Authoring and Illustrating Tall Tales

The students in Ms. Bonnani's and Mr. Gillard's classes have been creating original tall tales, set around the world.

Students researched the setting of their tale in order to make in art class the illustrated covers which accurately depict their setting. They also used this research to incorporate the information learned into their writing.

At the start of the unit, students analyzed the plot of several tall tales to learn more about conflict, rising action, and climax. In their writing, students focused on the the tall tale elements of humor and unrealistic events, such as giving the main character a superhuman quality. These authors also used lots of figurative language and exaggeration, as well as other techniques to make their writing more descriptive.

Here is a sample from a student work:
       Around the time that HoHenZollern was the king of Germany, Maritza Colpin was born. From the day she was born, she could grow plants from the tip of her finger. Her eyes were as large and blue as the Baltic Sea, and by the time she was a month old, her golden hair was down to her waist. 

 Please stop by the third floor hallway to read our tall tales!