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Mem Fox's Animal Characters
Description:
The use of the Internet to play an audio recording of the author's voice reading her own book grabs the student's attention. Connecting Australia and animals to the lesson creates a bridge of relevance to the students own lives, especially when they create their own depictions of animals from their home as a continuation of Mem Fox's story, "The Magic Hat."
Goals & Objectives:
The learner will use the library resources to find information in order to create a link between the author, Mem Fox, and themselves. At the same time, there will be a link between the influences in the author's work and the influences in the children's work.
Materials & Sources:
  • "Koala Lou" by Mem Fox
  • "The Magic Hat" by Mem Fox Nonfiction Australian animal books
  • Animal book collection Pencils, crayons, paper, etc.
Procedures:

1. Introduce Australia on a wall-size world map in relation to the U.S.A.

2. Introduce Mem Fox, an author from Australia, who uses animals from Australia in her stories, by showing her website.

3. Play the audio recording on the website of Fox reading "Koala Lou." Students must identify Australian animals in the story. LMS turns pages of the book, while author reads, for students to see.

4. As a group, generate a list of Australian animals from story. Use Australian animal books to identify Australian animals.

5. LMS reads "The Magic Hat" by Fox.

6. Students create more animals to wear the magic hat by choosing animals that they have seen where they live. Students must find a book of the animal that they want to draw, in order to see what the animal looks like and properly spell its name.

7. The LMS presents the children's creation as a part of Mem Fox's book to the group.

Assessment:
Student learning will be evaluated as a group when we view their drawings of animals from the local area.
Sources:
Idea inspired by Peggy A. Sharp
Print this Lesson Plan
Presented By: Nicholas Lykling
Website by Data Momentum, Inc.