Introduction
Talking Animals????? Welcome to a world where we learn more about being human by listening to what the animals have to say...and watching what they do!!
Task
Today you will look at some facts about Walt Disney's movie Song of the South to learn more about Br'er Rabbit, Bre'r Fox, and Br'er Bear. You will also look at Joel Chandler Harris, whose stories about Uncle Remus were the inspiration behind the movie. You will find that each story, or fable, has a moral. It is up to you to find that moral in a story of your choice. Then you will get to write your own fable!
Process
1. Research Song of the South
Look at the following website to learn all about Walt Disney's movie Song of the South.
Answer these questions on your own sheet of paper:
When was the movie made?
Who was the actor who played Uncle Remus?
2. Who was Joel Chandler Harris?
Where did he hear the stories?
Check out: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug97/remus/bio.html
3. Was Uncle Remus a real person?
Who was the character based on?
Check out: http://www.uncleremus.com/
and http://www.georgiaencylopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/uncle-remus-tales
4. Now you get to write your own fable!!
Check out this website for some help:
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Fable
First, choose a moral or a lesson you want folks to learn. Write it on your piece of paper.
Now, choose your characters. Make them animals, and choose animals to match what they will do in the story. For example, owls are often thought of as wise, a tortoise is usually slow, rabbits and squirrels are quick to dart here and there, etc.
As you write, be sure to watch for spelling and punctuation!
5. Proofread your fable to make sure it is correct and that it makes sense!
6. Get ready to read your story to the class!
Evaluation
| Research Song of the South Questions | 1-10 points |
| Joel Chandler Harris Questions | 1-10 points |
| Uncle Remus Questions | 1-10 points |
| Moral is Easy to Understand | 1-20 points |
| Characters are Well Developed | 1-20 points |
| Spelling, Punctuaion and Grammar is correct | 1-20 points |
| Creativity | 1-10 points |
Conclusion
Walt Disney's Song of the South told the African Folk Tales set in the American South. They each have a moral that will help us live our lives today! Sometimes it is easier to learn from looking at others, isn't it? Stories and Fables are a good way to do that!
Credits
Teacher Page
This is an abbreviated version of a webquest which was created on 26 November 2014 to form guidelines for a student activity for the Study Skills class at Menwith Hill School.