Unit Title:  Folktales and Thailand

Unit Author: Janice Jeffords

Grade Level:  Seven

Unit Overview:
This is a unit to teach students about the link of culture to folklore, using Thailand as the focal point.  The unit will
begin with motivational activities about Thailand such as a power point presentation, a culture box and guest
speakers/presenters from Thailand.  Students will then work in cooperative groups to make a culture board display
of various aspects of Thailand’s culture that they can share with other members of the class.  After that, they will listen
to and read various folk tales from many lands to gain an appreciation of the influence of culture on folklore as well as
learning the basic characteristics of folk tales.  Students will then write their own folktales with the intention of sharing
their writing in an artistic or dramatic way with the elementary students of BFA Fairfax.

Time to Complete Unit:  3 weeks, 55 minutes per day

CULMINATING ACTIVITY:
Students will write their own Thai folktales.  For this activity, they may work independently, in pairs, or in small groups.
When this is completed, students will present their folktales to elementary students in a variety of ways.  Each of the four
classes will be matched up with an elementary class.  Students will either perform their folktales in play form or reader’s
theatre.  They may leave a story-on-tape for students to listen to at a later date.  Other options will be to do an artistic
rendition of their folktale by creating a “big book” or another type of illustrated book for elementary students to enjoy.
There will be a list of activities from which the seventh graders can pick and they will  work in same configurations that
they were in when they wrote their folktale, to create the final product.

Standard # 1.13 Students listen actively and respond to communication. This is evident when students:
                                a. Ask clarifying questions
                                b. Respond through discussion, writing, art forms.
 

Standard# 1.15 Students use verbal and nonverbal skills to express themselves. This is evident when students:
                                a. Share information
                                c. Show awareness of audience by planning and adjusting to its reactions.
                                d. Make effective use of such devices such as pace, volume, stress, enunciation and pronunciation.
                                g. assume roles in group communication tasks.

Standard #1.16  Students use a variety of forms such as dance, music, theater and visual arts to express themselves
                             effectively. This is evident when students:
                                 Project exhibit elements and techniques of the art form, including expression, that are appropriate
                                 to the intent of the product.
                                 Improve upon products through self- reflection and outside critique.
                                 Safely approach their media, solve problems as they arrive, creatively generate ideas, and cooperate
                                 with ensemble members.

Standard # 1.20 Students use graphs, charts and other visual presentations to communicate data effectively and appropriately.

FIELDS OF KNOWLEDGE STANDARDS
Standard #5.8   Students read a variety of types of literature, fiction and nonfiction (e.g. poetry, drama, essays, folklore and
                            mythology)
 

Standard # 5.11 Students use literary elements and devices –including theme, plot, imagery, and metaphor  -to analyze,
                             compare, interpret, and create literature