Where the Wild Things Are Homeschool Fairytale relay activity

Fairytale Relay

A 1^st and 2^nd Grade Fairytale Unit

Learning Area(s): Physical Education/Literacy (vocabulary and writing) 

Estimated Time: 60 minutes

Objectives:

• The learner will learn the meaning and how to properly use the following words; 

Whimsical, Mystique, Enchanting, Sorcery, and Wizard

• Students will be able to take the knowledge that they have of the vocabulary words and use them in the relay and in the context of a story
• Using resources such as the internet and dictionaries to locate the definitions of words. 

Assessment:

• If students can correctly match the definition of the words to the poster during the relay
• Students will write a story using the new vocabulary words properly
• Students will successfully locate and write the definition to their assigned word 

Accommodations:

• Gifted: write a story using the five new vocabulary words and review words
• ESL:  Have vocabulary words written in their native language as well as English.  Eliminate some of the words they must use to write their story  
• LD: write a story using two or 3 of the new vocabulary words
• ADHD: an opportunity to be active during the relay (running) 

Materials:

• Tape

• Paper and writing utensils
• Whiteboard and markers
• 5 posters with the new vocabulary word on it
• 5 copies of the definition of each word
• Writers notebooks for each student
• Resources such as a picture dictionary, thesaurus, dictionary, internet, and other books
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Teaching Procedures:

Introduction:

• Read the story Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (contains two  review words)

Word Treasure Hunt:

• To introduce the new vocabulary words write each word on a piece of paper and hide it in the classroom (prior to teaching the lesson).  Vocabulary Words: whimsical, mystique, enchanting, sorcery, and wizard
• Give students verbal hints to find the words-describe items or areas the word is by (physical characteristics, what it is used for, etc.) 
• Ask students to brainstorm what they think each of the words might mean (previous knowledge).  Record these ideas under the word on the whiteboard.  
• Split students into 5 groups and assign each group a word.  Instruct each team to find the meaning of their word using their resources.  Have a variety of resources available dictionaries, internet, books where the words are used, etc.  
• Each group will then report the meaning of their word to the class and write out a formal definition to be put up in the room.  Each word will be added to the word wall.  

Relay:

• Have five posters with each of the vocabulary words and a definition for each of the words on separate pieces of paper. 

• Each team will be located across from a poster with the pile of definitions in a gym like area. 
• One at a time students will take a definition, run across the room to the poster, post the definition next to the correct word, and run back.  Other students can help their team members. 

Closure:  

• Students will write a story that incorporates and uses all five words correctly in their writer’s notebook.  Challenge students to incorporate some of the review words in their stories (gifted students).  For LD and ELL students you may chose to eliminate some of the words.