Case Study: The Lion And The Mouse

Objectives:
Students will be able to, in a group, theatrically read “The Lion and the Mouse” using a variety of the vocal elements including “volume, pitch, rate, tone, articulation, and vocal expression”.
Students will be able to retell the fable “The Lion and the Mouse” using vocal elements of volume, pitch, rate, tone, and articulation to express the perspective of the lion or the mouse.
Students will be able to collaborate as a group to write a script for an original fable of their own creation and will perform through movement and voice (act it out).

NC State Essential Standards:
4.C.1.1 Use a variety of postures, gaits, and mannerisms to express character in the presentation of stories.
4.C.1.2 Apply appropriate vocal elements of

Procedures:

Have the students, in groups of three, perform reader’s theatre to do the initial reading of “The Lion and the Mouse”. One student will read the lion’s lines, another student will read the mouse’s lines, and the third student will read the narrator’s lines. (5-10 minutes)
Introduce the fable “The Lion and the Mouse” to the students and say that we are going to be working with this piece of text today to inspire our activities.
Divide the class up into groups of three and have them sit in their own spot in the room.
Provide each group with a copy of the story, “The Lion and the Mouse” with each part highlighted in a different color.
Explain that this activity is called Reader’s Theatre. We are going to read the story in our groups by taking turns reading as the characters themselves.
Ask one student in each group to raise their hand. Give that student the part of the mouse. Their part is highlighted blue.
Ask for another student in each group to raise their hand. Give that student the part of the lion. Their part is highlighted yellow.
Say that the last student in each group will be the part of the narrator and read the green highlighted