Genre Units

Our class has been studying a new book genre every month. We read books, write stories, look at reading strategies, and study vocabulary based on the genre of the month. This month is fables, folktales, fairytales, and myths/legends. While all these seem oddly similar they most certainly have their differences! This unit has been particularly interesting for the students because these are the stories we are all so familiar with. Fairytales has been a frontrunner for favorite and we will be creating a very cool final project.
To wind up this unit the students will be creating "fractured fairytales!" We have read several stories and compared them with the fractured version.

We read "The Three Little Pigs" and then read "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs."  We create a venn diagram and talked about how they were similar and how they were different. The kids couldn't believe the poor wolf was framed!!! Perspective has been an ongoing theme this month, and these stories are a great way to also teach why listening to both sides of a story is important!

Now the students will choose a character from a popular story and re-write the story from their perspective! I have already seen some fantastic ideas. Once we have traveled through the writing process the students will create books generated by an awesome website: ReadWriteThink.com
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/stapleless/index.html
The above link will take you to a staple-less book generator. The kids type the words, choose where the picture will be drawn, and voila! Instant book publication!
I hope to take these stories and have my kids read them to some willing classes within the school....pictures and video to follow!