Handbook-subarticles

Title of Activity
GREAT GATSBY- Who is responsible for Gatsby’s death?

Description of educational activity
Duration: 2 X 45 minutes

Pupils’ age: 15-19

Organization of the class of pupils: group work

The aim of the lesson: The aim of the lesson is to motivate the students to read in the way that reading comprehension enables them to understand the relations between the characters and understand the responsibilities one has when it comes to serious situations with death consequences.

Another goal is to enable Ss develop their speaking skill to express and defend their point of view.

Ss will gain knowledge and understanding of a famous 20 century novel.

Support materials:

“The Great Gatsby” film clipping to give the incentive for the task.
there are 4 sets of excerpts from the book The Great Gatsby – to do with the four main characters. Students have to define in what way they were responsible for Gatsby’s death.

1^st set DAISY

2^nd set TOM

3^rd set GATSBY

4^th set MYRTLE

The excerpts are attached.

Activities:

1. The Ss are divided into 4 groups of 5.

2. The Ss watch the final scene from the movie – the killing of the main character.

3. Each group gets a picture from the movie of a character with the name on it.

4. Each group gets different excerpts from the book The Great Gatsby about the character form the picture. Each student reads one excerpt and after having read it, reports to the groups what he has learned from it. Their task as a group, after having read and reported on these excerpts to be able to

describe the character
understand the relationship with the main character
identify and define the responsibility towards his death
to justify their decision

5. each groups gets 5’ to read and report among themselves.

6. Discussion: The students are enabled to interact, to discuss within the group, to argue for or against an opinion.

Evaluation and assessment method:

Throughout the lesson, the Ss will give their reasons for their opinion with accurate supporting details.

Teacher’s role - monitoring Ss’ work, their interaction, reading for details, making notes, and participation in group activities.

In order to evaluate and assess the effective impact of the previous activities upon the students, they are asked to elaborate a short paper in no more than 5 minutes where they make an In-depth analysis of the main character.

Effect of the activity on RSP reading:

Practices that support students´ choice, collaboration, and shared control of learning outcomes can be linked to self-expressed interest in reading and engaged reading behaviours.

Teachers can organize reading instruction to develop self-efficiency, competence, and engagement in teenage students.

Connection to curriculum

Grade: 4th

Curriculum:

Civic education – responsible behaviour, developing empathy, foreseeing consequences

World Literature - classics works of art - reading and valuing

History – post-war situation , consequences, related to reality, going back to real life

Knowledge:

Understand the difference between dreams and real life
Develop reading fluency
Improve reading comprehension
Organise information in a specific way

Skills:

Use video incentive
Distinguish ethical and non ethical behaviour
Make predictions
Compare and contrast
Summarize
Work effectively in groups, respecting others

Competences:

Make connections between fiction and real life or personal experiences
Be able to visualise material read
Follow specific instructions and conventions
Evaluate evidence
Support and justify an opinion

Bibliographic reference to be used during the activity

F.S.Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby

Publisher: The ebooks at Planet ebook.com

ISBN:

Page count: 193

Year of issue:

Digital sources

Results

The expected outcomes of the lesson. The students will be able:

to understand the task by reading the extracts.
to connect ideas and themes across texts.
to offer character descriptions,
to make connections,
to evaluate the relationship between the characters,
to justify their reactions
to speculate,
to interpret,
to make decisions and define the task in response to the excerpts.

Recommendations

Both the teaching method and the text can help in increasing Ss’ interest in reading. This text promotes the consciousness of responsibility towards other people and ourselves.

The teacher monitors the students so as to make sure they cooperate effectively.

The volume of given fragments of books can be adapted to the language level of a group - fragments can be shorter - by cutting less important paragraphs, or be expanded to additional fragments of the same novel.

Title of Activity
"Marionettes, Inc.", Ray Bradbury

Description of educational activity
Duration: 1 x 45 minutes

Students’ age: 15-19

Class organization: group work

Lesson aims:

The aim of the lesson is to motivate students to read in a way that reading comprehension enables them to understand the relationship between characters - married partners, humans and robots; reflection on the issues of responsibility to the other, the question of making decisions and the consequences of the decisions themselves, the willingness to face the possibility or the inability to make the wishes and dreams come true.

The other goal is to enable Ss to develop their ability to design and develop a plot in a story based on reading the fragments.

Ss will gain the knowledge and understanding of a famous 20th century writer and his short-story opus from the SF area from the mid-20th century.

Handouts:

- excerpts

- situation description .....

Activities:

1. Students individually consider the issues and expose their views in public:

- what is their dream or desire

- what would they be willing to do to make that dream or desire come true ?

2. Ss work in groups of 4-5 .

Ss read the 1st excerpt:

From the beginning of the story

till the sentences:

"...She won't know I'm gone. I'll be back in a month and no one the wiser, except you."

Short summary of the excerpt:

From the conversation between two friends Smith and Brailing, they find out about their lives. They find that Brailing married 10 years ago almost against his will because of family relations. By choosing a marriage instead of traveling to Rio his life dream remains unfulfilled. Now, after 10 years of marriage, he plans to go to Rio without his wife, and she will not even notice that him not being home for a month. The reading ends when Brailing is about to reveal how he is going to do it.

After having read the excerpt, the students have to guess how Brailing will disappear for a month without his wife noticing his absence.

Ss in groups publicly present their plot versions

3. Students read the 2nd excerpt from the story from the sentence:

“Hello, Braling,” he said.

till the sentence

"... From $7,600 to our $15,000 de luxe model..."

Reading it they reveal the original plan of the plot.

- they compare the actual plot with their solutions.

- tind find "FOR" and "AGAINST" arguments for such a decision by the main character, focusing on different aspects - ethical, humane, emotional, etc.

4. Students read the 3rd excerpt from the sentence:

...“Well, it’s the cellar box for you, B-Two.”

till the sentence

...“Don’t run!”

That is the moment when B2 defends his right to a full life and denies obedience to B1.

Students in the groups guess how the potential problem between B1 and B2 will be solved.

5. After presenting their final solutions to this problem, the students get the final excerpt to read and find the actual development of the story.

From the sentence

„Braling Two said, “I’m going to put you in the box, lock it, and lose the key. “

tlil the end of the story.

6. We divide the students into 3 groups representing 3 characters: Brailing 1, Brailing 2 and wife of B1. Within the group, they elaborate how their character will expose and defend their right to freedom of choice and decision.

For example:

B1 - his right to a fullfiling his dream

B2 - his right to the full life of a human being

The wife - her right to a life in marriage, love, sharing, loyalty ...

7. Conclusion - Discussion:

- Does the aim justify the means?

- How far does personal freedom go?

- Making decisions - responsibility

- Confronting the consequences of their decisions

Evaluation methods :

During the lesson, the students will be very active in guessing and designing as well as presenting their plots.

The Role of Teachers - monitoring the mork of students, their interaction, reading for details, making notes and participating in collective activities.

In order toevaluate the effective effects of previous activities on the students, they are asked to make a short presentation, in no more than 5 minutes, in which to make a profound analysis of the main characters and their relationships

The Impact of RSP Reading Activity:

Practices that support students's choice, collaboration, and joint learning outcomes control can be associated with self-addressed reading interest and engaging reading behavior.

Teachers can organize reading lessons to develop self-sufficiency, competence and engagement in teens.

Connection to curriculum

Grade: 3rd

Curriculum:

Civic education - responsible behaviour, empathy development, understanding of gender relations, (dis) ability to make decisions, dealing with the consequences of their own decisions

World Literature - 20st SF- Reading and Evaluation

History - the development of modern technologies

Knowledge:

Understand relationships in fictional SF situations and compare them with real life situations
Develop fluent reading
Improve understanding by reading
Organize information in a certain way

Skills:

Use handouts incentives
Guess
Compare and contrast
Summarize
Work effectively in groups, cooperate

Competencies:

Establishing the link between SF culture and our own
Ability to visualize the read material
Follow the instructions and devise the plot
Evaluate decisions and reflect on the consequences of these
Support and justify attitudes

Bibliographic reference to be used during the activity

Ray Bradbury

"Marionettes, Inc."

http://www.angelfire.com/or/grace/marionettes.html

Editor:

ISBN:

Number of pages:

Year od issue: 1949

Results

Students will be able to:

Understand the task by reading the guidelines.
design a plot,
show different views,
link and design stories of different characters,
assess the relationship between characters,
justify their reactions and decisions,
to awaken the subtleties of certain decisions
guess,
interpret.

Recommendations

Teaching method and the text can help increase students’ interest in reading. This text encourages awareness of human relationships and helper robots.

The teacher monitors students to ensure they work effectively.

A short story can be adjusted to the language level of the group - it may be shorter - by cutting less important phrases related to descriptions or extending to additional fragments of the same short story. Students can be offered a glossary of difficult words.

Title of Activity
Towards a Cosmopolitan Readership / Trojan Horse

Description of educational activity
Duration: 3 x 45 minutes

Pupils’ age: 17-18

Organization of the class of pupils: group work

The aim of the lesson:

- Involving the students in the simple mechanics of creating meaning my means of binary oppositions

- Development of empathy, through re-creation of a character’s voice and thoughts

Support materials:

Internet
Life-style magazines

Handouts :

3 text
cue cards

Activities:

Reading, interpreting, and discussing text is preceded by

Pre-reading activities

which provide motivation and background information to facilitate reading and enable students to put Kureishi into a wider, non-literary as well as literary context.

1. The students are divided in groups (3). Each group, according to the interests of its members, takes on the task of collecting, selecting and evaluating information on a specific topic related to Kureishi.

2. Thus, as with the puzzle, each group adds its piece of information in order to gain more comprehensive view of the author and prepare the ground for an encounter with the text.

Suggestion of thematic angles:

“Sex & Drugs & Rock ’n’ Roll” approach:

Students are provided (or find information on the Internet) with material on changes in rock music during 1980s and 1990s. A focus is on shift from glam rock (David Bowie) to punk rock (Sex Pistols). Additionally, depending on the class, changing in sexual mores, fashion, leisure activities etc. Since students tend to get side-tracked into presenting either pot-pourri of 1980s and 1990s pop phenomena or exhibiting encyclopaedic knowledge of this era, Teachers should make sure that the focus stays on music and a reflection of its age, especially of shifting social phenomena such as attitudes towards authority, material success, social issues, sexuality or gender constructions.

“The Pop Star Kureishi” approach:

Students learn about Kureishi as a ‘cultural icon’ and celebrity, about his views on literature, race, sex, family. The best source is his website (http://www.hanifkureishi.com). This fosters a true human interes angle, for Kureishi’s star quality is not to be underestimated in today’s ‘promotional’ culture. To make the most of it, students can embellish classroom walls with author's posters.

The “Kureishi’s books as regions studie(s)” approach

Here students research the most important facts and figures about contemporary Britain’s ethnic minority groups. This provides the factual background to Kureishi’s fictions. Teacher should encourage students to go beyond enumerating statistics and research how minority groups actually experience life in Great Britain.

The “If a Man is Tired of London…” approach

Since most of Kureishi’s novels and short stories are set in London, students are given the task of doing research about London – with special emphases on matters of class, ethnic minority groups, and ‘in places’. In developing thir own ‘mental maps’, students learn about one of the main categories of recent cultural-studies interests: the construction of ‘space’ (urban vs. rural space; suburbia vs. the city) as means of fashioning identity.

After preparatory activities, students will be able to connect their reading of story with various strands of ‘cultural knowledge’, thus creating a more lasting and increasingly tightly woven ‘web of knowledge’. Their involvement with Kureishi will not take place in mental vacuum; rather they will be able constantly to link literature, film, music art etc. with previously acquired knowledge.

This task aims at more cognitive objectives.

Reading activity

1.The groups are given the handouts – they are going to read:

the “restaurant episode” narrated by Parvez in retrospect.
the episode with Betina
the episode with mother

3. Post- reading activities

Designed to introduce students to some of the mechanisms of othering (theories of postcolonialism), alterity or discourse analysis. As some of the arguments are only reported in indirect speech and some issues of the debate are just hinted at in the passage, students are asked to fill in the arguments in this ‘standoff’ between fundamentalist son and westernized father revolving around Ali’s accusation of his father: “You are too implicated in Western civilisation”.

Two methods of working with literary text are suggested by taking the students off the page, responding to them by turning them into performance and role play.

Here not only oral skills, reading skills, skills in extemporising and improvising are promoted, but also awareness of the role of non-verbal features such as gestures and body language in communication. Drama work (holistic in its scope) aims at fostering a stronger sense of involvement, thus helpings to motivate students and encourage them to learn through active participation.

The staging of the following activities encourages students to get involved in the controversial debate about opposing value systems.

Activity 1: Turning the restaurant scene into a tableau

Frozen tableaux or sculpting scenes enhance students’ understanding of literary text. Students can visualize the scene depicted by taking on the roles of the characters and can create character constellations by interpreting the relationships between the protagonists involved; in order to create a composite picture expressing all the features and relations of the characters.

A number of frozen tableau activities can be put into practice. All exercises should avoid contortions, as students must be able to hold their pose for a minute or so.

Frozen tableau involving one sculptor

The teacher asks his students. “We need someone to shape us into a picture”. A volunteer comes forward. “Right, you may bring the characters into your sculpture in any order.” The volunteer decides who will represent Ali and Parvez, Bettina, and Parvez’s nameless wife (Ali’s mother). No one may speak and the characters must be physically loose and pliable. The sculptor moduls them into the image by placing them in the group, curling a little finger here, tilting a head there, turning the corner of ones character’s mouth, etc. Then students discuss what this sculpture reveals about the individual character’s personality and the relationship between the characters.

…… involving more sculptors

No sculptor is chosen, but the students enter the tableau, one at the time. They themselves decide which character from the tekst they represent. They may ‘sculpt’ any alterations they may wish to those already assembled. Again, there must be no spoken instructions or requests; everything must be sculpted.

Using tableaux based on quotations

Students are sent off in pairs (Ali, Parvez) or in groups of four (including Bettina and mother/wife) with their texts to choose a significant quotation from the text scene (for instance, when Ali rejects alcohol, “But it is forbidden”). After carefull discussin of the line, students must find a physical way of presenting it to the rest of the group, who will try to guess the actual quotation.

Speaking tableau

After activities one and/or two the students describe how they feel towards the other characters of the tableau.

Activity 2: Re-enacting the restaurant scene with the help of cue cards

Using cue cards as a useful method of furthering students’ skills in improvisation and impromptu speech. It is a sort of ‘guided task’ during which students respond to stimuli and create, as in this case, an exchange of opinions and ideas. The restaurant scene would seem to be an ideal scenario for such an exercise, as father and son confront each other with conflicting opinions, ranging from concrete things (drink, pork etc.) to abstract ideas (attitudes towards women, religion etc.). Students may be asked to make a list of the ‘bones of contention’ which are bound to come up during such confrontation – apart from the matters mentioned in the text. Then they act out the confrontation. Two students sit down at the table; other students may remain standing behind them, providing them with cues and prompts or acting as Bettina and mother/wife. Then the ‘waiter’ hands the actors cue cards – each time Ali or Parvez voices his or her opinion on the subject-matter presented to them. To help students slip into their roles, it is advisable to start with tangible, actual things first and then go on to more abstract matters. The goal is to make students ‘slip into a role’ and present opinions on a range of issues in consistent manner. Here we have a debating society of sorts, but with a difference. Cue cards could first prompt responses on alcohol, pork, cigarettes, Western movies, whores, or amenities of Western life-styles. Then they could elict responses to the father’s plans for his son: school, stereo equipment, VCR, computers, girlfriend, sports, or college. Increasingly, the conversation could turn to general issues such as assimilation vs. separation, or fitting in vs. fundamentalism. Students should also be encouraged to find an ending to this performance, culminating in reconciliation or separation. After the performance, students should discuss not only the pros and cons of the arguments presented, but also how they felt about this performance.

Did it create more tolerance? Did it reconfirm existing prejudices? They might also go on to speculate about Ali’s reasons for becoming a fundamentalist (only hinted in the text).

Evaluation and assessment method:

Teacher’s role – provide materials and and act as mediator or facilitator

In order to evaluate and assess the effective impact of the previous activities upon the students, they are asked to finish reading the story and elaborate a short paper in no more than 5 minutes bringing the final conclusions about its end.

Students are assessed on their ability to demonstrate:

knowledge of the content and form of literary text from different countrie and culture
engagement with writers’ ideas and treatment of themes
appreciation of how texts relate to wider contexts
recognition and appreciation of how writers create and shape meanings and effects
empathy, through re-creation of a character’s voice and thoughts

Effect of the activity on RSP reading: Practices innitiate thought-processes in the students´ minds leading to what could be called greater cultural sensitivity, a heightened awareness of both cultural differences and cultural commonalities – and this applies not just to race, but also to gender, class etc.

Connection to curriculum

Grade: 4

Curriculum:

World Literature: postcolonial theories vs. theories of hybridity

Civic education – developing conflict resolution strategies (Building Civic Literacy through Talking Points and Writing Prompts)

History & Geography – Pakistan culture and religion; Migrations and Intercultural permeation

English language and literature

Architecture in Art - the construction of ‘space’ (urban vs. rural space; suburbia vs. the city) as means of fashioning identity.

Knowledge:

Wider and universal issues
Better understanding of themselves and of the world around them
Enjoy the experience of reading world literature
Understand and respond to literary texts in different forms and from different countries and cultures
Different ways in which writers achieve their effects
Literature’s contribution to aesthetic, imaginative and intellectual growth
Contribution of literature to an understanding of areas of human concern
Critical thinking about the world, interdependency between people from different continents

Skills:

Collecting, selecting and evaluating background informations
Read, interpret and evaluate literary texts from different countries and cultures
Develop an understanding of literal and implicit meaning, relevant contexts and of the deeper themes or attitudes that may be expressed
Present an informed, personal response to literary text
Communicate an informed personal response appropriately and effectively
Practice and reinforce prosocial behaviors
Work/cooperate effectively in groups
Skills of empathy
Performance and role play skills
Skills in improvisation and impromptu speech
Learning through active participation
Debating

Competences:

Intercultural communicative competences
Understanding of cultures as comprehensive literacy approach.
Appreciating distinct modes of thinking/praying/dressing or behaving, in an open-minded and tolerant way

Bibliographic reference to be used during the activity

Author Hanif Kureishi

Country United Kingdom

Language English

Genre Short story

Publisher Faber and Faber

Publication date

1997

Media type Print (Paperback)

ISBN 0-571-17739-5

Digital sources

Results

The expected outcomes of the lesson:

The students will be able to demonstrate:

clear critical/analytical understanding of the authors’ intentions and the texts’ deeper implications and the attitudes it displays
make much well-selected reference to the text
respond sensitively and in detail to the way language works in the text
communicate a considered and reflective personal response to the text.
sustain a perceptive and convincing response with well-chosen detail of narrative and situation

Recommendations

Both the teaching method and the text can help in increasing RSP readers interest in reading; enhance their…

Mechanics of creating meaning my means of binary oppositions can be apply later on whole story to achieve new skills in unravelling meanings in text.

Book title
„The Emperor's New Clothes“ (a modern art fairy tale)

„Kejserens nye Klæder" (Denmark, 1837.)

Author
Hans Christian Andersen

Bibliographic information
https://www.abebooks.com/Emperors-New-Clothes-Ladybird-Favourite-Tales/18293017067/bd

The Emperor's New Clothes : (Ladybird Favourite Tales) :

Hans Christian Andersen,

ISBN 10: 0721415563 / ISBN 13: 9780721415567

Published by Ladybird 25/03/1999, 1999

Hans Christian Andersen (/ˈændərsən/; Danish: [hanˀs ˈkʁæsdjan ˈɑnɐsn̩]), often referred to in Scandinavia as H. C. Andersen (2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875), was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales. Andersen's popularity is not limited to children: his stories express themes that transcend age and nationality. Andersen's fairy tales, of which no fewer than 3381 works have been translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness, readily accessible to children, but presenting lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Mermaid", "The Nightingale", "The Snow Queen", "The Ugly Duckling", "Thumbelina", and many others. In 1835, Andersen published the first two installments of his Fairy Tales (Danish: Eventyr; lit. "fantastic tales"). More stories, completing the first volume, were published in 1837. The collection comprises nine tales, including "The Tinderbox", "The Princess and the Pea", "Thumbelina", "The Little Mermaid" and "The Emperor's New Clothes".

Links (adaptations, reviews, full texts etc.)

Theme
A modern art fairy tale with elements of anti fairy tale. Theme and motives: greed and conceit of the authority, human greed and selfishness, arrogance, narcissism and stupidity of the ruling class and the naivety of common people, manipulation, deceit and fraudulence, the childrens “voice of naivety” (the truth), truth doesn’t always win.

Short summary
"The Emperor's New Clothes" (Danish: Kejserens nye Klæder) is a short tale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, about two fraudulent weavers who promise an emperor a new suit of clothes that they say is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent – while in reality, they make no clothes at all, making everyone believe the clothes are invisible to them. When the emperor parades before his subjects in his new "clothes", no one dares to say that they do not see any suit of clothes on him for fear that they will be seen as stupid. The people observed the naked and pompous emperor in wonder and silence, with fake admiration, all until a single child yelled: “The emperor is naked!”. Everybody heard the truth being spoken, but nothing has changed. The emperor resumed his strut with even more pride.

Why is the story appropriate for the targeted groups of RSP readers?

This story is appropriate for the targeted group because of it’s modern fairy tale/anti fairy take genre. This timeless, literary stylized story stimulates a discussion and analysis of selfishness, deceit and greed not only of the ruling class, but also of the individual, political opportunism, manipulation of the consciousness through modern technology th. en and now, the creation of a “virtual attire”, the imperative of beauty and image and everything that calls for a critical rethinking of our society’s standards.

According to polls, the targeted groups of RSP readers are prone to themes of social activism and this tale changes the usual rules of a fairy tale and the happy ending, impinging deeply into the social issues of the relationship between the ruler and the people, wealth, power and manipulations of the masses. There are also other relatable themes to the readers such as: social differences, the psychology of the masses, selfishness and egoism of the ruling class, the lack of empathy, political conformism, the selfie phenomenon of self-obsession, modern egoism, wide spread narcissism and disrupted moral, social and aesthetic values. The story is highly motivational because it’s both timeless and reflective of the serious issues of the current political moment in history.

What are the distinguished readers interests reflected by this book/story?
The readers will recognize the classical values in the contemporary form, to compare and valorise the stereotypical and original, to deepen the awareness of modern literature, postmodernism and to develop a critical relationship according to contemporary social challenges and issues.

Why is this story motivational for the pupils?
The story is extremely motivating for students because they can recognize themselves in many of the personal situations, through an exceptionally good and innovative style, skilfully embedded in the richness and depth of the prose, with close-knit and fresh young humorous and ironic discourse.

Is there a historical, political, multi/inter cultural, migrant or similar context recognized in this book/story?
Through this story the pupils can recognize the historical and political context of egoism and the manipulation of the potentate, the expanding social differences, the immoral abuse of social resources, the inability to properly punish delinquency, the fatalistic acceptance of the current situations and the preconceived inability to make changes, the manipulation of political and commercial marketing through modern virtual procedures and technologies and other common social issues of today.

Is there a principle of inclusion reflected in this book/story and does it promotes understanding of cultural diversities and heritage?
The principle of inclusiveness is covered in the entire novel, convincingly and strongly promoting the ideas of coexistence, criticism of nationalism and chauvinism, the idea of restoring tragically broken relationships, respect and support for differences and the different individuals, empathy, acceptance and understanding of cultural differences. Characters and events represent close and historically driven social and cultural heritage.

Title of Activity
Mirror and me

Description of educational activity
Duration: 90 minuts

Students' age: 16

Class organization: working in groups and pairs in the classroom, groups of 4 x 5, individuals

Goals: researching and analysing a piece of literature in a creative way, connecting the piece with the context of history, art history, social critique, modern forms of expressions (film, theatre, designed picture book). Finding the common traits of traditional and modern fairy tales and anti-fairy tales. Actualisation of structural characteristics of a modern fairy-tale as well as its universal and timeless message.

Through a series of arguments, showcasing ones point of view towards the social and personal dissemblance (greed, narcissism, selfishness, lack of empathy), media influence and modern technology.

The goal is to improve the pupils reading comprehension and the ability to understand the text, to improve the ability to reflect, critically analyse and develop empathy and key transversal abilities.

Educational activities:

The class is given the names of four groups on A4 format papers. Students choose the activity according to their own affinities or randomly get chosen. The title aren't telling enough to show the goal of the assignment. Those who don't choose a group get assigned by a teacher.
The pupils are divided into four groups of 5 students. 1. I AM STUPID? 2. I AM NARCISSISTIC? 3. I'M A NARRATOR? 4. I'M AN ACTOR?
Each group receives materials with additional assignments.
After announcing the author and the title, the teacher reads the first substantial fragment of the title after which students are encouraged to read the rest individually. The assignments follow.
GROUP ONE: I AM STUPID? Assignments (written, presentation preparation, excerpts) A. Find the typical formula from a classic fairy tale from the beginning of the story and describe the atypical ending. Why can't we call this a happy ending? What makes this story something different than a fairy tale? What is it lacking? B. Write a short description of the emperors character (write a moral/psychological profile) and describe the emperor's faults as a leader. Find the elements of humour and irony. C. Describe the emperors officials and describe the people of the nation. What kind of country do they live in? What are the reasons they have to be afraid? D. Explain the meaning of smart deceit: how does one position themselves so they don't appear stupid or incompetent for your service or social function? Does the „virtual“ suit have the power of the real one and if so, why? E. Each individual should try to honestly explain what they would do in the same situation. Would they tell the truth? Do a statistical analysis (for example, 4:1) Why do justice and truth more often win in fairy tales than in real life? Why and because of who nothing changed in the end? Why can we call this story an anti fairy-tale?
GROUP TWO: I AM NARCISSISTIC? The students are given two illustrations and a text about the myth of Narcis. They are instructed to prepare a short presentation. They can use the Web for information. A. Verbally describe and explain both stories about Narciso. Explain the meaning of the world narcissistic and what are the psychological characteristics of a narcissist? Compare that to the character of the emperor from the fairy tale. B. Staring at one's reflection in the water and it's comparison to todays' phenomenon of the selfie. Is it a certain kind of addiction and does it change the way one looks at themselves? Why is it important to one to appear beautiful, attractive and perfect? Is it fashion, a trend or a requisite? How many selfies do you take a day, how many do you think you have on your phone? Why can that also be fun and entertaining? Connect the word selfie with the word selfishness, narcissism. C. In which way do modern technologies dictate behaviour, trends and fashion? Instagram and Facebook etc.? D. What about the children today? Do you believe young kids should own smart phones? Do you already feel a difference between yourself and the youngest generation, where do you see the biggest change happening? E. Are politicians, people of power and celebrities today especially narcissistic, ostentatious, opulent and excessive? Critique this behaviour from the point of a socially sensitive individual. Explain and support that with examples.
GROUP THREE: AM I A NARRATOR? The students are supplies with illustrations from a children’s picture book without words. For each illustration, they are instructed to prepare a verbal telling of the fairy tale to an imaginary 6-7 year old child in a simple and age appropriate manner. Five storytellers continue.
GROUP FOUR: AM I AN ACTOR? Based on the supplied text, five students write a short dramatization of the stories and choose roles to play (working in pairs is allowed). Their assignment is to cut out paper symbols for their characters and to do a short performance which will showcase the key places and characters of the story. Focus on the humorous and satirical nature of the characters.

Materials: Papers with names of the four groups, photographers of the characters from the mythologies (Narciso), illustrations from the wordless picture books, excerpts from the story in the picture book, sheets of paper and pencils for the short dramatization of the story and larger pieces of soft cardboard for symbolic costumes, scissors, smart phones, papers with the text of the myth, papers with the text of the fairy-tale.

Objective: The aim is to improve students' reading literacy and text comprehension skill, ability to reflect, critical thinking and empathy, key competencies, and transversal skills. Designing your own piece of work of creating graffiti and video shooting and self-study. The aim is to cultivate the reading culture by creating a reading motivating environment, developing the ability to interpret, analyze and evaluate.

Motivation: Out-of-class teaching, simulation of graphite with novel statements and their setting up by school space and documentation of videotapes

Evaluation and Assessment Method: Students independently demonstrate and fully substantiate their attitudes and results in the course of their work.

The impact of RSP reading activities: Practices that support and encourage student choice, thinking and attitude. The idea and the choice are personal and there is no mistake, and the positive understanding of thinking and thinking affects the students' confidence and lose previous reading resistance and gradually gain readership competence.

Connection to curriculum

Grade: 1st year of high school

General grammar school program: The aim of the curriculum of the study of Literature, Visual Arts and Music and the field of History, Civil Behavior and Ethics is related to reading and understanding of more contemporary, engaged literary and related works, literature and works of contemporary film, music and visual arts.

Students should independently discern, differentiate, explain, demonstrate and reflect on the features of the text offered, and arguably outline their views on the influence of culture, art and society on the development of young people's personality.

Knowledge:

Autonomously access text from different perspectives
Learn to initiate a discussion and ask questions
Develop ease and readiness of interpretation and storytelling
Enhance the understanding of reading comprehension
Organize and suspend different types of information

Skills:

Observe, counteract, distinguish, and comment on the similarities and differences that appear in the text.
Develop the prediction skill and the ability to imagine possible situational solutions.
Develop and enrich communication skills.
Construct, conclude and evaluate.
Learn to work effectively, independently and equally in the group.

Competences:

Establish links between the world in the text and real life or personal experiences.
Be able to visualize, combine, intervene in the material.
Follow the instructions and tasks and be able to evaluate the results.
Evaluate evidence and arguments, support and justify choices.

Bibliographic reference to be used during the activity

https://www.abebooks.com/Emperors-New-Clothes-Ladybird-Favourite-Tales/18293017067/bd

The Emperor's New Clothes : (Ladybird Favourite Tales) :

Hans Christian Andersen

12 ratings by Goodreads

ISBN 10: 0721415563 / ISBN 13: 9780721415567

https://vizkultura.hr/slikovnica-carevo-novo-ruho/

Klasja Habjan: ‘A picture book The Emperor's New Clothes’ (a picture book without words)

Digital sources

Results

Expected outcomes: students acquire the lifelong ability to read, interpret and evaluate the literary text; the ability to develop an understanding of literal and implicit meaning, relevant contexts, and deeper issues and attitudes expressed in literary works; a competent personal response to the subject of the literary work they have studied; solving different tasks from different perspectives; the research of broader and universal questions suggested through the literary work; a conscious grasp of contemporary artistic and social themes; developed empathy and a better understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Recommendations

Choosing a method of teaching and a suitable text affects the student's interest in reading, studying, and interpreting.

Independence in work, effective co-operation, involvement in discussion and appraisal encourage interests and develop analytical and synthetic skills.

The volume of the assignment can be tailored to the opportunities and interests of the group as needed, according to the RSP readership profile.

The more active approach and the smaller text fragments offer a more interesting, dynamic way of reading and studying a literary work.

Title of Activity
There and back again - A Hero’s Journey

Description of educational activity
Duration: 4 x 45 minutes

Pupils’ age: 15-18

Organization of the class of pupils: group work (5)

The aim of the lesson:

use of The Hobbit as a springboard to a more general consideration of quest adventures, with a special emphasis on the heroic epic.
help students in progress and development towards higher order thinking skills needed for Reading Comprehension while enabling them to derive both meaning and enjoyment from reading.
involving the students in strategy of creating fantasy story by following the story composition/sequence scheme in order to help them building the skills needed for Reading Comprehension.

Support materials:

Handouts :

"The Water of Life", The Grimm Brothers
“The Slaying of Fafnir” (Excerpts from "Reginsmol" and "Fafnismol" in the Elder Edda)
“The Odyssey” of Homer (Excerpts from Book VII)
"Orpheus and Eurydice" (Greek myth)
“The Charmed Ring” (Hindu folktale)
Excerpts from the book: The Hobbit, Chapters VIII – XIX
The return of the King, Ch.10, The black gate opens
Plot structure Diagram
A Hero’s journey – circular scheme
Key terms

Activities:

These activities are designed to deepen students’ background knowledge of literary devices and traditions, and to introduce them to the novel’s major themes.

Students are organized in 5 groups.

Pre-reading activities

Teacher might begin pre-reading activities by drawing students' attention to Tolkien's own description of The Hobbit:

"If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveler. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the domination of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger."

From 1968 Ballantine paperback "The Authorized Edition"

Activity 1. Your Enchanted Neighborhood

This is a mapmaking activity. The students pick a familiar place (house, building, street, neighborhood), reimagines it as an enchanted realm, and prepares a map.

What happens when we recast a cemetery as the Land of the Dead or a messy bedroom as the Vortex of Unwashed Garments? Are such transformations necessarily silly, or do they help us to see meaning in the mundane? What sort of quest might bring a hero to a post office, a municipal park, or a sewage treatment plant?

Activity 2. The Hero Next Door

Have each student select an acquaintance that he or she admires: doctor, minister, priest, teacher, grandparent, uncle... Equipped with a notepad or a recording device, the student then interviews this unofficial mentor.

Does the subject see herself as a counselor in the Gandalf mold? As a pilgrim on a journey? As a seeker on a quest? What advice does the mentor have for young people? Students should write up the interviews in their daily journals.

Activity 3. A Dragon’s Diary.

A quest adventure typically requires the hero to defeat a dragon or other monster. In this activity, each student chooses a famous literary nemesis and then writes an entry in that creature's diary. The bestiary is large: Grendel, Humbaba, Polyphemus, Fafnir, Tiamat, Python, the Midgard Serpent, a dozen others. (To encourage original research, keep Smaug off limits.) While most students will want to narrate an encounter between dragon and hero, some may prefer to record a more boring day in the monster’s life.

Activity 4. Bilbo Goes to Hollywood

Ask the group to assume that a talented movie director has created an ideal adaptation of The Hobbit. Students then writes a review of this nonexistent film, citing the choices the director made in successfully translating Tolkien's themes from text to screen. Conversely, the class might write negative reviews of a hypothetical failed attempt to film The Hobbit.

Activity 5. Epics North, East, South, and West

This activity requires you to equip the classroom with a large world map. Group selects and researches a different heroic epic. Students needn't read the whole poem, but they should probe deeply enough to answer basic questions. From what culture does the epic emerge? Who is the hero? What does he seek? Each group should summarize its findings as an illustrated sidebar, posting it near the appropriate region on the map. The possibilities include: the Iliad and the Odyssey (Greece), the Aeneid (Italy), Beowulf (England), the Táin bó Cúailnge (Ireland), the Mabinogion (Wales), the Nibelungenlied (Germany), the Song of Roland (France), the Poem of My Cid (Spain), the Kalevala (Finland), Ilya Muromets (Russia), the Mahabarata (India), the Epic of Gilgamesh (Iraq), Shah-Namah (Iran), the Book of Dede Korkut (Turkey), Emperor Shaka the Great (South Africa), the Epic of Sundiata (West Africa), Lac Long Quang and Au Co (Vietnam), Popul Vuh (Central America), and Haion-Hwa-Tha (North America).

2.Reading activity

The handouts are distributed amoung the groups of students:

"The Water of Life", The Grimm Brothers
“The Slaying of Fafnir” (Excerpts from "Reginsmol" and "Fafnismol" in the Elder Edda)
The Odyssey of Homer (Excerpts from Book VII)
"Orpheus and Eurydice" (Greek myth)
“The Charmed Ring” (Hindu folktale)

The students read the handouts in order to be able to connect their reading with various strands of ‘literary knowledge’, thus creating a more lasting and increasingly tightly woven ‘web of knowledge’. Their involvement with Tolkien will not take place in mental vacuum; rather they will be able constantly to link literature, film, music art etc. with previously acquired knowledge.

The students are invited to read The Hobbit (Excerpts from the book, Chapters VIII – XIX or the book in its entirety) at home.

Post- reading activities

Activity 1: Discussion

Suggested discussion Topics:

The Inner Quest

In many quest stories, the protagonist undertakes a double search. Even as he labors to complete his mission, he seeks some possibility buried deep within himself. Have the class discuss Bilbo's struggle to keep his timid Baggins side from overcoming "the Tookish part." How does the Bilbo of Chapter XIX differ from the hobbit who hosted "An Unexpected Party"? Is our hero's inner quest complete when he enters the Lonely Mountain? (On page 192 we learn, "Already he was a very different hobbit from the one that had run out without a pocket-handkerchief from Bag-End long ago.") Or does he still need to grow in curiosity, courage, or compassion?

From Grocer to Burglar

In Chapter I, the dwarf Gloin speaks of Bilbo in disparaging terms: "As soon as I clapped my eyes on the little fellow bobbing and puffing on the mat, I had my doubts. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar" (page 18). Ask students to recapitulate the episodes through which Bilbo earns the dwarves' respect and friendship. At what moment in Bilbo's journey does he complete the transition from grocer to hero?

The Metaphorical Quest

The plain meaning of quest is a search, and yet the concept enjoys loftier connotations. Which of humanity's hopes and dreams would students exalt with the word quest? (Possibilities include world peace, a cure for cancer, and contact with extraterrestrials.) What pursuits are students unwilling to call quests? Can the class think of controversial enterprises that have nevertheless been labeled quests? (Students might cite the Human Genome Project, for example.) What distinguishes a quest from a conquest? If you know exactly what form your desired object will take, does that mean you aren’t really on a quest?

The Crutch of Invisibility

Throughout The Hobbit Bilbo performs brave and sometimes foolhardy actions, often after becoming invisible via the magic ring. Do students think Bilbo's use of the ring was necessary in every case? Whom do we admire more, the person who wields a powerful object or the person who cultivates his natural gifts? Which of Bilbo's interventions struck the class as particularly heroic? Which did the students find disturbing? Is Bilbo responsible for Smaug's murderous rampage?

Symbolism versus Allegory

Most students are familiar with the concept of symbolism in poetry and fiction. As the class discusses The Hobbit, you can help students distinguish true literary symbols (objects, characters, and events whose meanings evolve as the story progresses) from mere allegorical equivalences (objects, characters, and events whose meanings are fixed from the outset). What symbolic significance do students find in Tolkien’s use of swords, water, magical objects, and the dragon’s hoard? What rescues these elements from the purely allegorical realm?

Destiny on the Wing

Like Tolkien's other works, The Hobbit implies a world of mysterious forces operating beyond human understanding and hobbit ken. Have the class discuss the ordering principle that evidently hovers over Middle-earth. What moments in the story might trace to providence or destiny rather than mere chance? Is the eagles' climactic appearance a eucatastrophe? In confronting these questions, students will want to reread Gandalf's final speech to Bilbo: "Surely you don't disbelieve the prophecies, because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself? You don't really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit?"

Activity 2:

A Hero’s journey

This discussion spins off from the handout called "The Water of Life." Begin the conversation by presenting basic elements of a quest adventure as it is presented on A Hero’s journey – circular scheme. Next have the class map "The Water of Life" onto this model. Finally, invite the class to fit The Hobbit to this scheme. What tests does Bilbo face as the journey progresses? How close does he come to being weeded out?

Activity 3:

The Gandalf’s Gazette.

Invite the group to imagine that daily newspapers issue from Gandalf. After picking a favorite tale, the student imagines a typical article from The Fairyland Sentinel or The Enchanted Enquirer, then writes it out in her daily journal. This piece might be a news report (TROLLS PLAN TO RAISE TOLLS), a feature story (WAYWARD SLIPPER UNITES PRINCE AND SCULLERY MAID), or an editorial (WE MUST REOPEN THE HANSEL AND GRETEL CASE). At some point in the article, the student should allude to the theme of the Faerie narrative in question.

Activity 4. Finding Your Inner Troll

So basic and compelling are the great fairy tale motifs — the impossible task, the rash promise, the forbidden action — that many students will enjoy incorporating them into their own fiction. The idea is not to produce a Faerie story for its own sake, but to use the genre in exploring a personal theme or making a satirical point. The setting can be archaic or contemporary, the characters convincing or comical. If students have trouble thinking up plots, remind them that the genre thrives on wish-fulfillment fantasies. What if a frustrated high school athlete, disgruntled babysitter, bored software engineer, envious business executive, or failed Nascar driver turned to Faerie in seeking her heart’s desire?

Activity 5: The Circle as Symbol

The motif of the ring recurs in Western literature, variously symbolizing infinity, eternity, harmony, perfection, and sometimes imprisonment. Assign student group to research the "circle myth" of his or her choice. The possibilities include King Arthur's Round Table, Dante's Circles of Hell, Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung, the legend of King Solomon's Ring etc. The student might present his findings as a hypothetical movie poster, magazine ad, book jacket, or travel brochure ("Escape to the Inferno This Winter").

Evaluation and assessment method:

Teacher’s role – provide materials and and act as mediator, facilitator or initiator of discussions.

In order to evaluate and assess the effective impact of the previous activities upon the students, they are asked to:

Write a critical essay on suggested Discussion topics
Write their own fantasy stories by following the circular scheme (Handout: A Hero’s journey).
Read The return of the King, Ch.10, The black gate opens and describe and distribute the stages of a key dramatic action by following the plot structure diagram line (Handout: Plot structure Diagram).

Students are assessed on their ability to demonstrate:

knowledge of the content and form of literary text from different countrie and culture
engagement with writers’ ideas and treatment of themes
appreciation of how texts relate to wider contexts
recognition and appreciation of how writers create and shape meanings and effects
empathy, through re-creation of a character’s voice and thoughts

Effect of the activites on RSP reading:

Proposed methods affecting development of higher order cognitive skills.

Throughout, the emphasis is on acquiring new skills through a structured process of practice to fluency, transfer, and generalization that builds on what students have previously learned.

Connection to curriculum

Grade: 1-4

Curriculum:

World and English Literature: Traditional folk literature, including myths, tales, sagas, poems, legends, ballads, and epics

Civic education - Power, Corruption, and Personal responsibility

Sociology – The Price of Progress

History: Mythology ; The Great War / 19^th century – the age of progress.

Geography – Ancient world Maps

Ecology - Love of nature and the effect industrialization and globalisation

Psychology –"Will to power" - The corrosive effect on the heart and mind

Music Art – Der Ring des Nibelungen, Richard Wagners opera.

Knowledge:

Contribution of fantasy literature to an understanding of areas of human concern
Critical thinking about the world, interdependency between people, friendship, rivalry
Wider and universal issues of Tolkien’s narrative
Better understanding of themselves and of the world around them
Enjoy the experience of reading fantasy literature
Different ways in which author achieve the effects on readers
Fantasy’s contribution to aesthetic, imaginative and intellectual growth

Skills:

Exploring rich heritage of the oral tradition through readings, discussions, journal writing, projects etc.
Understand and respond to literary texts in different forms and from different countries and cultures
Collecting, selecting and evaluating background informations
Read, interpret and evaluate literary text
Develop an understanding of literal and implicit meaning, relevant contexts and of the deeper themes or attitudes that may be expressed
Present an informed, personal response to literary text
Communicate an informed personal response appropriately and effectively
Work/cooperate effectively in groups
Skills of empathy
Skills in improvisation and dramatisation
Learning through active participation
Debating

Competences:

The student should be able to:

Comprehend The Hobbit at the level of plot, character, setting, and idea.
List characteristics of a quest story
Indicate which of Tolkien's characters might be considered archetypes.
Say what is meant by a "metaphorical quest."
Discuss some differences between symbolism and allegory.
Indicate how Bilbo Baggins's adventures changed him for the better.
Appreciate Gandalf's distinction between providence and "mere luck."
Appreciate the astonishingly complex world in which Tolkien's novels unfold.
Think critically and write clearly about Tolkien's themes, with special emphasis on their contemporary relevance.
Understand how Tolkien's fiction is informed by many literary and linguistic traditions, as well as by philosophical, psychological, sociological, and political issues that reverberate through the entire secondary school curriculum.

Bibliographic reference to be used during the activity

Features cover art by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Format: Paperback

ISBN-13/ EAN: 9780618260300

ISBN-10: 0618260307

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 08/15/2002

Digital sources

http://www.thehobbit.com/

Results

Outcomes of the lesson:

The student are/will be able to:

demonstrate clear critical/analytical understanding of the authors’ intentions and the texts’ deeper implications and the attitudes it displays
make much well-selected reference to the text
respond sensitively and in detail to the way language works in the text
communicate a considered and reflective personal response to the text.
sustain a perceptive and convincing response with well-chosen detail of narrative and situation

Recommendations

Many students, especially those with difficulties, find that visual schedules helps them organizing the reading activities. Planning how to begin the story and how the action will proceed is crucial and speaks to the need for understanding the sequence. Listing the elements of the sequence form can be very helpful. The visuals (charts, ilustrations etc.) can also be used as tool to help students analyse information in the reading comprehension process. As a student gathers information about what he wants to include in his story, he may need significant help with integrating components, particulary with first efforts and as expectations become more complex.

Proposed activities and method, together with the selected novel (or any other fantasy gender text) can help in increasing RSP readers interest in reading while affecting their higher order cognitive skills (integration, inference, analysis, creativity, negotiation, assumption, prediction, anticipation, clarification of information).