New experiences can feel overwhelming at first...
Newcomer Nook
discover an ocean of support
for teachers of English Language Learners
Newcomer Folktales Unit
Are you looking for a unit that incorporates Project-Based Learning for newcomers? Look no further!
Sarah Hood, ESL Teacher at Northeast Middle School, has put together an incredible unit that will have students engaging with text while making personal and cultural connections!
See the photographs of student work samples from her newcomer class! Click to enlarge photos!
Teaching Tools for Folktales:
Click to download this PowerPoint which you can use to teach students about the 6 characteristics of folktales. Students will also learn that there are 3 different types of folktales, and that folktales come from cultures all around the world!
Give your students guided notes to complete while you present the Folktales PowerPoint. Using guided notes will help students focus in on the main ideas of your lesson, while also promoting active listening!
^ Click to enlarge photo
Guided Practice:
Sarah uses this passage to model for her students what she expects while they are reading various folktales from around the world.
^ Click to enlarge photo
Students complete this chart while reading several different folktales. The complexity and lexile level of the text can be differentiated to meet students' needs.
Below are some suggested websites for finding folktales on a variety of reading levels:
-
DiscoveryEducation.com -for videos of various folktales
-
www.starfall.com - for younger readers
myths from around the world
^ Click to enlarge photo
Cultural Connection:
Sarah creates a cultural connection between the folktales students are reading and their heritage by having students create Passports!
Student Interaction:
Increase student engagement while reading by giving them one of the four reading roles found in this document!
^ Click to enlarge photo
^ Click to enlarge photo
Assessment:
Want to find out how much your students learned? Give them this quick assessment!
Now that students have been exposed to a variety of folktales, it is their turn to write one!
Share the grading critera for this portion of the project with your students by downloading and printing this writing rubric. Help peers edit each others' work by giving them the peer editing checklist (also found in the above document).
Explore the website which inspired Sarah's project HERE!
**If you have a newcomer project idea or activity you'd like to share with other ESL teachers across our district, please contact me!