Sink or Swim- Detailed Story Drama- (Literacy/English links)

**Sink or Swim Story Drama: **determination, perseverance, resilience, never giving up. Character education, PSHE, PSED, Social emotional development. Literacy, Writing, English, Language Arts cross curricular links.

Complete lesson plan with guided instruction, teacher talk, games, activities, and assessment marking rubric.

Summary:
Valerie Coulman’s picture book (illustrations by Roge) Sink or Swim is about a cow named Ralph who wants to learn how to swim, so that he can get away from the summer heat. He asks several different animals to teach him how to swim and buys swimming equipment from the store to help him in his quest. Overall, this is a story about determination in trying something new.

Useful sources of tension in the story:
Ralph is trying to do something a cow is not conventionally thought to be able to or want to do. Because his aspiration is novel, he is first identifiable with as an outsider, trying to fit into the swimming world. Where, later, he becomes a trail-blazer or trend-setter.

Rationale:
This text has a definite theme of determination, perseverance and resilience. Children need to be encouraged to show determination and confidence in trying something new. Additionally, when the main character, Ralph, goes on his quest to learn to swim, the other animals he asks for help are sometimes very self-centered and even mock and tease him. Overcoming social pressure is a pertinent issue to address for our children.

Key Questions:
• What is determination?
• How can friends support you in achieving your goals?

Bibliographic information:
Coulman, V. (2003). Sink or swim. Montreal, Quebec: Lobster Press.