Adirondack Curriculum Project

Adirondack Curriculum Project - www.adkcurriculum.org

NYS Content Area Standard

ELA 1. Language for information & understanding

MST 1. Elementary Scientific inquiry

Title: An Adirondack Spider Folk Tale

Grade Level: 3rd Grade

Author: Michelle Lamere & Sarah Bencze, Tupper Lake CSD

Email: michellel@tupperlakecsd.net

Adirondack Curriculum Content Area
_X_ Natural History
___ Human History
___ Culture & the Arts
___ Government & Civics
___ Economy
___ Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Investigative Question or Issue: How might folk tales be used to explain naturally occuring phenomena?

Context for this challenge: Many cultures use Spider folk tales to explain a number of naturally occuring phenomena. This challenge is intended to encourage students to use a spider folk tale to explain the formation of a River in the Adirondacks. Prior to issuing this challenge, students should be given examples of Spider folk tales from African, Japanese, and Native American sources to look analyze for theri common elements. They should also have an opportunity to learn about spiders and river formation (see Comments below).

Challenge:

Create a unique, illustrated Spider folk tale, that explains the role of the spider in the formation of the Raquette River here in the Adironacks. The illustrations that go with your folk tale should be neat, creative, and show the reader you understand the text you have written.

Your folk tale should have the following characteristics:
- The folk tale explains the role of the spider in the formation of the River
- The folk tale includes accurate factual information about spiders
- The folk tale includes accurate factual information about the River, including information about its source
- The folk tale is written with correct sequencing - a beginning, middle, & conclusion
- The folk tale includes a topic sentence that describes the formation of the River

Quality Standards:

Adapted for the Adirondack Curriculum Project from the work of Education By Design TM and Leading EDGE, LLC ©ACP 2002

Product Quality
Checklist
Date: ________ Class Period: ________

Product Author(s):

Product Title/Name:
An Adirondack Spider Folk Tale

Evaluator Name(s)

Observed	Standard/Criteria	Possible Points	Rating
	The folk tale explains the role of the spider in the formation of the River	20
	The folk tale includes accurate factual information about spiders	10
	The folk tale includes accurate factual information about the source of the river	10
	The folk tale is written with correct sequencing - a beginning, middle, & conclusion	10
	The folk tale includes a topic sentence that describes the formation of the River	10
	The folk tale is written in correct sequence: beginning, middle and conclusion	10
	Illustrations show that author understands the text that has been written	10
	Illustrations are neat and accurate	10
	Folk tale is unique.	10

	TOTALS

Comments: The spider challenge will be the culmination of a two week unit on the anatomy of spiders, their habitats, role in ecocystems, observations and journaling, and identification of spiders and webs. The spider unit follows a unit on Rivers of The World, with a specific focus on the Raquette River.

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