Lesson Goals
Students will utilize elements of creative writing, visual arts, theater, and dance to trigger the memory of characters in two different stories as a way to compare and contrast these characters. Students will find relationships between characters while writing and acting out a 2-person play.
Students will utilize creative writing, visual arts, theater, and dance to compare and contrast characters in two different stories by immersing students in understanding the characters as individuals through the arts.
Materials
2 books Cordelia and Sleep Singing (or any 2 books with comparable characters)
Template for 5-minute play *see below
Pencils Drawing paper for each student
Venn Diagram for each student
*Template
1-Cordelia
I am Cordelia
2-Anna
I am Anna
1-Cordelia
What makes me special?
2- Anna
What makes me special?
1-Cordelia
How I feel (Beginning):
2-Anna
How I feel (Beginning):
1-Cordelia
How other people feel about you:
2-Anna
How other people feel about you:
1-Cordelia
How I feel (Middle):
2-Anna
How I feel (Middle):
1-Cordelia
How I change:
2-Anna
How I change:
1-Cordelia
How I feel now (End):
2-Cordelia
How I feel now (End):
Activities
Day 1:
1. Read and discuss the 1st book – Cordelia (15-20 minutes)
2. Each student will tri-fold a piece of paper and draw Cordelia’s feelings in the beginning, middle, and end of story (15 minutes)
3. Have students share their drawings in small groups and/or whole group (5-10 minutes)
4. Have students create moves to go along with Cordelia’s actions and feelings (flying/excited, showing others/sadness and anger, developing confidence/joy) (5-10 minutes)
5. Perform with music (instrumental – suggestion Chariots of Fire)
Day 2:
1. Read and discuss the 1st book – Sleep Singing (15-20 minutes)
2. Each student will tri-fold a piece of paper and draw Anna’s feelings beginning, middle, and end of story (15 minutes)
3. Have students share their drawings in small groups and/or whole group (5-10 minutes)
4. Have students create moves to go along with Anna’s actions and feelings (sleep singing/excited and proud, not singing/sad, singing again/joy) (5-10 minutes)
5. Perform with music (instrumental – suggestion Chariots of Fire)
Day 3:
1. Revisit both books and perform both characters experiences (5 minutes)
2. Have students write 5-minute play (5 minutes)
3. Pair up and have students read their plays to each other (5 minutes)
4. Have students pick one play and rehearse (5 minutes)
5. Present plays to the class (15 minutes)
6. Discussion about the experience
7. Assessment – Venn Diagram to compare and contrast characters
Differentiation Approaches
1. ELL or struggling readers/writers:
2. Purposeful pairing
3. Choral reading with struggling readers and helpers (group of 3 vs. 2)Above Level:
4. No scaffolded worksheet
5. Add punctuation to dialogue
Assessment
Venn Diagram: scaffolded
Follow Up and Extension Ideas
Elements of the lesson can be adapted for teaching multiple levels as well as utilizing different books; reinforcing beginning, middle, end; analyzing characters; and writing and performing stories.
Additional Details
- Grade Level: Fifth, First, Fourth, Kindergarten, Second, Third
- Arts Content Area: Creative Writing, Dance, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts
- Non-Arts Content Area: English Language Arts
