Making Filmstrips on the Events of The Cay

"Making Filmstrips on the Events of The Cay"

GOALS:

1. Work effectively as a cooperative learning group.

2. Create a filmstrip and a corresponding filmstrip box on The Cay.

RESOURCES:

1. Multiple copies of The Cay Taylor, T. (1969). The Cay. Santa Barbara: Cornerstone.

2. 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheets of white paper.

3. Color pencils, markers, crayons.

4. Cardboard box a little wider than 8 1/2 inches.

5. Box cutter.

6. Wooden dowels.

7. Clear tape.

LESSON ADAPTED FROM:

Sterling, M. E. (1990). Thematic Unit: Oceans. Huntington Beach: Teacher Created Materials, Inc.

TIME:

Not including the time it will take to read the novel, this lesson will require between 4 hours, 10 minutes and 5 hours, 35 minutes. (Part 2 [55 minutes to 1 hour, 35 minutes]; Part 3 [1 hour, 35 minutes to 2 hours, 5 minutes]; Part 4 [25 minutes]; Part 5 [30 minutes]; Part 6 [45 minutes to 1 hour])

PROCEDURE:

Introduction:

Watching a filmstrip is a helpful media tool that supplies the viewer with graphic visual aides. Therefore, creating a filmstrip by sequencing and reporting on events of The Cay will make an even greater impact on the students' long-term memories. It will also impact the viewers' learning by observing peer interpretations of The Cay.

Note:

Due to the structure of cooperative learning, teacher may choose to introduce succeeding steps of the lesson in order to keep all members active.

Part 1:

Step 1- Read the novel The Cay.

Part 2:

Step 2- Divide students into groups of three and assign, or allow students to choose, different roles. [Roles = 1) illustrator, 2) recorder, 3)editor/organizer]

Step 3- Group members brainstorm about main events in The Cay (number of required events is up to individual teacher)

Event examples that teachers can implement:

* Timothy dies.

* The S.S. Hato, with Phillip and his mother on board, is torpedoed.

* Timothy makes a vine rope to guide Phillip to the beach.

* Phillip and Henrik go to Punda to watch the war preparations.

* Timothy teaches Phillip how to weave mats.

* Phillip is bitten by a moray eel.

* Timothy pulls Phillip onto a raft.

* Phillip is reunited with his parents.

* Phillip loses his eyesight.

* A hurricane blows over the island.

Step 4- After brainstorming the recorder writes each story's event onto a separate 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of white paper.

Step 5- The illustrator will draw an accompanying picture for each story event to illustrate the event taking place. The picture can be drawn on the same sheet of paper as the story event from step 4.

Part 3:

Step 6- Each group will work together to write a short descriptive paragraph about each event.

Step 7- The editor of each group will proof-read each of the descriptive paragraphs.

Step 8- Once the paragraph has been inspected by the editor and is error free, the recorder will write each descriptive paragraph on 3x5 inch notecards, one per story event. (These notecards will serve as narration for each frame of the filmstrip.)

Part 4:

Step 9- The group will create a title page card, a credits card, and an ending card. (The three roles should be utilized during these constructions.)

Step 10- The group will place the sheets of paper and story events in chronological order, one right under the other. Also during this time organize the corresponding 3x5 inch notecards in the correct sequence.

Step 11- The editor/organizer will tape the sheets together to form a scroll-like product.

Part 5:

Step 12- Construction of filmstrip box (See diagram at end of lesson).

* Place a cardboard box on a table or flat surface, open side up.

* Use a box cutter to cut out an 11x9 inch (27x21 cm) hole for the screen on one side.

* Mark off two circles nine inches apart on one side of the box; repeat on the other side.

* With a pencil draw an X in each circle.

* Cut along each X.

* Push in on the X's; insert the dowels. (X's will push out on opposite side.)

* Tape the END frame onto the bottom dowel inside the cardboard box. Carefully roll up the frames.

* Attach the TITLE frame to the top dowel.

* Tape up the top of the box.

Part 6:

Step 13- Have each group present their filmstrip to the class. Each group should share responsibility of narrating the filmstrip.

ASSESSMENT:

1. Each group must constuct a filmstrip box in order to present a chronological filmstrip of The Cay using main events. (Criteria for success= X number of events recorded and illustrated in a properly designed box. Reasonable %= 80% done correctly.)

2. Teacher, students, and peers will make assessment of group work. (Criteria for success= See Teacher and Student Rubrics for Group Work, and Audience Rubric for Peer Assessment.)

CURRICULAR STRANDS AND MAJOR CONCEPTS:

1. Language Arts- Communicating with partners and class. Using The Cay to organize story events. Reading and writing notecards and filmstrip frames.

2. Art- Illustrations of story's events and construction of filmstrip box.

3. Math- Sequencing and logical thinking for story events. Also, the measuring and construction of filmstrip box.

POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS:

1. Research on Theodore Taylor and his other works to add a biographical frame to filmstrip.

2. Act out the filmstrip to create a skit. Or groups could videotape a scene to create a motion-picture production.

3. Put the filmstrips into the computer and make a Power Point presentation using either scanning or digital photography for the illustrations.