Author:  Kim Wardean

Grade: 7
Content area: Language arts
ïThis lesson is part of an interdisciplinary unit celebrating Wolf Awareness Week.

Objective: To analyze the stereotyping of wolves in children's literature and compare the stereotype to facts about wolves.  Students will then rewrite a fairy tale from the wolf's point of view. 

Wisconsin Model Academic Content Standards: 
Language Arts A.B.1  Create or produce writing to communicate
Language Arts B.8.2  Plan, revise, edit, and publish clear and effective writing
 

Wisconsin Model Academic Technology Standards:
B.8.4  Evaluate and select information from a variety of print, non print and electronic materials
A.8.3  Use a computer and productivity software to organize and create information
 

Lesson

Time: 6 class periods

Introduction:   In this set of lessons, students will read fairy tales in which wolves are stereotyped.  Students will then compare the stereotype to facts about wolves.  Finally, they will  rewrite a fairy tale from the wolf's point of view.

Sequence of Instruction:
1.  Brainstorm student preconceptions of wolves on a chart.  Discuss why they have these preconceptions.
2.  Discuss the concept of stereotyping.
3.  Read children's fairy tales such as the Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood and point out the stereotyping of the wolf being "big and "bad.  Students will note how the wolf is portrayed incorrectly.
4.  Read and discuss the book The True Story of the Three Little Pigs which tells the familiar tale from the point of view of the wolf asserting his innocence. 
5.  Read and discuss the book The Fourth Little Pig in which a sister shows the pigs how silly they are for fearing the wolf.
6.  Read and discuss the book The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig in which the character roles are reversed, and the wolves are the victims.
7.  Have students rewrite the story of Little Red Riding Hood from the wolf's point of view.
8.  Using the writing process, have students compose, edit, and revise stories using Microsoft Works 4.0 or Microsoft Word.
9.  Have students create story covers using scanned or imported images.

Closure:
Students will read their stories to the class and then post them on the school's web page.