Reading Mini Lesson
Thursday, January 24, 2012
Lesson Focus/Teaching Point: Introduce Fantasy
Objective: RL5.2 I can determine the setting of fantasy texts and how it can help me
determine the theme of the story.
RL5.9 I can compare and contrast fantasy stories.
Materials: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
Short movie clips from, Narnia and The Fellowship of the Ring
Yesterday we were working on ...
Today I am going to teach you ...
Because ...
Today I am going to introduce to you a new genre we will be working on
for the first part of our quarter, fantasy. Some of you may already be avid
fantasy readers and some of you may not, and right now are raising your
eyebrows the possibility of reading about elves, dwarfs, and fire-breathing
dragons where the world is imperiled, and the characters are on quests in
the name of good or evil.
I ask myself, “why might I want to read fantasy? My first thought is the
adventure it takes me on. Most of the weight of the story may rest on
decisions and choices made by the main character. The second thought I
have is that it focuses on the human condition (the struggle between good
and evil), how power corrupts, the quest to be better than we are, and
how even the smallest amongst us can affect what happens in the world.
Finally, and most importantly, if you become a powerful reader of fantasy,
you are likely to become a powerful reader of all texts. They are
complicated. You must figure out what kind of world it is, where it takes
place, which person has the power, and what are the rules there? The
greatest news is that you will enter many narratives that will stretch over
many novels; you will read hundreds and even thousands of pages. You
Connection will emerge, like the characters in the stories, changed.
(activate prior
knowledge and focus
student attention on
the lesson)
Talk about Harry Potter. 400 million copies sold and translated into over
60 different languages…turned the world into a book club. All 7 novels,
spreads over 4,000 pages. You’ll be reading in a club that has no less than
400 million members (Mary Ehrenworth, Aternate Units of Study, 189).
Let me show you how I ...
 Demonstration Hmmm ... l'm thinking ...
Teach
Wendy M. Kauffman, Grade 5
Page 1
Reading Mini Lesson
Thursday, January 24, 2012
 Guided
practice
 Explain & give
an example
 Inquiry
Did you see how I ...
I am going to teach you that fantasy readers understand that our first task
is to ask, “what kind of place is this?” We must look for clues about the
time period and the magical element, using book covers, blurbs, and
details from the beginning of the story for your research.
Experienced fantasy readers expect certain settings:

Medieval worlds (swords, horses, castles, dragons, etc. Ex. Narnia, Lord of
the Rings)
 Futuristic worlds (spacecraft, intergalactic travel, advanced technology. Ex.
Star Wars)
 Ordinary World (at first everything is normal, then gradually blending magic.
Ex. Harry Potter)
So, you must immediately begin to look for and gather clues about what type of
place this is.
Now you are going to have a try. You are going to ...watch
Two movie clips from Narnia and The Fellowship of the Ring. You will
need to pay close attention to, “what kind of place is this, pull everything you
can out about the place including technology, magic, legends, power holders.”
Turn and talk to partners about what you observed.
*create an anchor chart*
What was different between the two worlds?
As you collect a fantasy book for yourself to read, I expect you, from the very first
moment you begin reading, to be alert for details about what kind of place you
encounter in the story you are reading.
Active
Engagement
 “turn
and talk” to a
neighbor,
 try out work
alone,
 or plan their
work.
What text will
you use for the
active
engagement?
I am going to demonstrate for you what I do as I read, to answer, “what kind of
place is this?” Let me show you how I do this (Using The Paper Bag Princess)…
 Look carefully at the cover and gather as much information as I can
from the cover (looking for blurb that might tell me who the story
is about, or what kind of world this is…not on this one)
 (cover) Girl with bent crown, huge castle-like door, gigantic
smoking dragon.
 (inside): snotty-looking prince, girl, room looks like a castle (arched
windows, stone walls, old wooden chairs, medieval
clothing…medieval setting.
 Magic…dragon
I know all of this because I took the time to carefully consider the pictures
Wendy M. Kauffman, Grade 5
Page 2
Reading Mini Lesson
Thursday, January 24, 2012
and text, clues about daily life and the appearance of magic.
Today and everyday when you are reading, you can ...
Link
Students will
Independent
Work Time
Share
We tie the
closing to the
mini lesson, and
use it as a time
to validate,
troubleshoot, or
further instruct.
Students will shop the classroom library for a fantasy book they would like to read.
Once they have found their books they will read the beginning of this text to look for
specific clues regarding what the setting of their story is.
Students will share their findings on exit tickets and turn them in before heading to
lunch. They will include all details they found to support their predictions of their
stories’ settings.
Anchor Charts
(Insert pictures of charts or created charts)
Ways to Differentiate



Books read on students reading level
Think pair share
Video for visual representation to support less proficient readers.
Wendy M. Kauffman, Grade 5
Page 3
Reading Mini Lesson
Thursday, January 24, 2012
Wendy M. Kauffman, Grade 5
Page 4