Teacher s Guide for Calliope

Transcription

1 Teacher s Guide for Calliope October 2009: The World s Storyteller Aesop Teacher s Guide prepared by: Nancy Attebury, B.S. Elementary Ed., M.A. Children s Literature. She is a children s author from Oregon. Who Was Aesop? p. 2 Investigate Break into groups of four or five. Use the article and other resources to answer the 5 Ws about Aesop and then write a group paragraph that you might find in a newspaper. Share your paragraphs after you finish. 1. What is the title of an anonymous biography about Aesop? 2. What is Aesop best remember for? 3. Where was he from? 4. When did he live? 5. Why did some people think Aesop was killed? Aesop and His Fables p. 4 Creative Arts Read the play. Then form groups of four or five to create a new play with modern characters. Have one character be the man or lady who owns a house and have one be the chef in the house. The other characters should be the friends who come to dinner. Think of what food the chef would serve and how he/she could be clever like Aesop was. Share the plays. Animals that Tell Tales p. 8 Problems, Solutions Read the tales. As a class complete this chart. Then discuss the moral and tell in your own words what it means. If you could change the characters to other animals, what animals would you place in each tale? Tale Title: Characters: Problem to Solve: Moral: The City Mouse and the The Fox and the Monkey The Mice in Council The Fox Who Lost His Tail The Lark and Her Young Ones The Fox and the Goat As Slow as an Ox or Pig or p. 14 Interpreting Language Tell what you think each saying means. He s as stubborn as a mule. He s as slimy as a snake. He s as crafty as a fox. Go to the ravens. Take a hike. Don t let a black cat cross your path. 1. How did a dolphin play a part in a Greek tale? 2. What did Romans think about owls? 3. What animals did Aristotle and others think were closest to human beings? 4. What animals did Greeks think were closest to humans? Egypt s Animal Gods p. 18 Vocabulary Look at how each word is used in the article. Then match the word with its definition.

2 1. Revered beetle 2. Traits group of people from a certain place with the same beliefs 3. Canopic dangerous 4. Treacherous shown to be 5. Cultures worshipped 6. Scarab characteristics or qualities 7. Depicted ancient jar used to hold an Egyptian mummy Egypt s Lion and Mouse p. 23 Comparison Read the Lion and the Mouse by Thoth. Go to the library or use the internet to find and read the same tale by Aesop. Then write down things that are the same and things that are different about both tales. SAME DIFFERENT Roosters Singing Aesop p. 30 Rooster s Singing Aesop p. 30 Interpreting Characteristics Read the article about the rooster and the fox. Then decide which of the following characteristics, or traits, go with the fox and which go with the rooster. persuasive sly witty gullible jealous crafty self-assured tricky vain talented foolish smart Fox: Rooster: Tell how three facts about each author Marie de France, Geoffrey Chaucer, Robert Henryson Daisy Mae and Violet p. 34 Creative Writing Read the creative tale about Daisy Mae and Violet. Then work in groups of 3 or 4 to write another version of the and the City Mouse. Use one of these scenarios: -A country mouse lives near a boat dock and a city mouse lives in a bakery. -A country mouse lives in an old church and a city mouse lives in a car factory. -A country mouse lives in an abandoned shack and a city mouse lives in a newspaper office. Share your tales after everyone has written them. Illustrate the tales and hang up the illustrations. Tricky Tales p. 36 Defining 1. Define myth and name two myths. 2. Define legend and name two legends. 3. Define folktale and name two folktales.

3 4. Define fable and name two fables. Telling Tales The Ancient Way p. 45 Reading for Understanding 1. How did people hand down stories long ago? 2. Why were tales constructed in a certain way? 3. What epics did Homer compose in the eighth century? 4. How were some of the oldest stories from Mesopotamia written down? 5. Where were the first paper pages invented? 6. What were pieces of pottery called that had notes written on them? 7. What was a diptych? 8. Who copied texts in medieval times? 9. When were Aesop s tales printed? Answer key: Who Was Aesop? p The Life of Aesop? 2. His stories that contain a moral. 3. The Greek colony of Thrace. 4. During the time of the 6 th century B.C. 5. Possible answers: Delphians were jealous of him. He had stolen a cup. He had offended Delphians. Animals that Tell Tales p. 8 Tale Title: Characters: Problem to Solve: Moral: The City Mouse and the City Mouse and Where was the best place to live? Better beans and bacon in peace than cake and delicacies in fear! The Fox and the Monkey Fox and Monkey Who was from a better A false tale often betrays itself. family? The Mice in Council Mice Who would put a bell on the cat s tail? It is one thing to propose, another to perform. The Fox Who Lost His Tail Fox and fellow How could Fox get all the Misery loves company. foxes other foxes to lose their tales? The Lark and Her Young Ones Lark and her When would they have to Self-help is the best help. babies move? The Fox and the Goat Fox and Goat How could Fox get out of the well? Look before you leap. As Slow as an Ox or Pig or p. 14 Answers for sayings will vary. 1. The dolphin helped Arion escape from sea pirates. 2. They believed if you heard an owl someone you knew would die. 3. Pigs 4. Horses Egypt s Animal Gods p Revered 6 beetle 2. Traits 5 groups of people from a certain place with the same beliefs 3. Canopic 4 dangerous 4. Treacherous 7 shown to be

4 5. Cultures 1 worshipped 6. Scarab 2 characteristics or qualities 7. Depicted 3 ancient jar used to hold an Egyptian mummy Egypt s Lion and Mouse p. 23 Answers will vary, but tales should include those listed below for the same category. SAME DIFFERENT An animal known as man was in the tale. A lion lets a mouse go free. A wee mouse saves the lion. Roosters Singing Aesop p. 30 Rooster s Singing Aesop p. 30 Fox: Rooster: persuasive sly vain gullible witty tricky talented jealous crafty smart foolish self-assured Tell how three facts about each author Marie de France, Geoffrey Chaucer, Robert Henryson Answers will vary. Tricky Tales p. 36 wording of definitions and names of myths may vary 1. A myth is a story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes. It is told to explain the origins of things, aspects of the world, or customs and habits of individuals and groups. Possible names: Pandora s Box, Jason and the Argonauts, Trojan Horse. 2. A legend is believed to be based on historical fact, on events that did occur. It is set in the real world and does not include unnatural elements. Possible names: Robin Hood, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table 3. A folktale is a story that often is set in a faraway land and contains obviously fictitious events and characters. It is never believed to be true. Possible names: Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, tales of the Easter Bunny, Cinderella 4. A fable is a short story that is meant to teach a lesson. Possible names: The Lion and the Mouse, The Mice in Council, The Tortoise and the Hare Telling Tales The Ancient Way p They told them from one generation to the next. 2. So they would be easier to remember. 3. The Illiad and the Odyssey 4. They were carved into clay tablets. 5. In Egypt 6. Ostraca 7. It was two small boards bound together to form a kind of notebook that had wax inside to write on.

5 8. Monks 9. In 1484