Domain:
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Competency:
Analyze information, patterns, and causes
🎂
10-12 year olds
⏰
10 to 15 minutes min
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Learning Objective
Students will identify and describe how Blancaflor's actions demonstrate strength and resourcefulness in helping the prince, using specific examples from the text.
Learning Resource Synopsis
In 'Blancaflor, The Hero with Secret Powers' by Nadja Spiegelman, Blancaflor is a clever young woman living under the shadow of her ogre father, who is known for his vicious behavior. Despite being discouraged from using her magical powers, Blancaflor is driven to aid a prince who unexpectedly arrives in her life. The prince, who isn't particularly resourceful himself, requires assistance to complete a series of daunting tasks. Blancaflor discreetly uses her abilities to guide him through these challenges, demonstrating her intelligence and bravery. The story emphasizes the often-overlooked strength and resourcefulness of women, as Blancaflor becomes the true hero of the tale.
Extended Learning Resources
| Resource & Author | Publication Info | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Paper Bag Princess | Written by Robert Munsch, Illustrated by Michael Martchenko, Annick Press | This classic story showcases a princess who uses her intelligence and bravery to outsmart a dragon and save herself, challenging traditional gender roles. |
| Ada Twist, Scientist | Written by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts, Abrams Books for Young Readers | This picture book follows a curious young girl who uses her intelligence and creativity to solve problems, emphasizing the importance of resourcefulness and perseverance. |
| National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why | Written by Amy Shields, National Geographic Kids | This engaging book encourages young learners to ask questions and explore answers, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. |
Vocabulary List
| Word | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Resourceful | Able to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties. | Blancaflor was resourceful when she used her magical powers to help the prince solve the complex tasks set by her father. |
| Bravery | The quality of being courageous and willing to face danger or pain. | Blancaflor showed bravery by secretly assisting the prince, even though it meant going against her father's wishes. |
| Clever | Quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent. | Blancaflor's clever solutions were crucial in helping the prince complete the challenges and avoid her father's traps. |
| Discreetly | In a careful and prudent manner, especially to keep something confidential or to avoid embarrassment. | Blancaflor discreetly used her powers to guide the prince, ensuring her father did not notice her involvement. |
| Empowerment | The process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights. | The story of Blancaflor is one of empowerment, as she defies traditional gender roles to become the hero who saves the day. |
Prompt
Essential Question: "How can using our strengths to help others show who we truly are and make a difference in the world?"
Today, we'll explore how the strengths we each have can help us make a difference in the lives of others. Think about a time when you used your own special talents to help someone, and how that made you feel. As we begin, let's open our minds to the ways bravery and intelligence can shine through our actions.
Anticipatory Set
- Start by closing your eyes for a moment and think of a time when you felt brave or used your special skills to help someone. How did that make you feel? Hold onto that feeling for a moment.
- Now, imagine you have a magical power, like being able to solve any problem in a flash or having a super sense of direction. Picture what it would be like to use this power to help someone in need.
- Open your eyes and turn to a partner. Share your imagined power and how you would use it to assist someone. Take turns listening to each other's ideas.
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to share their thoughts without fear of judgment, emphasizing that all ideas are valued.
- Use gentle prompts and sentence starters to assist students who may struggle with articulating their thoughts (e.G., 'I felt brave when..', 'My special power would be..').
- Observe pair discussions and provide support by asking open-ended questions to deepen their engagement and connection to the theme.
Learn
As we dive into 'Blancaflor, The Hero with Secret Powers' by Nadja Spiegelman, let's prepare to meet a young woman who uses her unique abilities to help someone in need. Blancaflor's journey challenges what it means to be brave and resourceful. Let's see how her story unfolds and what it tells us about using our strengths to make a difference.
Interactive Engagement
- As we read about Blancaflor's actions, think about a time you had to step in and help someone, even if it was challenging. How did your actions make a difference?
- Blancaflor cleverly uses her magical powers to assist the prince. What do you think her actions say about her character? Can you find a moment in the story where her intelligence shines brightly?
- Imagine you are in Blancaflor's shoes. How would you feel about using your powers in secret? Would you do anything differently if you were in her position?
- Blancaflor's father has a reputation for being fierce. How might this affect how she views her own strengths? Discuss with a partner how family expectations can shape who we are.
- As Blancaflor helps the prince, think about the tasks he faces. How do these challenges help us understand more about both the prince and Blancaflor? Share your thoughts on how these tasks test their character.
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to share personal stories that relate to the themes of bravery and resourcefulness, fostering a connection to Blancaflor's journey.
- Pause after key moments in the story to allow students to reflect and discuss their thoughts and feelings about the characters' actions and motivations.
- Invite students to consider different perspectives by asking them to role-play as Blancaflor or the prince and express how they might feel in various situations.
Ask
As we finish our journey with Blancaflor, let's take a moment to reflect on how her actions help us understand the power of using our strengths to make a difference. Think about how bravery and intelligence can change the course of not just a story, but our lives too.
Discussion Questions
- Reflect on a moment in Blancaflor's story where she faced a tough decision. How did her choice reveal her true character, and what can we learn from her example about making difficult decisions in our own lives?
- Consider how Blancaflor's actions challenge traditional ideas about heroes. How does her story inspire you to think about the different ways people can show courage and strength in real life?
- Blancaflor uses her unique abilities to help someone who couldn't succeed without her. Can you think of a time when someone else's help made a big difference for you, or when you made a difference for someone else? Share your experience and how it felt.
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to express their thoughts freely by creating a safe and respectful environment. Remind them that all perspectives are valuable and worth hearing.
- Prompt students to connect Blancaflor's story to their own experiences by asking follow-up questions that Examine closely deeper into their reflections. This can help them see the relevance of the story in their own lives.
- Use small group discussions to allow students to share their reflections. This can help quieter students feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and ensures diverse perspectives are represented in the conversation.
Navigate
Blancaflor's Modern-Day Heroics: A Storyboard Adventure
This activity encourages students to connect with the themes of bravery and intelligence by exploring how resourcefulness can tackle real-world problems. Inspired by Blancaflor's character, students will reflect on how personal strengths can impact the world positively, developing empathy and problem-solving skills in the process.
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Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to think creatively about solutions, drawing parallels to Blancaflor's clever use of her abilities.
- Prompt students to consider gender roles and how resourcefulness is often overlooked in different characters.
- During the sharing session, guide discussions to emphasize the importance of empathy and understanding others' perspectives.
Share
As we wrap up our Follow 'Blancaflor, The Hero with Secret Powers,' let's take a moment to reflect on the strength and resourcefulness Blancaflor showed. Think about how her story connects to your own experiences of using your strengths to help others and how it felt to make a difference.
Reflection Questions
- Reflect on a specific moment from the story where Blancaflor used her powers to help the prince. How did this example of resourcefulness and bravery make you feel, and why?
- Consider a time when you used your own strengths to help someone. How did that experience change how you see yourself and your abilities?
- As you think about Blancaflor's journey, what lessons can you take into your own life about being brave and helping others even when it's challenging?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to share their reflections in small groups or pairs, emphasizing the importance of listening to and valuing each other's insights.
- Provide time for students to write in their journals about their reflections before sharing with the class, helping them organize their thoughts.
- Create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable expressing their emotions and ideas, reinforcing that every perspective is valuable.
UDL Strategies
Representation
- Provide students with a video summary of Blancaflor's story that includes closed captions and visual storytelling elements to cater to both visual and auditory learners.
- Offer a storyboard template with visual cues and prompts, such as key scenes and character emotions, to assist students in organizing their thoughts and ideas.
- Use tactile aids, like felt boards or manipulatives, to allow students to physically reconstruct key scenes from the story, helping kinesthetic learners engage with the content.
Action & Expression
- Allow students to create a digital storyboard using interactive software like Storyboard That, which provides a digital platform for students who prefer using technology.
- Provide opportunities for students to express their understanding through creative arts, such as drawing, painting, or even sculpting scenes depicting Blancaflor's heroics.
- Encourage students to role-play their storyboards, focusing on expressing emotions and problem-solving strategies, providing a platform for those who excel in verbal expression and dramatization.
Engagement
- Start with an interactive group discussion about modern-day heroes, using relatable examples from popular culture to ignite interest and connection.
- Incorporate a 'choose your own adventure' style activity where students can explore different paths Blancaflor might take in tackling community issues, fostering decision-making and engagement.
- Offer flexible grouping options such as working independently, in pairs, or in small groups to accommodate different social preferences and increase motivation.
Assessment Criteria
Formative Assessment
- During group discussions, observe students' ability to identify community issues and propose solutions inspired by Blancaflor. Look for evidence of how they connect themes of bravery and intelligence to real-world problems, noting their use of specific examples from the text.
- As students share their storyboards with peers, listen to their explanations of how Blancaflor's actions are mirrored in their proposed solutions. Pay attention to their ability to articulate how resourcefulness can address the chosen problem, and their capacity to empathize with Blancaflor's emotions.
- While students work on their storyboards, engage them in one-on-one conversations to probe their understanding of the story's themes. Ask questions such as 'How does your storyboard reflect Blancaflor's impact?' and 'What emotions do you think are important in solving this problem?' to gauge their comprehension and insight.
Summative Assessment
- Evaluate students' storyboard presentations by assessing how clearly they articulate the connection between Blancaflor's actions and their own proposed solutions. Look for their ability to describe the problem and solution effectively, and reflect on the emotions involved, ensuring they meet the learning objective criteria.
- Review students' reflective journal entries to assess their understanding of how personal strengths and resourcefulness can solve problems. Check for specific examples from their storyboards, insights into their own strengths, and reflections on the aspects of decision-making.
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