Tanya
Beers
IST571:
Children's Literature Lit Kit
Book: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Lesson
Plan and Selling Tool:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16cjXaL8cSyXbUa9ltidtRB_1XvcMWBN2-ZpFT4AiTh8/edit
Tanya Beers
IST571: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo-Lit Kit
Title: The Tale of Despereaux
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Lexile Level: 670L
Grade Level: 2nd – 5th grade
Age Range: 7 to 10 years
ISBN #: 0763617229
The Tale of Despereaux is about a mouse named Despereaux, a princess named Pea, a servant
girl named Miggery Sow, and a rat named Roscuro and how their lives become intertwined in
a wonderful, magical, tale of destiny about daring to dream the impossible and having the bravery
to pursue what is told can never be. This fairy tale is a classic for readers of all ages!
girl named Miggery Sow, and a rat named Roscuro and how their lives become intertwined in
a wonderful, magical, tale of destiny about daring to dream the impossible and having the bravery
to pursue what is told can never be. This fairy tale is a classic for readers of all ages!
Lesson for 5th graders:
Students will read the book, The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. They will then examine
the following worksheet of questions that are based on the reading and answer them in the form
of a 3 page journal entry. Students will also describe whether they were able to identify with any
of the characters (how and why) and describe their reactions to that discovery.
the following worksheet of questions that are based on the reading and answer them in the form
of a 3 page journal entry. Students will also describe whether they were able to identify with any
of the characters (how and why) and describe their reactions to that discovery.
*The worksheet of questions that are based on the reading come from this website:
https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/teachers/blogs/genia-connell/2017/GC-Despereaux-
9-Questions.pdf. I really liked these questions for this assignment so I wanted to use them;
the students are only answering questions 1 through 10 in their writing assignment because I
think answering more than that will result in a paper that is too long for them. This worksheet
is the only part of this assignment that is not mine.
https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/teachers/blogs/genia-connell/2017/GC-Despereaux-
9-Questions.pdf. I really liked these questions for this assignment so I wanted to use them;
the students are only answering questions 1 through 10 in their writing assignment because I
think answering more than that will result in a paper that is too long for them. This worksheet
is the only part of this assignment that is not mine.
Learning Standards:
Common Core ELA Reading Standards for Literature K-5 (Grade 5).
5.1. Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing
inferences from the text.
inferences from the text.
5.3. Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing
on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
5.6. Describe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.
Learning Goal:
Students will examine characters in the reading to determine if they see themselves in those
characters then express their conclusions in a journal entry.
characters then express their conclusions in a journal entry.
Learning Objectives:
1. Students will examine the characters in the reading (through answering the worksheet
questions and writing the journal entry) to determine how they see themselves in the characters
and real-life situations then describing their conclusions and emotional reactions in a journal
entry. (Affective)
questions and writing the journal entry) to determine how they see themselves in the characters
and real-life situations then describing their conclusions and emotional reactions in a journal
entry. (Affective)
2. Students will use the reading and the worksheet of questions to examine how real-life
people can mirror characters in a story by examining the characters in the reading and their
choices and integrating their conclusions into a journal entry. (Cognitive and Psychomotor)
people can mirror characters in a story by examining the characters in the reading and their
choices and integrating their conclusions into a journal entry. (Cognitive and Psychomotor)
Learning Outcome:
Students will examine themselves by examining the characters in the book and the choices the
characters made then expressing their thoughts and emotions about their conclusions in written
form (journal entry).
characters made then expressing their thoughts and emotions about their conclusions in written
form (journal entry).
Works Cited:
Connell, Genia. “The Tale of Despereaux: A Read-Along Guide”. Scholastic, 30 March 2017,
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/genia-connell/2017/The-Tale-of-Despereaux-
A-Read-Along-Guide/. Accessed December 14, 2017.
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/genia-connell/2017/The-Tale-of-Despereaux-
A-Read-Along-Guide/. Accessed December 14, 2017.
New York State Department of Education. (2011). New York State P-12 Common Core Learning
Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy. Retrieved from
https://www.engageny.org/resource/new-york-state-p-12-common-core-learning-standards-
for-english-language-arts-and-literacy.
Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy. Retrieved from
https://www.engageny.org/resource/new-york-state-p-12-common-core-learning-standards-
for-english-language-arts-and-literacy.
Selling Tool: Book Trailer of The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
