Goals:

1. The students will gain knowledge of the Caribbean lifestyle.
2. Each student will work cooperatively with other students.
3. The students will become familiar with Caribbean literature through the reading, writing,  and presentation of Caribbean stories.
4. The students will use creative writing skills.

Resources/Materials:

1. Caribbean short stories. Possible sources:
   Berry, James.  The Future-Telling Lady and  Other Stories.Harper Collins, 1993.
   Joseph, Lynn.  A Wave in the Pocket: Stories from Trinidad. Brian Pinkney, illus.

Time:

Reading of Sample Stories: 1.5 hours; Writing of Story: 2 hours; Presentation of Stories: 1.5 hours.

Total: 5 hours.

Procedure:

1. The teacher chooses a Caribbean story to read to the class and leads a discussion on the information the story tells the reader about Caribbean life.
2. Divide students into groups of 3 or 4.
3. Each group chooses a story from the Caribbean story books to read.
   a) The groups should be given time to discuss the story.
   b) Each group will write a brief description of the story and list the information about the Caribbean lifestyle which the story taught them.
4. Each group will write their own Caribbean story using the information they have gained from the stories they have read and from any previous knowledge they have of the Caribbean.
   a) The teacher and students could make a list of a few pieces of information which they feel should be included in all of the stories.
5. Each group will present their stories in front of the class.  The teacher should encourage students to act out their stories and dress up as the characters.  The idea is to be as creative and entertaining as possible.

Assessment:

1. The groups will turn in their summary of the Caribbean story and the list of Caribbean information.  (Criteria for success = the summary is well-written and summarizes the  main parts of the story (See Rubric A). The list contains at least five pieces of new  information learned.)
2. The students will turn in their own creative Caribbean story.  (Criteria for success = the story accurately portrays Caribbean life.  The story points out important parts of the Caribbean lifestyle.  The story is creative and does not copy the stories read in class (See Rubric B)).
3. Observation of the presentations.  (Criteria for success = the presenters use creativity in their presentation and do not simply read their story (See Rubric C)).
4. Each group member must submit an evaluation of the contribution of every member of  the group.  (Criteria for success = Each team member must have made a substantial contribution to the group (See Rubric D)).

Curricular Strands and Major Concepts:

1. Language Arts: Communicating with group members.  Using writing skills to write a story which includes information learned in class.  Reading a story and finding the major ideas presented.  Summarizing a story.
2. Social Studies: Culture and lifestyle of the Caribbean.

Possible Extensions:

1. Have students present their stories for more than just their classmates.
2. Have students present the stories written by the professional authors.
3. Make a portfolio of all of the group's stories.

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Caribbean Cruisers - developed by Sara Bork, Carrie Kriescher, Candice Murphy, & Melissa Randall