ASSESSMENT
Assessment tasks are dependent on the teacher's identified outcomes of the unit, the tasks selected and the evidence that teachers determine to be acceptable for the age group. Changes in values and attitude evolve over time as our expertise and experience grows and so cannot be measured. However, by exposing students to activities such as these we start them on their journey of awareness of the wider world, particularly if we give them the opportunity and time to reflect on their learning.
Beyond the Lines
The Best Beak in Boonaroo Bay is an allegory. Authors who write for young children will often use toys or animals instead of humans, but have them involved in human problems such as understanding who they are.
Clever readers are able to read along the lines, between the lines and beyond the lines - in other words, they can work out the message the author is trying to give them and then apply it to their own lives.
Read some picture books and determine if they are allegories. If they are, read the story to your group and then discuss the author's message.
- What can you learn from this message?
- Which values does it promote?
- Do you agree with the message and the values?
- Why? Why not?
A modern-day fable
The blurb on the back cover of the book says this story is 'a modern-day fable'.
What is a fable? What is the message of this one?
Read some other fables - you should find them in the 398.24 section of your library but ask your teacher librarian to help you if you can't. How do their messages relate to your life? Write the blurb that might appear on the cover of a fable you have chosen.
Reflections
Give each student the opportunity to reflect on what they have learned from this story by having them consider and complete these questions.
