By: Marsha Hofmann

1
A Princess Bride Unit

• By Marsha Hofmann

2
Analyze Learners

• Students range in age from 10 -12 years old.
• Fifth grade classroom
• Wide range of socioeconomic statuses,
  disciplinary issues, learning disabilities, and
  skill levels in reading and writing.

3
State Objectives

• RLA.5.1.1 identify defining characteristics
  build background knowledge and develop reading
  skills to understand a variety of literary
  passages (myth, poem, fantasies etc.
• RLA.5.1.5 Use comprehension skills (predict, use
  context clues etc.

4
State Objectives Continued

• RLA.5.1.6 determine elements of literature
• RLA.5.2.5 use strategies to address specific
  types of writing
• RLA.5.2.18 identify and interpret graphic aids
• RLA.5.3.6 contribute to group discussions
• wvde.state.wv.us

5
Select Media Material

• Princess Bride vs. Star Wars (webiste)
• Movies vs Books www.readwritethink.org/lessons/les
  son
• Book Summary www.enotes.com/princessbride
  

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Materials

• Class set of Princess Bride book copies
• TV/VCR
• Princess Bride movie
• Art Supplies
• Map
• Story Grammar, Friendly letter, and
  characterization chart handouts

7
Lesson 1 (RLA.5.2.5) Friendly Letter

• Discuss the purpose of a friendly letter.
• Discuss the format of a friendly letter
• Write friendly letters to your favorite character

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Lesson 2 (RLA 5.3.6)Contribute to Class
Discussions

• Develop discussion rules
• Make Predictions
• Review
• Discuss Problems and possible solutions

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Lesson 3 (RLA 5.1.1Identify Literary
Characteristics

• Discuss the differences between fantasies, myths,
  legends, and fairy tales
• Assign groups and a type of literature
• The students must choose or write a story and act
  it out.

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Lesson 4 (RLA.5.1.5)Predicting Fairytales

• Discuss predictions as class
• Write four or five best predictions on board
• Take a poll
• Write a paragraph or two explaining your
  prediction
• Keep reading!

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Lesson 5 and 6 (RLA.5.1.6)Identify Parts of a
Story

• Discuss each term setting, plot,
  characterization, conflict, and resolution.
• Make a story grammar outline, and use it to write
  a story.
• Characterization Posters

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Lesson 7 (RLA.5.2.18Identify Graphic Aids

• Discuss map parts (key scale etc.)
• Use the map to map out the characters journey
• Students will map their journey home

13
Require Learner Participation

• Use active lessons (groups, discussions, poster
  projects)
• Groups make a class easier to manage
• Try to make each student feel special by
  validating their opinions

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Lesson 8 Compare the Book and The Movie
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Evaluate and Revise

• RLA.5.1.1 -participation checklist for completion
  of theatrical performance.
• RLA5.1.5 -checklist for completion of prediction
  paragraph
• RLA5.1.6 -poster presentation rubric, and story
  grammar rubric.

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Evaluate and Revise Cont.

• RLA.5.2.5 -friendly letter rubric
• RLA.5.2.18 -checklist for completion of map home
• RLA.5.3.6 -on going checklist for discussion
  participation