Before Reading

Lesson Plans for MURDOCH'S PATH Level R

Before Reading

Build Background
Ask questions that elicit prior knowledge and build background about folktales and the culture of Ireland. Most students will have had experience with folktales. If students cannot name a folktale they are familiar with, remind them of familiar stories including fairy tales popularized by things such as Disney features. Introduce the features of folktales, including the hero, the villain, the setting, the magical elements or characters, the hero's test, the villain's test, reward and punishment, and the moral.
Ask: What are some folktales you know? Who was the hero? What was he or she like? Was he or she a kind person? Were there "bad" characters, or villains, in the story? Were there magical characters? How did the main character interact with the magic or the magical characters? How did the villain? Did the story have some kind of message or moral?
On a world map, point out the country of Ireland. Invite students to brainstorm things they know about Irish culture. Mention St. Patrick's Day to elicit the features we think of when we think of Irish culture. Be sure to mention Ireland's strong history of tales involving little people, including fairies, pixies, and the ever-popular leprechauns. Explain that Irish children are very familiar with fairies and stories about fairies.
Be sure to introduce children to the dialect spellings and Irish phrases, such as "Top 'o the morning to ye."

Introduce the Book
Give students their copies of the book and have them look at the front and back covers. Read the title with them, including the names of the author and illustrator. Ensure that students know what the author and illustrator do. Have students preview the illustrations. As they go through the book, ask students to make predictions about the events of the story. Reinforce the features of a folktale.
Say and ask: What do you think is happening in the story? Who is that on the cover? What kind of person do you think he might be? Who is the person in the strange coat on page 8? What kind of character do you think he might be? How do you think he will treat the main character?

Reading Strategies
Point out the word trustworthy in bold on page 4. Encourage students to figure out the meaning of the word using context.
Say and ask: The sentence says that Pat was "as trustworthy as a clock." Read the rest of the sentence. What do you think of when you think of clocks? Would it be good if clocks were late or did not keep the correct time? Knowing that Pat is compared to a clock, what do you think the word trustworthy might mean? Read the next sentence. It seems like Pat is someone who can be trusted. Read the word trustworthy again. What do you notice about it? Do you see any smaller words within the word? Can someone tell me what they think trustworthy might mean? Now, let's look it up in the glossary to check if we are correct.

Set the Purpose
Tell students that you want them to look for the features of a folktale. They should look for magic or a magical character, the hero and the villain, the hero's test and his reward, and the villain's test and his punishment. Tell students you will discuss these features after reading.

Go to During Reading

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Introduce the Book
Give students their copies of the book and have them look at the front and back covers. Read the title with them, including the names of the author and illustrator. Ensure that students know what the author and illustrator do. Have students preview the illustrations. As they go through the book, ask students to make predictions about the events of the story. Reinforce the features of a folktale.
Say and ask: What do you think is happening in the story? Who is that on the cover? What kind of person do you think he might be? Who is the person in the strange coat on page 8? What kind of character do you think he might be? How do you think he will treat the main character?

Reading Strategies
Point out the word trustworthy in bold on page 4. Encourage students to figure out the meaning of the word using context.
Say and ask: The sentence says that Pat was "as trustworthy as a clock." Read the rest of the sentence. What do you think of when you think of clocks? Would it be good if clocks were late or did not keep the correct time? Knowing that Pat is compared to a clock, what do you think the word trustworthy might mean? Read the next sentence. It seems like Pat is someone who can be trusted. Read the word trustworthy again. What do you notice about it? Do you see any smaller words within the word? Can someone tell me what they think trustworthy might mean? Now, let's look it up in the glossary to check if we are correct.

Set the Purpose
Tell students that you want them to look for the features of a folktale. They should look for magic or a magical character, the hero and the villain, the hero's test and his reward, and the villain's test and his punishment. Tell students you will discuss these features after reading.