Craft Lesson #2--Daisy Kutter: The Last Train

CRAFT LESSON #2: Picture This! Putting Words to Pictures (ESL 9 – 12)

Materials: Daisy Kutter: The Last Train (Second Edition: August 2006) by Kazu Kibuishi
Present and Past Tense Verbs (Handout)*
Pen and Paper

TEKS: (ESL III) 1ABC, 3AB, 6AE, 7F

DISCUSSION: Many times, ELLs have difficulty with writing in the past tense. This activity provides an opportunity for ELLs to work with the past tense. Because Daisy Kutter is a graphic novel, it gives ELLs the opportunity to see the action, discuss what is
happening in each frame, and then write about what is happening in each frame in the past tense. Prior to this activity, ELLs build their own word bank of past tense verbs by completing a Verb Tense worksheet. (This activity should be a post-reading activity).

HOW TO TEACH IT:
Review the difference between present tense and past tense verbs. Distribute the Present and Past Tense Verbs handout.* The handout lists the following regular and irregular verbs in present tense: aim, shoot, fly, enter, disappear, wait, drop, look, find, climb, grab, open, see, turn, is, hold, and make. When the students have completed the verb tense handout, have them look at pages 140 – 143 in Daisy Kutter. In these pages, Daisy defeats the “world’s first remote-controlled heavy artillery” machine with a single rifle shot. The action, though, is conveyed only through pictures and a few instances of onomatopoeia. As they are viewing these frames, ask them to tell you what is happening in each frame. Once you have discussed the action together, ask them to write a paragraph describing the action of those frames in past tense. They may use the lined text box on the back of their Past Tense Verbs handout.* Remind them to use past tense verbs. The verbs on their handout should provide a helpful word bank for suitable past tense verbs.

Extension: (for more advanced ELLs) Have the students brainstorm synonyms (or look in a thesaurus) for each of the past tense verbs listed on the handout. Then have them write the present and past tense forms of these verbs as well. Encourage your students to use the synonyms in their descriptions of the Daisy Kutter’s face-off with the robot.


*If you would like a copy of the handout, please e-mail me.