Stories can be constructed, retold and interpreted in different ways. Archive

Character Interviews in Drama

Posted February 20, 2013 By jzraskin@gmail.com

The following post is from Ms Erickson’s Drama Blog:

In Drama, Grade 2 completed a project on storybook characters in support of their current Unit of Inquiry:

Central Idea
Stories can be constructed, retold and interpreted in different ways.

Lines of Inquiry
•How traditional tales change
•Roles that characters play
•Traditional tales told from various points of view

The students focused on tales from different character’s point of view. The students retold favorite tales from various points of view. For the final project, the students chose a character, wrote the character’s introduction and three questions to be asked. They became the character in an interview. The work the students did was impressive. They were able to become the character. Please view the interviews below.

MVI 6098 from YIS Arts on Vimeo.

MVI 6102 from YIS Arts on Vimeo.

MVI 6101 from YIS Arts on Vimeo.

MVI 6100 from YIS Arts on Vimeo.

MVI 6099 from YIS Arts on Vimeo.

MVI 6097 from YIS Arts on Vimeo.

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Storytelling at the Shin Yamashita Hoikuen

Posted February 6, 2013 By jzraskin@gmail.com

Sometimes everything comes together in one learning experience…

Throughout this year we’ve been speaking at YIS about Service Learning, and ways in which our students can make deeper connections with our community. One consideration was finding another school to connect with, to take our students out of our comfort zone and offer a window into a very different setting. When the idea was raised of visiting a local preschool to share Japanese stories, we were very excited.

This idea was not only a perfect fit for our Unit of Inquiry exploring storytelling, it was also a very authentic connection to our community and a really powerful reason for students to improve their Japanese reading.

We braved the rain and marched down the hill to the hoikuen. Students introduced themselves, shared a song, read stories, then played a few circle games. It was great to see the initial intimidation of being in a new environment wear off as students read and played games together.

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Author Visit to 2R

Posted December 13, 2012 By jzraskin@gmail.com

Author and teacher Trevor Kew joins 2R to share a draft of a picture book he is writing. 2R get a chance to listen to the story, make mental images and illustrate the scenes they found they could visualize the most clearly. What a great kick off to our study of storytelling! For more on Trevor Kew, visit trevorkew.com

Author Visit from YIS 2R on Vimeo.

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Student Led Conferences

Posted March 22, 2012 By jzraskin@gmail.com

One of my favourite days of the year! It’s always such a pleasure to see my students and their families sharing the fun of learning experiences.

Students thoughtfully proposed a huge range of potential learning activities in a Wallwisher brainstorm. Then we developed the materials we would need to share the most popular and appealing with our families. Finally, students used their “passport” to organize themselves for the day, planning their first and second choices for each strand of learning.

On the day of the conferences, students were completely independent, enjoying sharing this time and learning with their parents… All I did was sit at my desk, give them a heads up on how their time was progressing now and then, and take a few photos!

It was great to see so much laughter, sharing and enjoyment. Check out the gallery:

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Filed in Communication technology connects people and communities., Language Arts, Life in 2R, Mathematics, Stories can be constructed, retold and interpreted in different ways., Units of Inquiry

Book Club: Retell a Traditional Tale!

Posted February 20, 2012 By jzraskin@gmail.com

This week 2R Book Club will look a little bit different!

Each student should click on the image below to watch a couple short videos. On Wednesday morning, during our regular 2R Book Club time, students will be retelling the story of their choice, in the first person, from the point of view of a character that they choose.

  • If you choose The Tortoise and the Hare, you could tell the story as either the Tortoise or the Hare.
  • If you choose A Lesson for Foolish Crow, you could tell the story as either the Fox or the Crow.
  • If you choose The Lion and the Mouse, you could tell the story as either the Lion of the Mouse.
  • If you choose The Fox and His Shadow, you could tell the story as the Fox.

Click here to watch the videos and decide!

Watch the videos and choose a fable to retell!

Here’s an example of one of the stories,  The Fox and His Shadow, retold in the first person, from the point of view of the Fox:

One day, at sunset, I decided to go for a walk.
The low sun sent long shadows across the sand.
Suddenly, I stopped in surprise!
I had noticed my own shadow. I had never realized how huge I was!
It made me think, I’m so big, why should I be afraid of other animals?
I’m even bigger and scarier than a lion! I should be the king of the animals!
Wow. What a foolish mistake that was.
While I was standing there thinking about it, I almost didn’t notice the even huger shadow rising up behind me. Just in time I felt the Lion’s breath on my back and ran! I heard his jaws snap shut, but he had just missed me. I ran and ran across the desert as the sun set. Eventually, the lion gave up on the chase. It was a lucky break for me to escape. But oh what a foolish fox I was to imagine I was as big as my shadow that day. I’ll never make that mistake again…

Listen to me read my story:

The Fox and His Shadow (mp3)
 

 

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Filed in Language Arts, Life in 2R, Stories can be constructed, retold and interpreted in different ways., Units of Inquiry

Traditional Tales – Reader’s Theatre

Posted January 26, 2012 By jzraskin@gmail.com

This week 2R Book Club took on a different shape when instead of the way we usually work in our reading groups to better understand and creatively respond to our books, we tried out a simple Reader’s Theatre response.

Reader’s Theatre is a reading response strategy that we use to deepen and demonstrate text comprehension and improve reading fluency. If a student is able to read their dialogue with appropriate expression, it demonstrates a degree of understanding.

In support of our current unit of inquiry, a study of how “stories can be constructed, retold and interpreted in different ways”, we are looking at traditional tales from across cultures and exploring ways to re-imagine and retell them ourselves.

Please enjoy our video performances!

 

The Three Billy Goats Gruff – Reader’s Theatre

Yo, Amber, Jessica and Femke give a Reader’s Theatre performance of The Three Billy Goats Gruff during a 2R book club session. From our study of how “Stories can be constructed, retold and interpreted in different ways”.

 

The Ugly Duckling – Reader’s Theatre

A reader’s theatre presentation of the The Ugly Duckling by Sari, Kota, Alona and Mikey. From a book club session during our study of how “Stories can be constructed, retold and interpreted in different ways”.

 

Androcles & the Lion – Reader’s Theatre

A reader’s theatre presentation of Androcles & the Lion by Louis, Yuki, Ellie and Elena. From a book club session during our study of how “Stories can be constructed, retold and interpreted in different ways”.

 

Cinderella – Reader’s Theatre

A reader’s theatre presentation of Cinderella by Nicholas, Dan, Braden and Airi. From a book club session during our study of how “Stories can be constructed, retold and interpreted in different ways”.

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I like reading!

Posted January 16, 2012 By jzraskin@gmail.com

Today’s post is from Kota, in his own words…

I like partner reading. I don’t like reading a lot but I like to see the pictures. When I make partner, we need to “SAISHO-WA-GOO” with my friend Yuki. We read. Then we see pictures and say it is fun. If it is not fun, we read different books.

 

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