Grade Level: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Subject(s):

• Health/Substance Abuse Prevention
• Language Arts/Literature
• Arts/Drama/dramatics

Duration: 2-3 weeks

Description: Based on the use of folk and fairy tales in child counseling and on role model projects for oppositional youth, this unit is designed to reach students who reject drug education information given by teachers and other adults. It employs an old German folk tale in what is presented to students as a straightforward literature unit with no discussion of its application to substance abuse issues. By the time students have met unit objectives involving storytelling and the production of a short play re-enacting the tale, they will have made the tale part of their own experience base. When faced with choices concerning drugs/alcohol, students will have the covert anti-addiction values of the story available to them internally to assist them in making sensible choices on their own.

Goals:

1. Students will improve their understanding of the dangers of addiction in its various forms.
2. Students will internalize values of the folk tale, including: magical thinking (drug use) does not work in real life; our mistakes hurt ourselves and others; achieving an important goal requires time and hard work; self-mastery is the real challenge of life; and adults give up power if teens prove ready.

1. Students will be expected to participate in class reading of and presentation of the play, The Magic Bullets .
2. Students will demonstrate mastery of the traditional story by re-telling it in detail, either in writing or to younger children.
3. Students will participate in specified production tasks involved in presenting the play to an audience, including learning lines and acting, creating scenery/props, creating appropriate costumes and make-up, production of a program, and choice/creation of background music. If the play is filmed, students will also choose appropriate locations and plan, take, and edit video footage.

• materials for costumes, scenery, props, etc.
• The Magic Bullets
(The play is copyrighted, but the author has released it to be used at no cost by non-profit groups.)
Script for The Magic Bullets in .pdf format; requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Click the icon to obtain the free Reader.

(Optional) The class may briefly discuss the folk tale as literature. Because knowledge of folk tales is not a major objective of the unit, discussion of the characteristics of folk tales will provide reinforcement of previously learned content area material and will encourage appreciation for other folk tales. Some students will wish to read more in this genre. The teacher can enhance the fable’s impact by making available in the classroom collections of folk tales and a list of folk tale books written at grade reading level that may be found in the school library.

Students are required to re-tell the fable in their own words. Telling the story to younger students is preferred, but the teacher may choose to have students write a detailed synopsis from memory. If the story is told to a younger audience, students will be asked to gauge their performances on the basis of audience reaction. If the tale is recounted in written form, peer review can evaluate accuracy and effectiveness of the writing.

Once the class has mastered the storyline, students begin to plan their own production of the fable. They must decide first upon their target audience, then choose the style they will use and whether to present live or on video. Crews will be chosen to create props and costumes, apply make-up, create programs, and decide whether or not to use music and in which style. Once the tasks are detailed, the class should establish a timeline and begin work. The teacher oversees auditions and crews, supervises rehearsals, and provides continuing feedback. During the process, each working unit will informally evaluate their own and other groups’ work.

Assessment: Evaluation of each objective of this unit is based on teacher observation with the following criteria and score classification, based on 120 possible points: Exceptional 30 points; Quality 25-30 points; Acceptable 20-25 points; Unacceptable <20 points.

1. The student participates readily in a class reading of the play The Magic Bullets and employs clarity and expressiveness. (30 points)

2. The student demonstrates mastery of the fable by re-telling it in detail to younger children or by producing a two page written synopsis of the story which includes all major characters and all major plot points. (30 points)

3. The student completes designated production tasks involved in presenting the play, including:
   • Works cooperatively with group;
   • Offers constructive criticism;
   • Works well independently;
   • Is prompt in task completion;
   • Follows directions and agreed-upon procedures;
   • Responds positively to suggestions (10 points each).