Excerpt

Book

Little Wolf's Book of Badness by Ian Whybrow.
Illustrated by Tony Ross. Carolrhoda, 2000 130p. (gr. 3-5)

His parents thought he was too good, so they sent Little Wolf off to school to learn how to be bad like a wolf should be.

Idea

Little Wolf was sent to school to learn how to be bad. Students can read other stories that feature wolves, and indicate the types of bad behavior that wolf's parents must have been expecting from their son. Students can then research to determine the behavior of wolves to determine if they are really bad creatures or whether that is a false impression given in fairy tales.

Idea

Little Wolf learns the basic rules of badness. Before reading this story, ask readers to predict the basic bad rules for a wolf, based upon the fairy tales and other stories they have read. As they read the book, they can mark off those rules that Uncle Bigbad identified. Discuss why some of their rules may be different from those suggested by Uncle Bigbad, and why they may have omitted the elder wolf's favorite.

Encourage your students to make a list of the basic rules of goodness. Initially, ask students to make up their individual lists. Then, in groups of 3 or 4, they select a composite list of the most important rules. These group lists are then shared with everyone, and as a total group they select the basic rules of goodness. Challenge the students to limit their final list to the nine basic rules, and post these as guidelines to be used by everyone.

Idea

Little Wolf sent letters and cards to his parents explaining what he was doing and learning. On a regular basis, ask your students to write to someone telling them what they have learned. Students can design a postcard with an appropriate "learning picture" on the front. Students can then "mail" these as a reminder to themselves and their caregiver of what they are learning. A collection of these cards will help everyone see how much the student has learned throughout the year.