Writing

• Talk about the format of a folktale that explains how a natural phenomenon came to be. Have students compare this tale with similar tales they have read or heard. Point out the personification of natural phenomena and animals in this story.
• Have students write their own folktale to explain how something came to be, for example: why the moon disappears each month; why the sun rises each day; why the rabbit hops; how the camel got its hump; etc.
• If you feel that this will be too difficult for some students, write the story as a group and record students' ideas on the board.

Assessment

• Monitor student responses during the pre-reading discussion to determine whether they can make logical predictions based on available information. Note the strategies they use as they read.
• Monitor student responses during the discussion to note whether they can identify the events in the story and explain why they happened. Review worksheet 2 to determine whether they can identify the causes and effects independently.
• Note which students have difficulty manipulating sounds in words, and provide additional practice.
• Note whether students recognize the different pronunciations of the variant vowel ow.
• Review worksheet 2 to assess students' ability to use different tenses.