1. On your desks, you each have been given a copy of a story. Read your story as a group, and then work together to create a visual on chart paper that includes the characters, conflict, and ending to share with the whole class.

3.  Short stories  Characters are animals  The animals are given human traits  One or more of the characters have a weakness or defect.  A lesson, or moral, is taught through the story’s conflict and resolution.

4.  Read the fable.  Write the characteristics of all fables, and give examples from the text of each of the characteristics.

5. One afternoon a fox was walking through the forest and spotted a bunch of grapes hanging from over a lofty branch."Just the thing to quench my thirst," said he. Taking a few steps back, the fox jumped and just missed the hanging grapes. Again the fox took a few paces back and tried to reach them but still failed. Finally, giving up, the fox turned up his nose and said, "They're probably sour anyway," and proceeded to walk away. It's easy to despise what you cannot have.

6. You are going to write your own fables. Make sure to include all of the characteristics in your story. We will be working through the writing process as we write these short narratives. Today we will begin by brainstorming. Step 1: Brainstorm the characters and a potential conflict on your sheet of paper. Your story should have at least 2 characters. (5 minutes)

7.  Beginning:  Middle:  End:

8.  Using your brainstorming and outline notes from yesterday, begin drafting (writing) your essay. Write freely for the next 15 minutes using your notes as a guide.

9.  Switch papers with a partner and read each other’s fables.  Provide feedback:  At least 1 strength and 1 area in which to improve  After peer editing one another’s stories, use the feedback to make necessary changes to your stories.