The Kapok Tree (update)

Wrong Rhymes

Have you ever said something to someone and they misunderstood the meaning of what you said? When you think back over what you said, you wonder how they managed to misunderstand you.

Many times, it is not what was said, but how it was said that causes these reactions. Voice inflection can mean so much more than the actual words that are spoken. Voice inflection means to change your voice. You can vary your voice by stressing a word or phrase, stretching a word or phrase, or pausing before a word or phrase.

I have written the sentence below seven times and have underlined a different word each time. Say each sentence out loud, putting emphasis on the underlined word.  Can you work out what the meaning of each sentence is?

I didn’t say George stole my red pen

I didn’t say George stole my red pen.

I didn’t say George stole my red pen.

I didn’t say George stole my red pen.

I didn’t say George stole my red pen.

I didn’t say George stole my red pen.

I didn’t say George stole my red pen.

I didn’t say George stole my red pen.

In class we will be presenting several small group  radio plays.  Skim read the plays below and find the plays and characters you like.  In class we will vote on the plays and then decide who will get what role. Everyone will have at least one role.

Listen to the finished radioplay podcast of ‘Double Trouble in Walla Walla’ that was performed by students from my previous years.

Scripts

• BFG – Roahl Dahl (4 Characters)
• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs – Jon Scieszka (9 Characters)
• Pippi Goes to School – Astrid Lindgren (6 Characters)
• Thursday – Douglas Adams (6-8 Characters)
• The Real Mr. Jenkins – Madeleine L’Engle (7 Characters)
• The Legend of Slappy Hooper – Aaron Shepard (8 Characters)
• Double Trouble in Walla Walla – Andrew Clements (7 Characters)
• The Principals New Clothes – Stephanie Calmenson (12 Characters)
• The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig – Eugene Trivizas (15 Characters)
• The Great Kapok Tree – Lynne Cherry (14 Characters)