Unit 2: Oral Traditions: Realistic Fiction, Fables, & Folktales

Unit Overview: Each unit overview provides a description of the content knowledge students will gain through learning and applying literacy skills while engaging with texts. Additional information in the Resources section. 

                 Unit 2 in Grade 3 focuses on having students explore the historical significance and link between oral tradition and the written word through explaining how the central message is conveyed through key details in the text. In 2nd grade, students were asked to recount stories and to determine their central message in order to support recall and comprehension. In Grade 3, students will build on these skills, and they will further analyze how central messages are developed in stories by explaining their connection to specific events in the text, through speaking, writing, and interaction. Students can also deepen their scientific knowledge of extreme weather events, their causes and effects, and their significance in stories that are often passed down orally from generation to generation. In planning, teachers should select the most high leverage words for their students. All Foundational standards skills are prioritized as students are participating in activities to support reading with accuracy and fluency to support comprehension, such as reading grade-level text with purpose and understanding, and using context to confirm understanding. Students will also engage in prefix and suffix decoding and comprehension activities to apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills. 

      In order to promote learning for all students strategies, have been incorporated into the day to day lesson design. For ELs, using language frames/formulaic expressions for specific purposes (e.g., compare/contrast, cause/effect) will support the expression of academic ideas in both oral interactions and writing. For students with IEPS, explicit modeling of tasks will provide them with a “roadmap” for navigating the cognitive process of successfully applying new skills. As part of the district’s initiative to promote equity, we will cultivate students’ intellect through critical engagement with oral and written stories that relate to the lived experiences of student and of diverse communities throughout history. The unit will culminate in a performance task in which students employ literary elements they have studied to create an original fable, through writing and drawing. This unit may include texts from Wit and Wisdom and/or ReadyGen that are aligned with the content and priority standards.

As designed the unit is paced for 40-45 days. Teachers will use additional time in the quarter for reteaching, reviewing or enrichment activities aligned to the unit’s goals. Additional times may be used to develop the performance tasks and allow for district based assessments.

Big Ideas: 

• Oral traditions are a community's cultural and historical traditions passed down by word of mouth or example from one generation to another. There are various types and components of oral traditions includes, tall tales, folktales, fables & legends.

• Oral traditions are  forms of cultural communication, or storytelling that help to build relationships  and can be used to teach lessons.

Essential Questions: 

• How are stories shared in families and communities?

• What is the cultural significance  of oral traditions?

• What lessons can be learned from folk stories? 

• How is storytelling connected to writing?

• How do the characters in the story gain confidence to face life’s challenges?