Virtual Language Arts Lesson: Week 2
Standard: 3 RL 2.2: Retell folktales, fables, and tall tales from diverse cultures;
identify the themes in these works.
In class we have learned about fables. Read the fable below, and complete the
TWO activities on the next pages.
The Honest Woodcutter
"Woe is me!" a poor woodcutter cried when he
dropped his ax into a deep pond. A friendly water
spirit appeared before him with a silver ax and asked,
"Is this yours?"
"No," the woodcutter said.
The spirit returned with a golden ax.
"Is this yours?" she asked.
"No," said the woodcutter.
Then the spirit appeared with his plain wooden ax.
"That one is mine!" said the woodcutter happily.
"You've been so honest," said the spirit, "take the gold and silver
ax too!"
On the way home the woodcutter met a rich merchant. When the
merchant heard the woodcutter's tale, he ran to the pond and
dropped HIS wooden ax in.
"Woe is me!" he cried.
The spirit appeared with a silver ax.
"That one is mine!" the merchant said quickly.
"You know it is not," said the spirit, and disappeared.
The rich man's wooden ax stayed on the bottom of the deep
pond.
Activity 1:
Watch the power point titled “Retelling for Comprehension” to learn the necessary steps
in retelling a story.
http://goo.gl/8TaM8P
Complete the Stepping Stones retelling activity on the next page for the fable “The
Honest Woodcutter.” You may either print the sheet and fill in the stepping stones, or
simply draw your own stepping stones a piece of white paper. You may draw more
than 4 stepping stones if necessary.
This must be turned in on or before April 20th.
Stepping Stones
A method to help record the main points of a story
If you have ever stepped across a brook by hopping from one stone to the next,
you know how it feels to quickly travel a distance by leaping from one secure spot
to another.
One way to map out how you would like to retell a fable or tall tale is to draw the
stepping stones of the important events of the story.
Only the major events of the story need to be noted in the stepping stones. The
stepping stones need contain only a few words to remind you of the sequence of
events as the eye travels across the page.
DIRECTIONS:
Fill in the stepping stones with only a few words of the most important events
from the fable “The Honest Woodcutter.” You may add more stepping stones
on the back of the paper if necessary.
1.
3.
2.
4.
Activity 2:
In class, we have discussed the themes of several stories throughout the
year. Remember, theme is the life lesson of the story the author is trying to
teach you.
For more review about what “theme” is, review the following power point:
http://goo.gl/XmZpXK
On a piece of paper, please identify what you feel is the theme of the fable
“The Honest Woodcutter.” This requires you to write just a sentence or two.
This must be turned in on or before April 20th.