Munro Leaf's "The Story of Ferdinand" is one of my favorite children's books ideal for K-2 levels. I read it to my first graders and they always love to listen to this story. I chose this book because the main character is not like everyone else. He is who he is and doesn't change or care about being different. Ferdinand is a bull. Despite his size and the history that bulls are mean and ferocious animals, this bull is not like the others. Instead of doing all the things bulls do, he simply sits and smells the flowers.
Themes and topics that arise as part of our week long book study are being different, bullying, acceptance, friendship, stereotypes, likes/ dislikes, bull fighting, traditions/ customs, character traits, and being of good character to name a few. Other book discussions and topics with this book are explored through thinking maps or language to literacy charts are comparing/ contrasting, problem/ solution, cause/ effect, writing letters, persuasion and adjectives. Guiding questions used to foster discussions are “If you were Ferdinand, what would you tell your mother/ bull fighters?”, “What would you tell the other bulls your age?”, “What was the problem/ solution?”, “Have you ever been in a situation where you felt different/ outcast?”, “What would you tell Ferdinand about his likes?”, “Does he remind you of another character?”, and “What are some effects observed because of Ferdinand’s favorite pass time?” Some extensions I use are “Write a letter to Ferdinand/ bullfighters/ mother bull”, and “Describe Ferdinand to the bull fighter or someone else”, “Write a letter to persuade the five men to not take Ferdinand to the bull fight.” They could also act out the story, discussion in favor/ against bull fighting, write or discuss what makes them different from others, connections with other books that are of similar topic/ theme. We also talk about the location of the story (Spain) and find it on the map and learn about other traditions in that country.
L.Covarrubias-1st Grade
Themes and topics that arise as part of our week long book study are being different, bullying, acceptance, friendship, stereotypes, likes/ dislikes, bull fighting, traditions/ customs, character traits, and being of good character to name a few. Other book discussions and topics with this book are explored through thinking maps or language to literacy charts are comparing/ contrasting, problem/ solution, cause/ effect, writing letters, persuasion and adjectives. Guiding questions used to foster discussions are “If you were Ferdinand, what would you tell your mother/ bull fighters?”, “What would you tell the other bulls your age?”, “What was the problem/ solution?”, “Have you ever been in a situation where you felt different/ outcast?”, “What would you tell Ferdinand about his likes?”, “Does he remind you of another character?”, and “What are some effects observed because of Ferdinand’s favorite pass time?” Some extensions I use are “Write a letter to Ferdinand/ bullfighters/ mother bull”, and “Describe Ferdinand to the bull fighter or someone else”, “Write a letter to persuade the five men to not take Ferdinand to the bull fight.” They could also act out the story, discussion in favor/ against bull fighting, write or discuss what makes them different from others, connections with other books that are of similar topic/ theme. We also talk about the location of the story (Spain) and find it on the map and learn about other traditions in that country.
L.Covarrubias-1st Grade
3 comments:
Ferdanan is a classic Ms. C! It is one I have always enjoyed reading and sharing. There is a newer book called the Sissy Duckling with many thematic similarites and vivid pictures. The main character, Elmer, becomes a hero when he follows his heart and refuses to change who he is in order to fit in. Both titles are titles worthy of our attention.
Love this book. Be who you are and not like the others.
Love it! Thank you for all the wonderful lesson ideas. Great way to talk with students about being their own person and not always following others.
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