Activity 1: Recite the Book Information
- Recite the name of the author, the title of the book, and the title of the chapter.
Activity 2: Narrate the Story
- Narrate the events aloud in your own words.
Activity 3: Study the Story Picture(s)
- Study the story picture(s) and verbally describe the relation to the story.
Activity 4: Discuss Foreshadowing in the Chapter
Foreshadowing is a literary device whereby an author drops hints or symbolic representations of plot developments to come later in the story.
Discuss the following instances of foreshadowing in the chapter:
- Merlin says, 'Three queens who shall help you at your worst need.'
- Arthur reads on the sword, 'Take me on one side and cast me away on the other.'
- Merlin knows, 'When the time came to cast the sword away, much evil would have befallen the good King Arthur.'
Hypothesize the types of plot developments that might occur later in the story.
- Will Arthur have an easy life, or will he encounter great difficulties?
- Will Arthur be able to keep the sword Excalibur?
Activity 5: Act Out a Passage
Practice acting out the following passage, with drama and feeling.
- My lord Arthur, which pleases you more, sword or scabbard? (Merlin)
- In truth, the sword. (King Arthur)
- Let me assure you, that the scabbard is worth ten of the sword. (Merlin)
Activity 6: Playact the Lady of the Lake
- Pretend you are King Arthur.
- Step into the boat and row out to the pure white arm rising from the surface of the lake.
- Take the sword and scabbard from the white arm.
Activity 7: Complete Written Narration
- Click the crayon above, and complete page 123 of 'Fourth Grade Prose: Written Narration, Dictation, and Review Questions.'
Activity 8: Complete Copywork and Dictation
- Click the crayon above, and complete pages 123-124 of 'Fourth Grade Prose: Written Narration, Dictation, and Review Questions.'
Activity 9: Color the Image
- Click the crayon above, and complete page 124 of 'Fourth Grade Prose: Written Narration, Dictation, and Review Questions.'
Activity 10: Answer Written Review Questions
- Click the crayon above, and complete page 125 of 'Fourth Grade Prose: Written Narration, Dictation, and Review Questions.'