|
Classroom activities
for Herb the Vegetarian Dragon
©
Robyn Ewing
In working with half a class
of students and a group of teachers....and with the children presented a
thirty minute lesson each week over a term - (a dotted line separates each
lesson)
1. Visualise a dragon
2. Write down any words that you associate with dragons.
3. Choose one of your words to share and think about saying your word with
as much feeling as you can to communicate its meaning.
4. Take it in turns around the group to say your word with as much feeling
as you can.
(N.B. These words can be written on the blackboard/whiteboard and used to
create a soundscape - percussion instruments can be added to a subsequent
reading.)
......................................................................
5. Sculpt a partner into your dragon. Remember the partner acts as
'thinking clay' - he/she does what the sculptor says/demonstrates to be
moulded into a dragon. Swap roles.
6. Everyone becomes their sculpture. Divide the group in halves and each
half takes a turn to look at the dragons and note similarities/differences.
(At this point, dragons can be drawn/painted/modelled out of clay and
describing words arranged around them).
............................................................................
7. Read the first half of the book. The text lends itself to dramatisation
along the way. Stop reading after Meathook has given Herb the ultimation -
eat meat or be beheaded.
8. Hotseat Herb - how is he feeling at this point in time?
9. Individually create a story map of what happens next.
............................................................................
9. Divide into groups of four. Share your outcome with the group. As a
group decide on which outcome you prefer or incorporate elements of all
group member's stories. Make a still image/depiction demonstrating what
happens.
10. Each image is viewed and teacher taps into various characters asking
them to share how they are feeling at this point in time.
(The still images can be captured on digital camera and the stories can be
written down with thought/speech bubbles).
11. Discuss the different endings predicted.
............................................................................
12. Read the rest of the story. Discuss the concept of choices and finding
ways to live in harmony/at peace with others who are different.
return to
Herb the Vegetarian main page
return to story list
return to noticeboard
|