Angelica Rinebarger

4/23/13

The Bootmaker and the Elves by Susan Lowell

Lesson Plan
Basic Lesson Information
Grade:
3rd Grade CATS
Estimated Time:
45 minutes (20 minute read-aloud, 25 minute activity)
Connections to Standards and Lesson Objectives:
Arizona CORE Reading Standards for Literature
(4.RL.3) Students will describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama,
drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a characters thoughts, words, or actions).
Arizona CORE Writing Standards
(4.W.9) Students will draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support
analysis, reflection, and research.
Materials and Supplies:
Literary Selection: The Bootmaker and the Elves
Author: Susan Lowell
Illustrator: Tom Curry
Publication: 1997
Genre: Derivative Fairy Tale
Supplies Needed:
Boot Template
Brainstormed character(s)
Crayons, markers, colored pencils
Scissors
Key Vocabulary:
Nary, frazzled
Reader-Response Activity:
Students will pretend theyre the elves and create a pair of boots for an imaginary
character. On the back of the boots, students will write about their character and why they
drew what they did. Students can volunteer to present their artwork to the class.

Connections to Prior Learning/Knowledge/Experience:

Explain to students that they have learned about fairy tales during the year. Ask them to
review what the features of a fairy tale are.
Lesson Procedures/Activities
1. Gather students at the front of the room and wait until they are focused.
2. Hold up the cover of the book and say, Todays story is The Bootmaker and the
Elves and it takes place in the Old West.
3. Ask questions to motivate students:
a. What do you know about the Old West?
b. How was the Old West different from today?
c. Has anyone ever visited any places that were once like the Old West?
4. Begin read aloud by announcing the book information.
5. When finished reading, ask students how they liked the book and who were their
favorite characters and why.
6. Tell students to pick up a piece of paper (boot template) and return to their desks.
7. Tell students to brainstorm an Old West character they could make a pair of boots
for, as if they were the magical elves.
8. Have students use art supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils, scissors, etc.) to
draw, color, and cutout their pair of boots.
9. Have students write a short paragraph on the back of their artwork about their
character and why they made their boots the way they did.
10. Students can volunteer to share their artwork with their class or students can turn
in their work.
Reflection
The class really enjoyed the story because it was fun and interesting. They absolutely
loved making their own boots and some students made really elaborate and creative
drawings on them. Most students really wanted to share their boots with the class and
explain what they drew. Overall, the lesson went as planned and we had just enough
time to read, draw, and share!