The Tale of Despereaux Summary Activity

The Tale of Despereaux Summary

Activity Overview

This story is structured in four sections: "A Mouse is Born", "Chiaroscuro", "Gor! The Tale of Miggery Sow", and "Recalled to the Light". Have students create an image that represents an important event in each of the four parts.

A Mouse is Born

The first section introduces readers to the protagonist, Despereaux, and his family, who disown him.

Chiaroscuro

The second part of the story introduces readers to the antagonists, Roscuro and Botticelli, who believe that their purpose is to torture people.

Gor! The Tale of Miggery Sow

The third book is about Miggery Sow, her desire to become a princess, and how she came to live at the castle.

Recalled to the Light

In the fourth book, Despereaux saves Princess Pea from Roscuro.

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 4-5

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: Parts of a Story

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/4/2] Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.

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Template and Class Instructions

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Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that briefly summarizes each book in The Tale of Despereaux.

Type in the names of each part in the title boxes.
Write 1-2 sentences that describes what each part was about in the description boxes.
Make an image in each cell that shows an important event or idea for that part.

Summary in 4 Parts

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Rubric

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Summary in Four Parts

Create a storyboard that summarizes the story. The storyboard should have four cells - one for each part. Below each cell, type in 1-2 sentences that describes that part of the story.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
Plot	Each of the four cells represents a different part of the story. The cells are in order from beginning to end. Sentences accurately summarize each part.	Two cells or fewer are out of order, or the storyboard is missing important information.	Important information is missing and/or three or more cells are out of order.
Images	Cells include images that help to tell the story and do not get in the way of understanding.	Some of the images help tell the story. Descriptions do not always match the images.	Images do not make sense with the story.
Spelling and Grammar	Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding.	Spelling is very inaccurate and hinders full understanding.	Text is difficult to understand.