Teaching Literature at Key Stage 3 and 4

Prose

The teaching of myths: planning a scheme of work
Learning aims/key questions in planning a unit of work

What do you want the pupils to know, understand and be able to do?

What experiences will the work provide?

What attitudes will it foster?

Is it important to share your aims with the pupils? If so, how will you do it?

This is one way to present the complex notion of 'learning aims' to student teachers. The questions can provoke useful discussion particularly in relation to the terms 'experiences' and 'attitudes' and their place in building 'ways of working' with particular groups of pupils over time. The final question above is particularly relevant in the light of much current classroom practice, where aims and objectives are routinely put up on the board at the beginning of each lesson. For one student teacher the important thing was to share with pupils at the beginning her plans for the SOW and so she addressed the first three questions above thus:

What will you know, understand and be able to do?
By the end of the unit, you will:

• know and be able to re-tell some of the Greek myths
• understand the importance of the Greek myths to later writers, artists and poets
• have improved your story-telling and story-writing skills
• have explored the role of myth in different societies.

What experiences will the work provide?
By the end of this unit, you will:

• have listened to and told stories to others
• have developed your skills in working with others and on your own
• used drama in your work
• have spent some time outside English lessons doing research for your own myth.

What attitudes will it foster?
By the end of this unit, you will:

• be able to listen supportively to your peers' stories
• understand the importance of exploring the context around stories
• understand why the myths have inspired other artists such as artists, musicians and dancers.