“Then out rose … A TRULY MAGNIFICENT BROOM!
With seats for the witch and the cat and the dog,
A nest for the bird and a shower for the frog.
“Yes!” cried the witch, and they all clambered on.
The witch tapped the broomstick and whoosh! they were gone.”(DONALDSON, SCHEFFLER, 2002)
At the end of “Room on the broom”, the characters can finally enjoy the magic night. Before, they have to go through scavenger hunt-like and nerve-wrecking adventures.
The book, which was written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, has been translated into 21 different languages so far. The author and the illustrator have already worked together on several successful children’s books. “The Gruffalo” is their most known piece and was probably the breakthrough for the two artists. (DONALDSON, a, b)
Julia Donaldson, born in 1948, already invented stories as a child. She studied Drama and French and began her carrier as a writer for songs for children’s television. When her song “A squash and a squeeze” was turned into a book, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, she decided to write professionally plays and books for children. Up to now, she has written 154 books, partly for retail sales and partly for school purposes. (DONALDSON, a) The German Axel Scheffler, now living in London, was born in 1957 and studied Arts History as well as Graphic Arts. At the beginning of his career as illustrator, he worked for magazines and advertising agencies. Today, he mainly illustrates children’s books. (SPRECKELSEN, 2008)
This book report provides first some aspects which have to be taken into consideration when choosing “Room on the Broom” for the classroom, such as the storyline, the values expressed in the book, its culture specific content, the language and an analysis of the illustrations. Secondly, some ideas for integrating the book into the English foreign language education are given. As the language applied in this book is rather challenging these considerations and implications on teaching refer to the proficiency level of a fourth grade in a German primary school.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Choosing "Room on the Broom"
- The storyline and the main character
- Expressed Values and Universal Life Experiences
- Culture Specific Content
- The Language
- The Illustrations and their Coexistence with the Text
- Teaching "Room on the Broom"
- Outline of the Unit
- Detailed Lesson Plan
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This book report analyzes Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's "Room on the Broom" as a potential resource for English language instruction in a German fourth-grade classroom. It examines the suitability of the book, considering factors such as storyline, thematic content, language complexity, and cultural relevance. The report also proposes teaching strategies to effectively integrate the book into the curriculum.
- Suitability of "Room on the Broom" for English language learning in a primary school setting.
- Analysis of the story's narrative structure, character development, and thematic elements.
- Examination of the book's language complexity and its implications for teaching.
- Exploration of the cultural context and relevance of the story.
- Development of practical teaching strategies and lesson plans for integrating the book into the classroom.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the book report by introducing "Room on the Broom" and its creators, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, highlighting the book's popularity and translation into numerous languages. It then briefly outlines the report's structure, indicating that it will first analyze aspects relevant to classroom use (storyline, values, cultural content, language, illustrations) and then offer teaching suggestions for a German fourth-grade class, acknowledging the language challenges the book presents for this level.
Choosing "Room on the Broom": This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of the book’s various aspects, beginning with a thorough examination of the storyline and the central character, the witch. It showcases the witch's personality and her interactions with the animals she encounters, emphasizing the progression of their relationship from initial encounters to a final, harmonious fellowship. The chapter also explores the expressed values, particularly friendship and cooperation, linking them to the curriculum's communicative content regarding friendships. Cultural aspects, such as the connection to Halloween and the British "fish and chips" reference, are discussed for their potential use in lessons. Finally, a detailed examination of the language used in the book, pointing out the advanced vocabulary and sentence structure relative to a fourth-grade level, is provided. The chapter concludes by suggesting that the narrative needs to be adapted for the targeted age group.
Keywords
Children's literature, "Room on the Broom," Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, English language teaching, primary education, storytelling, character analysis, thematic analysis, cultural relevance, lesson planning, language acquisition, rhyme, friendship, cooperation.
Room on the Broom: A Book Report - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is this document?
This is a book report analyzing Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's "Room on the Broom" for its suitability as an English language learning resource in a German fourth-grade classroom. It provides a comprehensive overview, including the book's contents, key themes, chapter summaries, and suggested teaching strategies.
What are the main objectives of this report?
The report aims to assess the suitability of "Room on the Broom" for English language learning in a primary school setting, analyzing its narrative structure, character development, thematic elements, language complexity, cultural relevance, and developing practical teaching strategies and lesson plans.
What aspects of "Room on the Broom" are analyzed in the report?
The report analyzes the storyline and main character, expressed values (like friendship and cooperation), culture-specific content (like references to Halloween and British culture), language complexity (vocabulary and sentence structure), and the illustrations and their relationship with the text.
What is the target audience for this analysis?
The primary audience is educators, specifically those teaching English as a foreign language to German fourth-grade students. The analysis considers the challenges and opportunities presented by the book for this specific age group and language level.
What teaching suggestions are provided in the report?
The report offers an outline of a unit plan and a detailed lesson plan for integrating "Room on the Broom" into the curriculum. It acknowledges the need to adapt the narrative for the targeted age group due to its language complexity.
What are the key themes explored in "Room on the Broom"?
Key themes include friendship, cooperation, and overcoming challenges. The report connects these themes to the communicative content regarding friendships often found in primary school curricula.
What are the key language features discussed?
The report discusses the vocabulary and sentence structure of the book, noting that it might be challenging for fourth-graders and suggesting adaptation strategies for classroom use. The use of rhyme is also implicitly mentioned.
How is the cultural relevance of the book addressed?
The report examines culture-specific elements within the story, such as references to Halloween and British food ("fish and chips"), and suggests ways to use these elements in lessons to enrich understanding and cultural awareness.
What is the overall conclusion of the report?
While the report doesn't explicitly state a final conclusion in a summarized format, it implies that "Room on the Broom," with appropriate adaptation and teaching strategies, can be a valuable resource for English language instruction in a German fourth-grade classroom, despite its language challenges.
What are the keywords associated with this report?
Children's literature, "Room on the Broom," Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, English language teaching, primary education, storytelling, character analysis, thematic analysis, cultural relevance, lesson planning, language acquisition, rhyme, friendship, cooperation.
- Quote paper
- Annegret Gelbrecht (Author), 2010, "Room on the Broom" in the Primary Classroom, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/169389
