Making the Case for Thematic Curriculum

When I see how much we have learned since we first began listening to the stories of Robin Hood just eight days ago, I am reminded of how effective the thematic approach to teaching is.  In such a short time, but with the benefit of concentration, the children have not only been introduced to the legend, but have begun to make it their own.   We have expanded the dramatic play area to have it run from east to west across the north side of the Big Room.  A divider allows for the children some privacy as they make up their own imaginary games.  The names of Maid Marian and Robin Hood are heard as they create their own interpretations of this heroic epic.  Props such as stuffed forest animals and wooden bowls and stumps help set the scene.  Children have made paintings of oak trees: displayed with them are ink stampings of autumn leaves which were a segue from our study of plants per se and our move into the Robin Hood story cycle with the oak tree and the temperate forest having such a central role.

We are making the most of three traditional folk songs which evoke the period. One is called “Come Follow, Follow” and recounts a singer asking others to follow him “to the greenwood tree”.  As we sing, we imagine Robin Hood calling to his men to follow him to Sherwood Forest. Perhaps the biggest draw in the school right now is our active engagement with bows and arrows.  As we shoot blunt arrows at targets, we are truly involved.    A song that brings the role of archery into our awareness is “The Keeper”.  It features a call and response motif, with the two parts blending in a robust “Derry, derry down, among the leaves so green-O!”  We are singing this song in many ways, learning four verses.  Sometimes we get up and skip during the chorus.  There is a lot of interest in learning to play the autoharp as an accompaniment to this melody.  Newer to us is “Who Killed Cock Robin?” a lament for a dead bird that was shot with a bow and arrow.  “Who killed Cock Robin?”.  “I,” said the Sparrow.  “With my little bow and arrow.  It was I.  It was I.”  We will add more songs to our repertoire.  Singing is a vital part of this unit as all of the Robin Hood tales began as folk ballads which belonged exclusively to the oral tradition and were only much later written as folktale.

To see the vast impact of the ballads, do notice the display that runs across the windows in the Big Room.  These are mounted copies of prints made by Virginia Lee Burton (of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel renown) in Song of Robin Hood by Anne Malcolmson. In the frontispiece of this Newbery Honor book, she shows a printing press.  We will discuss the role of the press as an adjunct to our study.   In doing so, we will discuss the role it had in standardizing spelling; this concept makes a fitting counterpart to our growing awareness of the evolution of English.  As we sing such phrases as “Whither shall I follow?” and listen to tales where “quoth Little John” is de rigueur for “said”, we usually do not need to stop to ask what such words mean.  But when we point them out, and the children write them down next to our common vernacular, they see a stunning difference that can yet be recognizably traced.  We might say, “Good morrow,” to one another, but the children will know we are saying “Good morning.”

The version that we are reading as our main text is Howard Pyle’s classic The Merry Tales of Robin Hood.  Illustrated as well as compiled by him, it is very much in keeping with the ballads and is told in a beautiful way with archaic language that does not interfere with the telling, but that requires the listener of today to sit up and pay attention. Past expressions and words that allow us to see the changing nature of our language’s history also allow us to enter into the milieu of the times as we substitute “thou for “you” and “ay” for “yes”.  I recommend that parents read this book to their children and do so more than once.  With older children, one might point out some of the word changes; it can be a treat for the adult, too, to learn with the child.  (One phrase that popped up for me, of which I did not previously know the origin, was “will-he-nill-he” from which comes “willy-nilly”; in the earlier form it refers to someone being made to do something whether he wished to or not.  In our usage today, it suggests a sense of the haphazard:  “The clothes were spread out all willy-nilly on the floor.”)  A child cannot get enough of this epic. One can read a chapter that’s been heard before, or skip about in the book.  It makes for a good adventure for the parent and child to launch out on together.

In order to understand the story, we began the unit in an unusual manner for a school—watching the animated Disney version.  The classic movie served us well.  Created in keeping with the folkloric element of the tale, the connection between ballads and story is made apparent through the conceit of the Rooster as Allan-a-Dale, bard.

We began making our own Robin Hood hats last week.  These are made of “Lincoln green” felt and require just one seam.  Maddy ran the sewing machine.  After the seam was sewn, each child began to hand sew the hat, adding a feather, buttons, and other details as she/he chose.  Plans are to make quivers or knap sacks.  We will spend a day at Seward Park wearing our hats and taking our bows and arrows into the forest.  We’ll  make of it our own Sherwood Forest and have our own “in the greenwood” adventures.  

The children’s knowledge of the tale is revealed in paintings and drawings but most clearly in their original stories.  North Room children wrote tales in which each child took on the role as a participant in the merry band of outlaws in Sherwood. The choice of the role was each child’s own, as they were free to invent new characters or to choose characters from other tales. Look for these to be posted here on Ampersand.

By the time we attend the actual production of Robin Hood at the Seattle Children’s Theater on December 2^nd, we will come to the show open to the dramatic interpretation of the moment, knowing that that interpretation is just one aspect of the literature.   Living deeply into a universal tale, in this case a classic trickster story, opens the door for living into other archetypal stories, into myth, and on into fiction and its constant contextual counterpart that is always verifiable history. 

*********************************************************************************A Sampling of stories by North Room children follows:

My First Meeting with Robin Hood

By Tate

My name is Cole.  The Sheriff was not being nice to my family.  My mom was old and died.  My sister died because the Sheriff killed her.  I ran away.  I came to a Rain Forest and when I was pretty far into the rain forest I came to a river.  When I was about to step onto a bridge to cross the river I saw a person.  I said to him,  “I will cross first.”

He said, “No, I will cross first.”

We started to have a word fight.  Then we got really mad and started to go on the bridge.  We started to fight with sticks.  Then I did a really big blow and he fell off the bridge.  Then I helped him back up.  I asked what his name was.  He said his name was Robin Hood.  He asked my name and I said it was Cole.  I asked to join his merry men.

Robin Hood said, “Only if you can beat me in a shooting match tomorrow morning.”

In the morning we went out to the oak tree and did a shooting match.  At first Robin Hood hit the target.  Then I hit the target.  On the last one Robin Hood missed.  On my last shot I split robin Hoods arrow open.

The End

xxx


To read more of the children's stories, click the link below!

Sherwood Forest is in Danger

By Franklin Reedy

I am Franklin, a ninja.  My friends told me about Robin Hood.  I went into the forest to find him.

We were fighting.  Whoever fell off the bridge did not cross the bridge first.  This is the real story in my version of Robin Hood. 

“Why are you in the forest?” said Robin Hood.

“I was looking for you.”

“Why were you looking for me?”

“Because I wanted to join the league of your men.”

The End

xxx

How I Became Hunter

By Dutch

I am Dutch.  The people in my town called me Hunter because I was so good at hunting deer.  One day I was in the forest hunting so many deer that almost all the deer were gone in the whole wide world.  Then there was only ten deer in the whole wide world.  Our family was so rich because we were hunting so many deer.  That is what I was working for.  Then I became an outlaw because I hunted deer in the King’s Forest. 

One day I was in the forest hunting some deer when I met robin and became one of his Merry Men.  Robin Hood always called me “Hunter”

The End

xxx

Maddy the Young

One day there was a girl.  Her name was Madeline Rose.  She was 12 years old.  She had short hair, brown eyes and tan skin.  She was set off by her mom and dad to get some food.  She got some fish from the king’s pond.  Now she is an outlaw and seeks Robin Hood.

Maddy went to the Greenwood Tree to see Robin Hood and to join his Merry Men.  So when Maddy got there she said out loud, “I want to join your Merry Men.”  The men burst out laughing. 

Robin said, “Young lady, you are too delicate for a big job like this.” 

The girl said, “I am not too delicate, besides I killed fish from the King’s Pond.”

Robin said, “Well we must test your skill.  We will have a shooting match.”

So they had a shooting match.  The girl beat all the men.  Then Robin said, “You beat all my men.  Anyway, what’s your name?”

“Madeline Rose”, she said.

“You are not as girly as your name.   Because you are so small we shall now call you Maddy-the-Young.

And Maddy lived happily ever after.

                                                                        The end

How Lacey Met Robin Hood

By Kaitlin

I am at the pond in the forest because I couldn’t pay my taxes and I needed to hide from the sheriff.  Then Robin Hood walked out from behind a tree and asked me to join his band of outlaws.  I said, “yes” and felt good about that because I would feel safer with Robin Hood and I knew he had a better place to hide.

                              The End 

The Adventure of Walter-the-Ninja

By Walter 

My name is Walter.  I am a Ninja.  I am from Japan.  I heard about Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest when I was in Japan so I decided to look for him.  I walked fro fifteen months and finally I came to a bridge with a man in forest green on the other side.  I said, “Are you the great Robin Hood?” 

“Yes, I am.”

“Can I become part of your Merry Men?”

“First you have to face me with cudgels.”

Then I said, “Okay.”

I took my sword and carved a staff.  Then we started.  First Robin Hood had a good hit on me.  And then I hit him and he nearly fell off.  And then he struck again.  I blocked it.  Then I stuck him and he fell off. 

I said, “You’re the best man with a cudgel I have ever seen.”  Then I helped him out of the stream. 

“You will now be known as Casey-the-Ninja and can live with us under the Greenwood Tree.”

Then Robin Hood dressed me in a forest green ninja suit and then he said,”You must come back to the green wood Tree to meet all of my Merry Men.”

                                                            The End

Meadow and Robin Hood's Merry Men

By Sadie, aka, Meadow

Meadow is caught in the forest because she was trying to kill a deer and she saw the sheriff and his group and the sheriff said, “ You are an outlaw!” Meadow also was caught poaching fish for her family.

Meadow was walking in the forest talking to a female hummingbird.  All of sudden she saw Robin Hood and his Merry Men.  The hummingbird looked and she flew off and hid in her nest.  She was scared. 

Meadow has been seeking Robin Hood for hours.  That is why she was talking to the hummingbird to see if the hummingbird knew where Robin Hood was.  So Meadow asked Robin Hood if she could be part of the Merry Men.  Robin Hood said, “ Well if you can climb all the way up the Greenwood Tree which is the highest tree in the forest, you can join my Merry Men.” 

So Meadow agreed and she climbed all the way up the tree.  Robin Hood and all the Merry Men were surprised and said,  “You officially can join my band of outlaws.”

***

How Robin Hood Met Belatrix, the Blur

Once upon a time Robin Hood said to his Merry Men, “ I seek adventure.  I will go by myself,” while looking at Little John, as Little John motioned to get his things. 

So Robin Hood leaves, just like that.  He walked and walked until he got to a little chocolate stream.  There was a golden bridge that went across the stream.  And there were candy trees.  Shocked, Robin was about to lay his foot upon the bridge, when a girl walked out of the bushes.  She didn’t seem to notice Robin Hood was there until Robin said, “ Who are you?”

The girl said, “ I beg your pardon,” in a crisp voice.  Robin repeated himself, “ Who are you?” The girl said,  “I am Belatrix, Belatrix, the Blur,” she replied.   “What are you doing in the forest?” Robin said.  “I was caught melting the Ice Queen’s palace.  Now I am an outlaw,”  said Belatrix.  “ Now I am living in the Candy Forest. 

Robin Hood looked her up and down.  He seemed to be sizing her up.  He thought and thought.  “Should I let her be part of my Merrry Men or not?”  Finally, Robin Hood made up his mind.  “ You, Belatrix, have the honor of joining my band, if you please,” said Robin.  “ Yes,” said Belatrix, “ If you will let me.” 

And that is the story of how Belatrix, the Blur became friends with Robin Hood and his band of outlaws.

By Sabina Geneva Petersen, a.k.a. Belatrix, the Blur

***

The Adventures of Jay

There once was a man named Jay.  His Dad told him to get some herbs from the king’s castle.  Jay went to the castle and stole some herbs and that is how he became an outlaw!

Jay took the herbs and headed into the Sherwood Forest where he met Robin Hood.  Robin Hood said, “ Come and help me and my Merry Men stop the sheriff from stealing all the money from the poor people of the town.” 

So Robin Hood and his Merry Men and Jay got all their bows and arrows and headed into Nottingham.   Jay’s dad became nervous when he didn’t come home with the herbs.  He wondered if the king had killed him.  So the dad went to the castle and he found his son Jay, Robin Hood and the Merry Men getting ready to shoot arrows at the sheriff.  So the dad decided to help all the outlaws. 

All of the outlaws shot arrows at the sheriff’s castle, stormed the castle and killed the sheriff. 

They all went back to the Greenwood Tree and lived happily ever after. 

The End

By Henry 
***

 Story of Ella by Delphine

My parents are poor. 

“Oh, I forgot to tell you my name! Well, my name is Ella and my parents sent me to get water from the pond.”

 I climbed a tree to see the nearest pond and someone yelled from at the other end of the tree.  I climbed down the tree to see who it was.  It was Robin Hood and another man fighting.  I did not like to see them fighting so I yelled at the top of my lungs, “Stop!”  They were so startled that they jumped, each hitting the other in the chin with his staff. 

“Well, well,” said Robin Hood.  “You look pretty poor.” 

“Yes, my parents are poor,” I said. 

“Well,” said Robin,  “How would you like to join our band of men?” 

“I would love that!” I said. 

“Well,” said Robin Hood.  “What can you do?” 

“I can climb trees very easily,” I said. “And I don’t need glasses!” 

Robin Hood laughed.  “You may join,” he said.

                                         *****

The Girl Who was Brave

 By Anya

One day Lili was running from two boys who were bullying her.  She was not looking where she was going and ran right into the forest.  She meant to turn because she thought it was dangerous in the forest.  Her big, sneaky sister always told her to never go into the forest.  But it turns out her sister was lying. 

Once she was in the forest, it was mysterious.  She saw a little light and she followed the light.  When she stopped she saw a circle of people.  One of them was dressed all in green.  That she guessed was Robin Hood.  She went right up to him and said, “Robin Hood can I be in your gang of people?” 

Robin Hood said, “Let me think.  I’ll figure it out in the morning. We have to get you a bed to sleep in.  What is your name?” 

“My name is Lili.”

“OK, then,” said Robin Hood.

They went to sleep.  In the morning they had a shooting match.  Lili beat all the people except Robin Hood. Robin Hood said, “You are a good shooter. You are welcome to join my gang.” 

Lili said, “Thank you,” and they all had a good time.

                                                            The End
                                                                 ****

Robin Hood Meets Crystal

By Harriet

The sun is setting on Robin Hood and Crystal.  Crystal loves Robin Hood.  She loves him from sunset to sunrise.  “Crystal turn into a girl”, Robin Hood said.  And she did.  “Lets go that way to the Greenwood tree.”  And when they went to the Greenwood Tree they went to another tree that was called the Candy tree because it was made of chocolate candy. 

Crystal didn’t always know Robin Hood.  This is the story of how they met.  Robin Hood was taking a walk and Crystal was fishing at the pond.  She was looking for something to eat.  At that point Crystal was a dog.  Robin Hood was walking by the pond and saw Crystal.  Robin Hood loves dogs so he said hi and invited Crystal to join him.  Then they went to the forest. 

The End
****

The Candy Tree

 By Charlotte

My name is Charlotte Cupcake.  I always have a sweet tooth and I love candy.  One day I was going into the forest to cut down a lollipop tree.  Around my house are all kinds of lollipop trees.  Tootsie pops and the swirly kind you can find at the zoo.  I was carrying my ax.  I walked by several pregnant ladies who were picking gumdrops from the gumdrop bushes.  I stopped to take a little nibble.  Then I was heading over to the candy store.

Then I passed someone who was heading in the direction of the Greenwood Tree.  I knew it was Robin Hood because the pregnant ladies told me.  I went on to the store and Robin Hood went on to the Greenwood Tree.  We never met.

The End

***