4 FABLES FOR OUR TIMEALL FABLES: http://4brightminds.info/thurber_fables.htm

James Thurber, Fables for Our Time and Famous Poems Illustrated (New York, 1940)

THIS UNIT we will: Read a short story (a fable) and explore its contents and literary techniqueBuild up vocabulary - Focus: Idioms, Phrasal verbs & Word FormationConsolidate grammar points - Focus: Reported speech + own focusDramatise or stage the rehearsed reading of a fableWrite a script/screenplay and an original fable (optional)

STAGE 1 - Making sense of the fable (ALONE and IN YOUR GROUP) DAYS 1 & 2START ON YOUR OWN

1. Read your fable carefully 2. Look up unknown words/phrases. Prepare a Vocabulary Record (VR) - FABLES3. Write down 3 questions that you’d like to ask to help you understand the story better.

IN YOUR GROUP4. Compare your Vocabulary Records.5. Ask your questions and answer your colleagues’ questions. 6. Complete the table:

Characters Main features(appearance & personality)

Setting Place & Time

Turning point Time at which an important change takes place which affects the future/sequence of events

Style & Technique Formal /informal; use of language devices (similes/ metaphors/ irony/ …)

Tone Writer’s attitude toward readers and subject; His mood or moral view: critical, playful, ironic, optimistic, pessimistic…

IN PAIRS7. Write a summary of the plot.8. Relate the events in the fable to actual historical events. AND/ OR9. Relate the situation depicted to common events, feelings or attitudes that are part of our lives. 10. Explain the ‘Moral’ in your own words.11. What is the theme of this fable?

[Theme What is the author questioning? What big issue(s) is he addressing?]12. What is the author’s purpose?

[Teach? Entertain? Make us laugh? Make us think? Explore human character? Explore human relationships? ]ALONEDid you like the fable? Why/why not?

13. Sharing the fables and interpretations. [GROUP - WHOLE CLASS]

STAGE 2 – Use of English and Preparing the presentations DAYS 2 & 3 1. Vocabulary & Grammar Time (worksheet)2. Guidelines on how to write a SCRIPT.3. Writing a SCRIPT for the DRAMATIZATION or the REHEARSED READING of your fable (min: 5’ / max: 10´)

PROGRESS CHECK DAY 4 STAGE 4 – Dramatization / Rehearsed reading of your fable DAY 5

REMEMBER:When working in your group you need to be focused. Keep your voice LOW and follow the rules:- Listen without interrupting, be concise, make sure you understand what was said & SPEAK ENGLISHIn each group there should be - An ORGANISER - A WRITER Even though everybody writes the answers to the questions only ONE copy of the written work will be collected by the teacher at the end of the lesson.ALL members of the group take part in the presentation.ASSESSMENT: Group work skills + writing skills + presentation skills + Progress Check (Reading + Use of English)