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A review by hayleya94
Fables by Arnold Lobel
5.0
As the title so clearly states, this book is full of fables! Each story perfectly fits the genre, because they are short stories that are intended to teach a specific lesson or theme. Many characters are talking animals, which is also evidence of the genre.
I would use fables like these during a unit on theme. In this book, the theme is directly told following each story, but I would cover the theme with a post it while reading the book with students. At the beginning of the unit, I would list several themes, read the story, then help the students to choose which theme fits the story. Toward the end of the unit, I would have students develop a theme statement that they believe fits the story, focusing on writing universal themes, not a specific character-focused statement. Then, the students could compare their themes with their peers' as well as with Arnold Lobel's written themes. This would reinforce how there can be more than one theme that fits a story.
As a writing extension, I would have the students reverse design a story. They would choose a theme from a list, then create characters and events that would lead their readers to this theme. I used this same lesson in December using The Gingerbread Man as a mentor text. The students crafted such creative stories!
I would use fables like these during a unit on theme. In this book, the theme is directly told following each story, but I would cover the theme with a post it while reading the book with students. At the beginning of the unit, I would list several themes, read the story, then help the students to choose which theme fits the story. Toward the end of the unit, I would have students develop a theme statement that they believe fits the story, focusing on writing universal themes, not a specific character-focused statement. Then, the students could compare their themes with their peers' as well as with Arnold Lobel's written themes. This would reinforce how there can be more than one theme that fits a story.
As a writing extension, I would have the students reverse design a story. They would choose a theme from a list, then create characters and events that would lead their readers to this theme. I used this same lesson in December using The Gingerbread Man as a mentor text. The students crafted such creative stories!