January 2010

7 FABLES FOR OUR TIME

READING COMPREHENSION and TASKS

ON YOUR OWN: DAY 1

1. Read the fable carefully.
2. Look up unknown words/phrases. Prepare a Vocabulary Record (VR).
3. Write down 3 questions that you’d like to ask to help you understand the story
better.

IN YOUR GROUP DAYS 1 & 2

PHASE 1 – Making sense of the fable
1. Compare your Vocabulary Records.
2. Ask your questions and answer your colleagues’ questions.
3. Complete the table:
Characters Main features(appearance & personality)
Setting Place & Time
Turning point Time at which an important change takes place which affects the
future/sequence of events
Style & Formal /informal; use of lg devices (similes/ metaphors/ irony/ …)
Technique
Tone Writer’s attitude toward readers and subject; His mood or moral view:
critical, playful, ironic, optimistic, pessimistic…
4. Write a summary of the plot (story).
5. Can you relate the situation depicted to common events, feelings or attitudes
that are (sometimes/too often) part of our lives? Can you relate it to actual
historical events?
6. Explain the ‘Moral’ in your own words.
7. What is the theme of this fable?
Theme  What is the author questioning? What big issue(s) is he addressing?
8. What is the author’s purpose? Teach? Entertain? Make us laugh? Make us
think? Explore human character? Explore human relationships? ….
9. Did you like the fable? Why/why not?

PHASE 2 - Preparing the presentations DAY 2

PRESENTATION 1
Introduce the fable to your colleagues:
The characters and the setting
The Moral
DO NOT TELL THE STORY - Ask your colleagues what they think may have happened.

PRESENTATION 2 DAYS 2 & 3

Prepare a REHEARSED READING of your fable (min: 5’ / max: 10´)
You need to prepare/bring: scenery and props / costumes / music /alternative text
(SCRIPT/SCREENPLAY)

PERFORM your fable DAY 4

Consider this presentation a REHEARSAL or the DRESS REHEARSAL of your play.
Actual performance will take place in February (Dias das Línguas).

ALL FABLES: http://www.tep-online.info/fable/birdfox.htm

James Thurber, Fables for Our Time and Famous Poems Illustrated (New York, 1940)
(Owl).

REMEMBER:
When working in your group you need:
- A coordinator - A writer (check BLOG for role
description)
Even though everybody writes the answers to the questions only ONE copy of the
written work will be collected by the teacher at the end of the lesson.
 January 2010
ALL members of the group take part in the presentation.
ASSESSMENT: check BLOG. There will be a PROGRESS CHECK (Reading + Use of
English) on DAY 5 (45’)
FOLLOW UP: Write your own FABLE.
 January 2010

DAY 1

Introduction – PPT – 30´

On your own – 5´
In your group (questions 1,2,3,4) – 45´

DAY 2

Introducing Grammar point: 45’

- Reported speech + exercises
- Word formation + exercises
Finish worksheet … 45’
…up to preparation of Presentation 1

DAY 3

Presentation 1 20’
Show examples of SCRIPTS/SCREEN PLAYS 15’
Prepare Presentation 2 55’

DAY 4

Presentations – DRESS REHEARSALS 70’

FOLLOW UP
PROGRESS CHECK - READING + VOC + GRAMMAR
Write your own Fable

ON BLOG:
ROLES
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA (for PRESENTATIONS)

The Unicorn in the Garden (6 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1teJjX-smdE

OU no DOWNLOADS DO REAL PLAYER:

James Thurber a box to hide in
C:\Utilizadores\Isabel\Videos