A story-time lesson plan.WEAVE TRADITIONAL STORYTELLING WITH BOOKS, ACTIVITIES, AND MULTIMEDIA CD-ROMS U Que Ka Na Da Thuu Moi Tui Tan "Let Us Sit Down and Tell Stories" - a Comanche proverb The Native Americans who were here long before there was a United States are often associated with the notion of a natural ecology - a way of living that demonstrates a respect for the Earth and all its creatures. The manner and means by which they shared the ideas that guided their lives came through stories. Therefore, this Comanche proverb seems a fitting introduction to a story-time plan that celebrates the Earth and all its inhabitants
The game is based loosely on the concepts from SameGame. . * Begin with a reading or retelling re·tell·ing n. A new account or an adaptation of a story: a retelling of a Roman myth. of Rudyard Kipling's classic How the Leopard Got His Spots. In this familiar story, set in Africa, some easy hunting goes awry for a man and his leopard friend, when the other animals develop camouflage patterns and colors. * A good follow-up for all ages is Julius Lester's How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? and Other Tales, illustrated by David Shannon (Scholastic, 1989). In this adaptation, the vain Leopard is not quite sure Rabbit's solution to counting his spots is right (dark ones and light ones), but since Leopard can't count himself, he also can't argue. * Invite children to suggest their own solutions for counting Leopard's spots. Then share an additional "spot-origin theory" with the poem "Leopard" by Gretchen Kreps (for upper-grade students). Note: You can find "Leopard" in the The Random House Book of Poetry for Children, selected by Jack Prelutsky (Random House, 1983). The poem begins: "Eons ago, when the earth was still yeasty yeast·y adj. yeast·i·er, yeast·i·est 1. Of, similar to, or containing yeast: yeasty dough. 2. , The leopard, my love, was an unspotted beasty..." Younger children will enjoy Oscar's Spots by Janet Robertson (Bridgewater Books, 1993), a story about a leopard who doesn't want to be spotted anymore - until he gets his wish. * How the Leopard Got His Spots (Microsoft, 1995) on CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). features a fine reading of the story by Danny Glover, with original music by Ladysmith Black Mambazo Ladysmith Black Mambazo (mämbäz`ō), choral group formed in 1965 in Ladysmith, South Africa, led by Joseph Shabalala. The group, which sings with a precise yet free-flowing phrasing, has consisted of 8 to 12 members. helping to set the scene. For children who wish to revisit the story on their own, there's a version that highlights the text and allows the listener to control the pace of the reading and double click on unfamiliar words. This interactive adventure also offers bountiful follow-up activities, inviting children to explore the animals, people, art, and music of Africa The music of Africa is as vast and varied as the continent's many regions, nations and ethnic groups. A general description of African music is thus not possible. Although there is no distinctly pan-African music, there are common forms of musical expression, especially within . * Some of the words and music in How the Leopard Got His Spots may be new and interesting to students. Talk about differences in the languages and music of various peoples. Visit the World Music and World of Language InterActivities in Microsoft[R] Encarta[R] Encyclopedia and experience a unique way to learn. * Bridge the language of humans to the language of animals. Onomatopoeic on·o·mat·o·poe·ia n. The formation or use of words such as buzz or murmur that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. speech is fascinating, especially when looking at the speech of the very same animal from one language to another. How is it that Swedish pigs say "noff, noff" (pronounced "nerf, nerf") instead of "oink, oink?" * Take an aquatic tour in Microsoft Oceans to match the sounds animals make to their pictures - not always an easy task! Hear whales sing in Oceans or Explorapedia[TM]: The World of Nature. Both provide fascinating introductions to the Earth's largest creature for older and younger children, respectively. You'll discover many more places to take this story-time plan. Before you exit Oceans, check out "Mysterious Relationships" to introduce symbiosis symbiosis (sĭmbēō`sĭs), the habitual living together of organisms of different species. The term is usually restricted to a dependent relationship that is beneficial to both participants (also called mutualism) but may be extended to and mutualism Mutualism An interaction between two species that benefits both. Individualsthat interact with mutualists experience higher sucess than those that do not. . (Click on "People and the Sea," then select "Science and Survival," and go to "Future of the Oceans.") Students will be awed by such discoveries as the cleaner wrasse wrasse (răs), common name for a member of the large family Labridae, brilliantly colored fishes found among rocks and kelp in tropical seas. , which eats parasites from the skin of the corral corral a small fenced-in enclosure with high, wooden fences, suitable for holding cattle or horses. corral system a management system in which range cattle are put into corrals and fed hay for a period when the environment is most trout. Play the Hiding Out game to match animals such as the flat fish to their camouflaged natural habitats. Of course, the idea of camouflage will bring you right back to that leopard! Steven Herb is head of the education library and collection development specialist for children's literature at Penn State University. |
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