[MOSAIC] fantasy book clubs

[Bonita DeAmicis]

Adventure--possible teaching points:
character change--usually characters grow in knowledge, strength, confidence
plot points--usually based on a series of problems the character must overcome
______
I also like to get into how the author "does it" since many children's adventure novels are about solitary figures and dialogue is used less--what do they do instead?  That gets us into flashbacks (and use of transition words), memories, talking to their selves, talking to animals, etc.
_____

Character decisions--would you do the same--why or why not--advice you would give, etc.

Character decisions often lead to great book talks in this genre--and that builds on the theme of man vs. nature that was mentioned before.


For fantasy books:
character again( usually this time it is a visualization thing because many of the characters are so fantastic--I often use drawing here)

settings--again--many times unusual places, unusual times, etc.--fantasies often involve a number of settings changes.

plot--many fantasies are based upon a "quest"--this leads to great discussions of do we have "quests" in real life? How do we have steps along the way?
_______
I also include author study of how they get you "to see" things you have never really seen before.  Descriptive language and writing...

Hope that helps,
Bonita

PS.  I always make a chart on the genre as well so students can talk there about why people READ this genre and why authors WRITE this genre--leads to interesting dialogue about what there is to learn vs. just pure entertainment.


> ----- Original message -----
> From: Lespop4 at aol.com
> To: mosaic at literacyworkshop.org
> Date: Wednesday, 2008, 09 Of January 22:20
> Subject: [MOSAIC] fantasy book clubs
> 
> > Our grade 5 teachers are about to launch book clubs, beginning with  
> > adventure in one class and fantasy in another.  I am trying to help them  design the 
> > unit by writing a string of teaching points with them.  Any  suggestions - 
> > ideas and/or resources.
> >  
> > Thanks,
> > Leslie