Reading Club A – Robin Hood / Knights of the Round Table -- 4

 Learning about Literature / Robin Hood / Newspaper/ Knights of the Round Table

by cAmilla Wu

Date: September 5, 2009

1.     Learning about Literature (based on What your fifth grader needs to know, p. 45)

a.        Define “literature.”

Literature: writing in prose or verse regarded as having permanent worth through its intrinsic excellence.

l      The definition of the word “literature” may vary according to different versions of dictionaries; however, the meaning is the same. When you look up a word in different dictionaries you might find that each dictionary has its own way of describing the word. Nevertheless, the meaning of the word is actually the same. Is it ok for people to mean the same thing by using different descriptions? Yes. And that is why we have fun while listening to what other people might think!

b.        Literal language: You say exactly what you mean.

c.         Figurative language: It is a more colorful way of expressing yourself when you don’t say exactly what you mean.

*   a figure of speech: It is an expression that is not meant to be taken literally.

Joke:

“Why did the little boy throw the clock out of the window?”

“Because he wanted to see time fly.”

    That’s funny because the boy in the joke takes a figure of speech literally.

2.     Robin Hood

a.       Discuss the characters, the plots, and the scenes.

b.      Discuss the conflict.

c.       Reinforce the concepts of literal language and figurative language.

3.     Newspaper

a.      The Wall Street Journal

b.      The Globe and Mail

c.       International Herald Tribune

4.     Knights of the Round Table

a.       Group reading and role playing: the preface and chapter one.

b.      All the club members are required to finish reading Knights of the Round Table at home.