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Language
Learning Through Story (2)
Teachers' Resources
by Margaret and Alun
Isaac
Based
on
Nia
and the Magic of the Lake,
by Margaret Isaac
Apecs Press
2000
Sb ISBN 0 9537267 6 2 £29.50
TP/LS
These language
resources include background information on the story,
teachers' notes and language exercises. Due regard
is given to whole class work, group work and independent
work at text level, sentence level and word level.
The resources are helpful where legends may be a focus.
The legend
of Llyn-y-Fan reflects a sequence of events similar
to the Christian Creation Myth.
In belonging
to an oral tradition, folktales are susceptible to
change as different tellers select or reject people
or events either through lack of memory or a desire
to embellish the story and create a greater impact
on the listener. This results in the fragmented nature
of the stories.
NIA
and the Magic of the Lake places the legend in
a modern context. Wyn and Nia are descendants of Gwyn
and Nelfach. Because of his association with Nia and
his growing affinity with Llyn-y-Fan, Wyn begins to
understand that healing, compassion, and understanding
are powerful tools against the forces of darkness.
Extract
from teachers' resources
The teacher reads the first chapter Strange
Happenings to
the whole class. After the reading, children are organised
in groups. They read the passage again several times
before discussing the following questions:
- Do
you have a favourite place, all your own where you
can, like Wyn, feel you are the only person on the
top of the world?
- Look
at p. 5. Why do you think Wyn shrugged and turned
away from Elfryn without saying anything?
- Why
did the three bullies slink around the corner of
the school yard?
- What
do you think of the 'pit'?
- Do
you know of other experiences or ways in which children
can be bullied?
- Why
didn't Wyn tell the teacher?
Look
at the standing stone on p. 4. What do you think the
marks mean?(You can check them with the Ogham alphabet
at the back of the book.)
Extract
from children's worksheets
Suggestions for writing:
- Think
back over your life so far, make a list of the incidents
that this reading brings to mind.
- Share
your list with a partner. Choose one of the incidents
and talk it over with your partner in detail, make
it as vivid as possible.
- Write
this one incident down as a rough draft. Read through
it carefully, looking to see if you can improve
the description by adding more or better adjectives.
- Read
it to your partner. Has s/he any suggestions for
improving your account?
Once
you are satisfied that your piece of writing is as good
as you can make it, write it out neatly or word process
it. |
