
4. Self- Reflection
5. Observation of each group- Praise, Question, and Polish
Follow Up and Extension Ideas
This lesson can be done with any book as well as other subject areas. It could be integrated with a piece of music by creating shadow puppets for the different melodies. It could be connected with a piece of art to show what happens to the character next. (E.G., _________ picture shows people sitting on the beach. The teacher could ask, where do you think these people will go next?)
Additional Details
- Grade Level: Fourth, Third
- Arts Content Area: Theatre Arts, Visual Arts
- Non-Arts Content Area: English Language Arts
