Lesson Plans for HOW THE ROBIN STOLE FIRE level R

Expand the Reading

Writing Connection
Writing another folktale.
Say: I want you to pretend that you live in the Dreamtime. You are an elder or wise man in your tribe. Your tribe has recently migrated from the desert to the coast in search of food. The people have noticed that the ocean goes in and out each day. Think of a way that you could explain why the tide goes in and out. How would you explain it to people who have been desert dwellers and have never seen the ocean before?
Have children work in groups of three to explain the rise and fall of the tide and to write this as a folktale.

Science Connection
Have children use the library and the Internet to further research Australian birds. Have them identify those illustrated in the story. Ask children to present their information as a poster. They should draw, trace, or scan the birds and write a brief description beside each bird.

Reading Independently
Invite children to reread the book, How the Robin Stole Fire, independently or with a partner. They could then look for and read other Australian Aboriginal folktales. The children should also read each other’s folktales about the rise and fall of the tide and the bird posters.


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