2 - Lesson Plan - The King Choice
2 - Lesson Plan - The King Choice
I. OBJECTIVES
To widen the vocabulary through a study of synonyms.
To make prediction about what will happen next in the story
To support student’s prediction with information.
To present the story as a reader’s theater
To pronounce the words ending in ed correctly as /t/, /d/, /id/
III. PROCEDURE
A. Pre-Reading
1. Motivation(GLR)
What is being committed means to you?
What do you think is the importance of keeping a commitment you had
made?
2. Building Vocabulary
a. Unlocking of Word Difficulty
The students learn the meaning of unfamiliar words in the story
(Infant, Journey, Overly, Mist, Pleasant, Rage, Noble, Banquet,
Sternly and Cottage) by using a dictionary.
1. Newborn-
2. Trip-
3. Exaggeratedly-
4. Fog-
5. Nice
6. Anger-
7. Decent-
8. Feast-
9. Harshly-
10. Hut-
The teacher reads the story below in parts and stops after each part
to ask some questions.
The King’s Choice
King Gustav trotted on horseback through the woods with his royal attendants. In less
than a week he must leave his country for a long journey. But which of his six councilors
should he put in charge of his land, his queen and his infant son? One of the councilors was too
bossy, another too young, one given to drink, one overly concerned with money, another
overly concerned with his hair, and the last one was uninspiring. Any of the councilors could
rise to become a fine leader, thought the King, but which one had the necessary inner strength?
Q: Who do you think the king will choose? What will happen next?
Suddenly, from the river's mist a form rose and took the shape of a woman. The King
ordered his train to stop.
The womanly form smiled. The King relaxed. She must be a fairy, thought he, and a
friendly one at that. "Sire," said the Fairy in a pleasant voice, "you will have your answer."
The Fairy waved her wand. While the King's train continued to the palace, the King
now stood on the ground by the river, watching a likeness of his own royal self ride on his
horse toward the palace. Looking down at his clothes, the King saw that he was now dressed
as a common woodcutter, and in one hand he held an axe instead of a sword. The Fairy smiled
and waved her wand toward the edge of the woods. Instantly, a woodcutter's cottage
appeared.
Q: Who do you think the king will choose? What will happen next?
"What's the meaning of all this?" demanded the King, a rage beginning to build. This Fairy
may not be so friendly after all.
"Your Majesty," said the Fairy in the same light, sing-song voice, "soon you will
have a chance to help your six councilors. Be sure to invite them to dinner at your woodcutter's
cottage three days hence."
She vanished. Suddenly, the King noticed on the river a boat that was starting to
rock wildly, for a windstorm had come up. By the sound of the voices on board, the King
recognized the voices of his own six councilors. The wind whirled about, wrapping his
woodcutter's garments tightly around him. Meanwhile, the boat nearly tipped over and the
voices on board shrieked.
Q: Who do you think the king will choose? What will happen next?
At once, the King, a strong swimmer, dove into the river and swam toward the
boat. Jumping on board, he took the oars from the rowers and managed to steer the craft safely
to shore.
The soaked councilors, nearly giddy with relief, stepped off the boat. They clapped
the woodcutter on the shoulder, thanking him again and again for saving their lives, and asked
him to name his reward.
Remembering the Fairy's words and his new common status, the King bowed
before them and said, "In three days I plan to host a feast in my cottage for my friends. It
would do me great honor if such noble guests as yourselves you would attend."
"Is that all?" said one of the councilors (the one that's too concerned with money,
noticed the King).
Q: Who do you think the king will choose? What will happen next?
Later that night, restored to his kingly form, King Gustav was settling down to
bed when a mist again formed before him and took the shape of a woman.
"Your Highness," said the Fairy in her soft voice, "invite your councilors to a royal
banquet at the palace in three days to mark your departure and to announce which councilor
you have selected to rule while you're away."
"I haven't yet decided which one is to rule," said that King. "Besides, they cannot
come - they already committed themselves to attending the woodcutter's dinner."
Q: Who do you think the king will choose? What will happen next?
"I have been giving great thought to which one of you is best suited to assume
command of the land while I'm away," said he. Each of the councilors stood up a little taller,
and one of them (the one too concerned with his hair) quickly ran a comb through his hair. The
King continued, "I will announce my decision at a royal banquet to be held the day after
tomorrow."
The six councilors nervously looked at one another, realizing the conflict in the
date.
One of them (the one that was uninspired) spoke up. "Of-of course, sire," said he,
his eyes darting right and left. "We will be there."
Q: Who do you think the king will choose? What will happen next?
At banquet night, the King watched his councilors file in. One, two, three, four,
five? Hmm, just five? He called the five councilors before him.
"Where is Lukas?" demanded the King, referring to the youngest councilor.
"He is not here," said one of the councilors (the one given to drink).
"And exactly why would he not attend my banquet?" said the King, his voice rising.
Q: Who do you think the king will choose? What will happen next?
An hour later, a frazzled Lukas was led before the King's throne.
"Exactly where were you tonight, Lukas," asked the King sternly, pointing his
ringed finger at the young man's face, "when I specifically ordered you to attend my banquet?"
"I had accepted an invitation to dine with a woodcutter," said Lukas, as the five
councilors tittered, "or so I thought, though when I went there tonight, the cottage that had
been there only a few days ago seems to have disappeared."
"Not only do you stand up the King, your own royal liege!" The King was now
shouting. "But you do so to attend dinner with a woodcutter, and one whose cottage isn't
even there?"
Q: Who do you think the king will choose? What will happen next?
"As I accept you," said the King, his shoulders dropping and his voice softening. He
lifted his infant son from his queen's lap and handed the child to his youngest councilor.
"Lukas, not only did you keep a commitment you had made, but you did so even at the risk of
my own royal anger. Thus, you showed the inner strength to be a true leader. While I'm away,
you are the one I entrust with the affairs of my kingdom, my queen, and our royal child."
C. Post- Reading
1. Comprehension Questios
a. Who are the councilors in the story?
b. What was the King’s problem in the first part of the story?
c. What do you think is the importance of the fairy in the story?
d. Why did the King choose Lucas?
e. What is the implication of the story to you?
Each student will draw a picture that symbolizes commitment on a bond paper.
Then, they will write their interpretation of it at the back of the paper.