Activity Overview
The Great Race is the story of how the ancient Chinese zodiac came to be. Teachers can read the book (available on Amazon in English or Traditional Chinese, English, Pinyin) and students can recreate the story using a storyboard!
Giving students a graphic organizer to fill in as they read is helpful to pick out the most important facts and details.
After students listen to the story and (optional) fill out a note-taking sheet or graphic organizer, students can create a Storyboard with images and text that highlight the animals and the key events from the story! Students can have fun choosing a dog they like best as there are many dog options in the Storyboard Creator to choose from!
There are many other engaging books that introduce students to the traditional folktales and stories from ancient China. Here are some suggestions:
- Lon Po Po by Ed Young
- The Cat from Hunger Mountain by Ed Young
- The Empty Pot by Demi
- The Cricket Warrior: A Chinese Tale by Margaret Change and Raymond Chang
- Night Sky Dragons by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham
- The Shady Tree by Demi
- Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
- A Grain of Rice by Helena Clare Pittman
- Liang and the Magic Paintbrush by Demi
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: After reading or listening to The Great Race, create a narrative storyboard that includes important details from the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
Student Instructions:
- In about 3-5 cells, write the major details of the story in order of occurrence.
- Add appropriate scenes, characters, and items to illustrate each cell. The Creator has each animal from the story.
Requirements: Beginning, Middle and End of the story The Great Race
Lesson Plan Reference
- [ELA-Literacy/W/7/2] Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
- [ELA-Literacy/W/7/6] Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others, including linking to and citing sources.
- [ELA-Literacy/W/7/7] Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.
How To Use Stories to Understand a Concept
Read the Story With Students
Reading a story aloud with students helps them to create pictures in their minds about the story. This also assists them with any difficult vocabulary or ideas they might encounter because you are there to scaffold in real time.
Discuss Major Plot Elements
As you read, discuss the major plot elements of the narrative to ensure that each student understands what is going on in the story.
Help Students Understand Narrative Visually
Students can use a storyboard to place the major elements of the story. This helps them attain the sequencing and plot development skills that they need.
Frequently Asked Questions about Literature Connection
Can stories help students to better understand a culture?
Yes, stories often give students insights into a culture that are easier to understand than rote memorization and learning. By learning about the characters and their actions, students can learn about what is important to a culture.
How can natural phenomenon be explained through mythology and stories?
Each culture around the globe uses mythology to explain the unexplainable. In "The Great Race", for instance, the idea of the zodiac and Chinese calendar is explained through the animal characters in the story.
More Storyboard That Activities
Ancient China
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