Kolobok’s Adventures: Teens & Avos’ Featured, Open
By: Ekaterina Kalmanson (James Madison High School, NYC)
Topic(s): Folklore, Public Health

EU: Avos' is an expression of hope for success, even though the reasons for success are few
EU: Avos' derives from the hope that negative consequences will somehow be avoided and things will sort themselves out.

EQ: What is avos’ power?
EQ: Does the concept of avos’ belong only to Russian culture?
EQ: Do we need to hope for luck while taking risks?

Students create a website promoting healthy and safe choices among Russian speakings teenagers.


Novice High-CEFR A1/A2

https://youtu.be/SBlLW1eKFBk

Kolobok is a traditional story that describes Kolobok's repetitive meetings with various animals (rabbit, wolf, and bear) who intend to eat it, but Kolobok cunningly escapes. With each animal Kolobok sings a song in which he explains, "I got away from Grandmother, I got away from Grandfather, and I will certainly get away from you." The fox manages to catch and eat Kolobok.

Interpretive

Students watch the cartoon and organize the sentences illustrating the sequence of events. Then students find and label the images that reflect the avos' moments. (a grandfather telling granny to try to find flour in an empty box, Kolobok running from home and singing to hare, wolf, bear, and fox in the hope to run away from them).

I can identify and organize events related to avos'
I can differentiate between safe and unsafe choices.


Interpersonal

In pairs, students create a plot for the New Kolobok plays bringing the fairytale into modern time and transforming it to promote the idea that safety comes first.

I can exchange information about real-life situations.
I can offer some opinions about avos'.
I can decide on information to include about safe healthy and unsafe choices for teens.


Presentational

Students create a digital comic book that teaches students not to be afraid to take some risks but to remember that safety comes first.

I can present a story promoting safety among teens.


Intermediate Mid-CEFR A2/B1

https://youtu.be/SBlLW1eKFBk

Kolobok is a traditional story that describes Kolobok's repetitive meetings with various animals (rabbit, wolf, and bear) who intend to eat it, but Kolobok cunningly escapes. With each animal Kolobok sings a song in which he explains, "I got away from Grandmother, I got away from Grandfather, and I will certainly get away from you." The fox manages to catch and eat Kolobok.

Interpretive

Students watch the cartoon and fill out a Venn diagram of Avos' situations in the story and their own lives.
Students write down three questions that start from Have you ever... to ask each other about Avos' moments.

I can identify situations when people hope for avos'.
I can post questions related to avos'.
I can differentiate between safe and unsafe choices.
I can compare the choices I make to the choices that derive from avos'.


Interpersonal

Students discuss the avos' moments of taking risks and come up with ideas on how to make safe and healthy choices in teens' lives.

I can exchange information about healthy and safe choices among teens.
I can compare information about avos and teens' choices in my own country.
I can exchange opinions about healthy and unsafe decisions.
I can exchange information about avos' beliefs.


Presentational

Using Vocaroo, students create a podcast promoting safe and healthy choices among teens.

I can create a podcast promoting healthy and safe lifestyles among teens.


Advanced Low-CEFR B1/B2

https://youtu.be/SBlLW1eKFBk

Kolobok is a traditional story that describes Kolobok's repetitive meetings with various animals (rabbit, wolf, and bear) who intend to eat it, but Kolobok cunningly escapes. With each animal Kolobok sings a song in which he explains, "I got away from Grandmother, I got away from Grandfather, and I will certainly get away from you." The fox manages to catch and eat Kolobok.

Interpretive

Students watch the cartoon and decide what characters represent a teen, fear, angriness, physical power, and falseness.
Students write down four questions that start with What if Kolobok did not hope for avos' and..?

I can identify and analyze decisions and choices that derive from avos'.
I can post questions related to avos'.
I can distinguish the avos' beliefs.


Interpersonal

Students discuss what Kolobok could do differently and exchange their experiences about overcoming their own fears and standing against angriness, physical power, and falseness.

I can exchange information and ideas about real-life situations in teens' lives.
I can exchange opinions about healthy and unsafe decisions that derive from avos'.


Presentational

Students create a hip-hop song "Do Not Count on Avos" to promote safe and healthy choices among teens.

I can create a song that promotes healthy and safe choices among teens.


Student Work Samples
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