Process Step 1: Real vs. Fake
“Hello again! I guess I'd better introduce myself. I'm Davy Crockett. Yes, that is my real name, but what do you know about me? Have I done anything heroic? Why not put on your investigative reporter’s hats for a moment and find out the real story of Davy Crockett. It just might be the start you need to write a powerful tall tale that will have a chance of winning Heroic Multimedia's contest. Hurry up and get started...” *First you need to download this notebook file. Immediately 'save as' and rename it: lastname_firstname_HeroicMM |
Compare Davy's life to his tall tale.
Using the links below, complete both time lines and then fill in the T-chart
(the first 3 pages of your notebook file).
Davy Crockett's biography
A Davy Crockett Tall Tale
Using the links below, complete both time lines and then fill in the T-chart
(the first 3 pages of your notebook file).
Davy Crockett's biography
A Davy Crockett Tall Tale
Process Step 2: Read Some Tall Tales
To create a riveting tall tale you must first understand the essential elements of one. Choose two tales from the list below to read; as you do so, fill out the fiction writing inspiration template for each.
Pecos Bill : A Tall Tale by Steven Kellogg
Doña Flor : A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora
Clever Beatrice : An Upper Peninsula Conte by Margaret Willey
Paul Bunyan, A Tall Tale by Steven Kellogg
Scatterbrain Sam by Ellen B. Jackson
Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen
Alligator Sue by Sharon Arms Doucet
Library Lil by Suzanne Williams
Dust Devil by Anne Isaacs
The Legend of Slappy Hooper: An American Tall Tale by Aaron Shepard and Toni Goffe
Twister Twyla: The Kansas Cowgirl by Jerri Garretson and Diane A. Dollar
The Tall Tales of Paul Bunyan: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin) by Martin Powell and Aaron Blecha
Calamity Jane (Tall Tales series) by Brimner, Larry Dane, Dufour Love, and Judy
The Giant of Seville: A "Tall" Tale Based on a True Story by Dan Andreasen
Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett : A Tall Tale by Steven Kellogg
Casey Jones (Tall Tales series) by Brimner, Larry Dane, Rose, and Drew
Or if you would rather read online:
American Folklore
Pecos Bill : A Tall Tale by Steven Kellogg
Doña Flor : A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora
Clever Beatrice : An Upper Peninsula Conte by Margaret Willey
Paul Bunyan, A Tall Tale by Steven Kellogg
Scatterbrain Sam by Ellen B. Jackson
Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen
Alligator Sue by Sharon Arms Doucet
Library Lil by Suzanne Williams
Dust Devil by Anne Isaacs
The Legend of Slappy Hooper: An American Tall Tale by Aaron Shepard and Toni Goffe
Twister Twyla: The Kansas Cowgirl by Jerri Garretson and Diane A. Dollar
The Tall Tales of Paul Bunyan: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin) by Martin Powell and Aaron Blecha
Calamity Jane (Tall Tales series) by Brimner, Larry Dane, Dufour Love, and Judy
The Giant of Seville: A "Tall" Tale Based on a True Story by Dan Andreasen
Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett : A Tall Tale by Steven Kellogg
Casey Jones (Tall Tales series) by Brimner, Larry Dane, Rose, and Drew
Or if you would rather read online:
American Folklore
Process Step 3: Tall Tale Characteristics
Study your diagrams and determine any threads that tie the stories together.
What commonalities did you notice? Discuss with your partner. Check on the fourth page of your notebook file to see how many tall tale characteristics you figured out on your own. Then match up the sentences from the right hand column to any characteristics they exemplify listed in the left column.
Now you are ready to use the fifth page of your notebook file (Tall Tale Elements T-chart) to share examples of each element/characteristic from the two tall tales you read. First, list the characteristics from page 4 under elements. Second, find at least one example of each element from the stories you read in process step 2.
What commonalities did you notice? Discuss with your partner. Check on the fourth page of your notebook file to see how many tall tale characteristics you figured out on your own. Then match up the sentences from the right hand column to any characteristics they exemplify listed in the left column.
Now you are ready to use the fifth page of your notebook file (Tall Tale Elements T-chart) to share examples of each element/characteristic from the two tall tales you read. First, list the characteristics from page 4 under elements. Second, find at least one example of each element from the stories you read in process step 2.
Process Step 4: Current Events
Choose a current story from one of the following sources:
Time For Kids
New York Times Learning Blog
CNN Student News
The Joplin Globe
Or a current magazine or other approved source.
Copy and paste the article you have decided to turn into a tall tale into your SMART notebook file (sixth page). Highlight and label the who, what, where, when and why of your article. Or if you're thinking you may need to work on this at home, copy and paste it into a Word document.
Time For Kids
New York Times Learning Blog
CNN Student News
The Joplin Globe
Or a current magazine or other approved source.
Copy and paste the article you have decided to turn into a tall tale into your SMART notebook file (sixth page). Highlight and label the who, what, where, when and why of your article. Or if you're thinking you may need to work on this at home, copy and paste it into a Word document.
Process Step 5: Brainstorming
Use this sheet to begin your brainstorming session. What similes/metaphors come to mind? Can you think of some exaggerated character traits that would work for your news story? This is where you need to use your imagination! Put everything down that comes to mind... even the ridiculous. You may or may not use it in your final product, but writing everything down will keep your mind open and lead you to the best ideas.
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Process Step 6: Responsibilities
It is now time for you and your partner to choose one of the following jobs: Journalist or Graphic Artist. Keep in mind that although you will each have a specific role,
it is still a partnership, and you will be assisting one another.
The journalist will primarily be responsible for taking your partnership's ideas and turning them into a tall tale. Use a new fiction writing Inspiration template to make sure you include all story elements.
The graphic artist will primarily be responsible for illustrating the story. This can be done using your own artwork, computer images, videos of 'actors', claymation, etc.
it is still a partnership, and you will be assisting one another.
The journalist will primarily be responsible for taking your partnership's ideas and turning them into a tall tale. Use a new fiction writing Inspiration template to make sure you include all story elements.
The graphic artist will primarily be responsible for illustrating the story. This can be done using your own artwork, computer images, videos of 'actors', claymation, etc.
Process Step 7: Tall Tale Script
You are now ready to write the script for your new tall tale - the exaggerated news article. Story boarding is a critical step. Click here and here and here to see an example from a professional.
Choose one of the story board forms below to map out your story.
Story Board 1
Story Board 2
Story Board 3
Then practice, practice, practice!
Choose one of the story board forms below to map out your story.
Story Board 1
Story Board 2
Story Board 3
Then practice, practice, practice!
Process Step 8: Multimedia Tall Tale
This is the step you have been waiting for!!! It is time to take your story board and turn it into a podcast, news story/movie or digital story. If you are creating a podcast, go to Garage band. To create a news story or movie, use iMovie. For a digital story, you can either use Power Point or SMART notebook.
Remember Heroic Multimedia Inc. is anxiously awaiting your finished product. They will be using the rubric found on the 'Evaluation' page to rate your multimedia project. Good luck!
Garage Band Tutorial
iMovie Tutorial
Power Point
Remember Heroic Multimedia Inc. is anxiously awaiting your finished product. They will be using the rubric found on the 'Evaluation' page to rate your multimedia project. Good luck!
Garage Band Tutorial
iMovie Tutorial
Power Point