Horton the Hero

(Begin with the end in mind)

Grade/Subject: Grade 1/2 Drama
OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA
PROGRAM OF STUDIES

Students will:

Lesson Duration: 2:20-3:05

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Explore and express large

and small body movements

ASSESSMENTS
(Observations, Key Questions,
Written Assessments,
Performance Assessments)

Students will:

Become aware of body and

voice as instruments of
expression.
Develop concentration.

Emily Smith

Use physical cues to

communicate.

Observations and Questions

are noted below.

Develop concentration on a
specific task.

Did the students participate,

as cued, using sound and
motion during the Hero story?

Explore movement of
varying scale.

Did students participate in

the dramatic play of the
Obstacle pantomime,
including offering ways in
which to overcome the
obstacle?

Respect and investigate ideas Develop problem solving skills.

of others.

LEARNING RESOURCES CONSULTED

Resource #1: Once Upon a Time: Using Storytelling, Creative Drama, and Readers Theater with Children in Grades
PreK-6 by Judy Freeman
Resource #2: http://www.boyscouttrail.com/content/activity/human_rain_storm-909.asp
Resource #3: http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activity/rain-storm.html
Resource #4: http://squareheadteachers.com/2012/08/21/love-drama-lesson-2/?relatedposts_exclude=78

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Horton Hatches the Egg
* Popsicle sticks with names of all of the students.
*

PROCEDURE
Introduction (2:20- 2:30):
Advance Organizer/Agenda: Lead students down to the drama room. Have the students sit in a big circle on the floor.
Hook/Attention Grabber: Were going to pretend for a little while. Look! Look at this HUGE rock thats right in front
of me! Its too tall to climb over and too big to go around (push and pull the rock). I just cant seem to move this
obstacle, this problem, at all. Lets call this big problem an obstacle. Whew! Im tired. Can anyone think of a way I
can get on the other side of this obstacle?
Choose a student to describe their way of solving the problem. Then, invite the student up to demonstrate their idea.
Work with them as a partner in the pantomime (If a students solution is to use a ladder and climb over the top,
volunteer to help him get the pantomimed ladder, and climb up). Once you are both on the other side of the obstacle,
thank the child! Then say to the child Hooray! You overcame the obstacle!
Choose 2-3 more students to help demonstrate other ways to overcome the obstacle.
Assessment of Prior Knowledge: When the students were helping me overcome my obstacle, what kind of people
were they being? (Heroes, leaders, good people, problem solvers, etc.)

Emily Smith

Ask the students to share examples of heroes. What makes each person a hero? (Positivity, leadership, a good heart,
etc.) Ask the students if being a hero and being a leader is the same thing. (note: you dont need to come to a definitive
answer- just talk about it.)
Transition to Body: Today were going to read a story about someone who began with the end in mind AND was a
hero.
Expectations for Learning and Behavior: Weve been talking about giving characters voices and actions. Im going
to ask for you to use your voices and your bodies sometimes while we are reading. When the voices or actions are
over, Ill raise my fist to remind you that its time for our zero voices. Lets practice that once.
Body (2:30- 2:55):
Learning Activity #1: Read the Horton story. Involve the students as follows:
Make a short rainstorm during It poured and it lightninged! It thundered! It rumbled!
o rub 2 fingers together
o rub hands together
o snap fingers/click tongues
o clap 2 fingers to palm
o clap hands
o slap thighs
o stomp feet

o slap thighs
o clap hands
o clap 2 fingers to palm
o snap fingers/click tongues
o rub hands together
o rub 2 fingers together
o place hands on lap.
Sound of wind, motion of leaves flying for Soon it was Autumn. The leaves blew away.
and said with a sneeze, Invite students to sneeze as Horton would sneeze.
They taunted. They teased him. Invite students to make Nyaaa, nyaaa, nyaaa, nyaa, nyaa or other
playground teasing noises.
He held his head high, and he threw out his chest Invite students to do the same taking Hortons stance.
Rolling and tossing and splashed by the spray Invite students to make the sounds and motion of the
ocean.
Invite students to make the appropriate sounds during A thumping! A bumping! A wild alive scratching!
Invite students to make the appropriate sound after the egg burst apart!
Invite students to repeat all the crowd says, such as Whats this all about? And My goodness! May
gracious! and My word! Its something brand new! Its an elephant-bird!
And they sent him home happy allow students to provide 100%!

Note: If students become chatty or are not following the actions, wait patiently until you have everyones attention.

Closure (2:55-3:05):
Consolidation/Assessment of Learning: Use popsicle sticks to choose students to tell you one of three things:

How/why Horton was a hero?

How/why Horton began with the end in mind.

How/why we could be more like Horton in our school.

Choose as many students as time will permit.

Feedback To Students: Thank you for using your zero voices today.
Transition To Next Lesson: Please line up at the door to go back to the classroom.