This Lesson's Title:

"Knot" the Whole Truth

writing a modern-day story with a tall tale's voice

This lesson was created by Northern Nevada teacher Patty Dalton.

The ideal "mentor text" that can be used when teaching this on-line lesson is the chapter book Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli. Before writing, students should listen to and discuss the writing style of this book's author, especially from chapter 20 of the book.

Click here to view this book at Amazon.com.

If you are a Washoe County teacher, click here to search for this book at the county library.

Three-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

The writer will analyze and discuss the tall tale format after reading Jerry Spinelli’s tale of Cobble’s Knot, told in Chapter 20 of Maniac Magee.  Then writers will need to create an interesting character in a special situation which would allow them to stretch the truth in an imaginative tale.  The interactive button game will provide writers with possible options from which to create their “whoppers.”  Teachers: click here to read the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait in this writing assignment is voice; the writer’s goal is to create an outlandish tale conveying emotion or emphasis through figurative language and conversational style.  The support trait in this assignment is word choice; writers will pay attention to using appropriate metaphors and similes, modeled after Jerry Spinelli’s spectacular use of both.