Modern Fantasy In our Classroom

 

http://www.librarything.com/tag/modern+fantasy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Modern fantasy is about beings in places and events that are not occurring in the real world. Modern Fantasy has characters that are  extraordinary  and worlds which challenge and expand our sense of the norm.

Fantasy is mostly created from folklore but the stories are not handed down orally as in traditional folklore. These stories have strong themes, traditions, and structures which are established in ancient myths and legends. However, the stories are shaped through the vision and style choices of the author rather than in oral tradition, which is rooted in cultural belief and told by the storyteller.

Fantasies are written at several levels and include elements such as animals, toys and dolls, small worlds, strange characters and events, unusual worlds, magical powers, the supernatural, time shifts, and kingdoms. High fantasies are often told in a series and often include themes at the core of life. With recurring themes and motifs, they are the most complex. Heroes on a mission are often featured. While science fiction falls under the fantasy umbrella, it differs from fantasy in that it speculates about what might happen if our present scientific knowledge was used in certain ways. It is valued for its ability to facilitate use of the imagination and to consider ethical and social implications of scientific issues.

Qualities in Modern Fantasy in our Books:

• stories must always meet criteria for excellence in narrative fiction
• effective settings are detailed and believable within the context of the story
• themes are meaningful, challenging the reader to ask questions and think about life
• writing is rich and structures, syntax and word choices are clear
• story events are imaginative, and logically consistent within the story world
• characters are multidimensional, with consistent and logical behavior

Benefits for Modern Fantasy:

Good fantasy might benefit children in that it helps children better understand themselves and the real-life struggles they may face. Not only can fantasy reveal new insights, it can also foster the development of children's imaginations.

Why do writers use the fantasy genre?

• The major advantage of fantasy is that it can open up possibilities; it is not confined to the boundaries of the real world.
• Writers are able to convey complex ideas on a symbolic level that would be difficult to convey otherwise.
• Fantasy works can provide a fresh perspective on the real world.
• Fantasy stories can suggest universal truths through the use of magic and the supernatural.

http://www.readkiddoread.com
 



http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073378569/student_view0/chapter7/evaluation_guides.html

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/guides-to-reading/parent-guide-to-book-genres-fantasy

Historical Fiction

" Historical fiction brings together historical face and imagination. We can never experience the lives of the people and events of the past, but we can come as close as possible through historical fiction." (The Joy of Children's Literature)
When authors started to write historical fiction they put together pieces of factual information and filling in the gaps that are unknown with information from their imagination. These stories are great because students learn the truth of important things that happen in our past yet they find a way to relate to them so that they understand what they are reading. When  addressing historical fiction to your students you must address these main points.

1. Form of fiction (not true)
2. Based on Historical events
3. Authentic settings
4. Characters portrayed in realistic ways
5. Some characters may be real
6. The people are real and events yet the story is fictional
7. Artistic mix of fiction and historical facts

Benefits in Historical Fiction:
Historical fiction creates another world for the readers yet although different it has strong connections to our own world. Historical fiction helps children realize they are not just outsiders looking in on great historical events, it also helps students understand that everyone place a big role in shaping and creating history. Students can find common bonds with the real characters from the stories who are distant in time and space.

When looking for historical fiction for students one must take a lot of things into consideration.

1. Strong characters development
2. A credible and engaging plot
3. An effective writing style
4. A detailed and believable setting
5. A relevant theme
6. Must balance the fictional story with the known facts of the time period.
7. The Historical facts and details of the time must not overwhelm the telling of the story

Below is a wonderful lesson that incorporates Historical fiction: Enjoy
http://kristincdunn.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/artifact-4-focus-project-lesson-plans.pdf



 

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/why-how-i-teach-historical-fiction

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson270/bookmark-hist.pdf
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collection/historical-fiction-genre-study
bookgirl3.tripod.com/historicalfiction.html

Traditional Literature in Every Subject

Social Studies in regards to traditional literature, can be used to introduce and expand in different social studies topics. children can learn a great deal about a particular culture or country by reading the traditional tales from thier country. Similarities and differences among cultures can also be explored through traditional tales. Why are so many stories from all over the world alike? usually it is because themes such as those in the Cinderella stories perseverance, punishment of evil, rewards of kindness, and justice are fundamental values and motivations that are universal. When traditional literature was created it was ever meant to be for children only, yet once all the tales were written sown, they slowly became for children. A writer names Horning stated that this happened for four main reasons.
1. The common characteristics traditional stories share make them very appealing and accessible to children: concentrated action, shock characters, patterned language, elements of fantasy, and simple themes such as good and evil and weak overcoming the strong and powerful.
2. The emphasis on oral storytelling by librarians who drew heavily from traditional oral sources, which creates a demand for publishing in this area.
3. The increasing demand for multicultural literature from non-European sources over the past ten years. Traditional tales have ready-made characters and plots that can be extracted from sources in the public domain that require no royalty payments.
4. the power of the stories themselves. The tales have survived for their sheer power as stories that deal with universal truths.

This all help to connect people from all over the world like social studies. When a student from another country comes in to our classrooms they feel less over whelmed hearing a story that is similar to something that he/she has heard. Traditional literature can play important roles in our children's understanding of the heritage handed down from cultures around the world. By reading traditional literature you are giving your students great benefits for their future. For example, it will help students understand the personal dimension and standards of behavior of a culture and at the same time reduce stereotypes that we see in our world today. If we connect all cultures and make them all important than our students will grow up not being judgmental. Next it will provide students with a framework for the literature, drama, and art they will later encounter. It also provides entertainment and pleasure students in all ages enjoy reading and hearing folktales. Finally it will provide students with strong rhythm , rhyme, and repetition of patterns. Traditional stories are tailored to children's developing memory and imagination and unique way of viewing the world.

I am going to talk about stereotypes in traditional tales from around the world. A conscious effort is needed on the part of adults to introduce children to people of different cultures in other genres. otherwise, stereotypes are perpetuated. However, it they only multicultural literature children are exposed to is that of traditional literature, children may end up believing that these people are either extinct or are part of a world that is unlike the contemporary world. "Being able to see people of different races doing everyday, mundane tasks, and not only in exotic or esoteric circumstances. Lets help our students learn other cultures in a fun way, so that they can learn to love that culture and not think that its different than their own. Although we are all different in many ways we are the same in the way that we live and how we feel about good and evil. Posted below are some great links so that you as educators can help students.

http://www.usm.edu/english/fairytales/cinderella/cinderella.html