The Mixed Up Chameleon

As a part of an author study over Eric Carle, we read The Mixed Up Chameleon. The students created a three-flap foldable to record the beginning, middle, and end of the story. They then created a Story Map to record the characters, setting, problem, and solution. We also talked about how Eric Carle is both author and illustrator. The students painted a drawing of The Mixed Up Chameleon to display with their Story Maps.

David Shannon: Comparing Stories

After reading Toy Many Toys and A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon, we discussed how the books were the same and different. We charted the student responses on a Double Bubble Map. The students then completed a Venn Diagram independently to compare the stories.

Using the Venn Diagram for help, the students created a four-tier foldable to identify one way that the two stories were the same and then something that was different yet related.

A Bad Case of Stripes

As a part of our author study on David Shannon, we read A Bad Case of Stripes. After reading, we created a class chart to write down our discussion about the characters, setting, problems, and solutions found in the story. The students then created their own Story Maps on construction paper to put the elements in their own words.

The next day we reread the story focusing on retelling the story from beginning, middle, and end. The students then created a three flap foldable to write and illustrate a retelling of the story in their own words.

Too Many Toys

As a part of our author study on David Shannon, we read Too Many Toys. After reading and discussing as a class, the students created a Story Map independently to write about the characters, setting, problem, and solution of the story.

The next day, after rereading, the students created a three-flap foldable to retell the story from beginning, middle, and end.

Author Study: David Shannon

We recently conducted an author study about David Shannon. He is the author of David Gets in Trouble, No, David!, Alice the Fairy, and more. As a part of our study, we watched a video interview from David Shannon on Reading Rockets. We also read a transcript of one of his interview's with Scholastic.

Eric Carle: Comparing Stories

After reading The Mixed-Up Chameleon and The Foolish Tortoise, both written and illusrtated by Eric Carle, we created a class Double-Bubble Map to compare the two stories. The students then used the class chart to help them create their own Venn Diagram independently. The next day, the students created a foldable to write sentences: one thing that was unique, or different, about each story, and one thing that was the same about the stories.

The Foolish Tortoise

As a part of our study on author and illustrator Eric Carle, we read The Foolish Tortoise. As we read, we discussed and charted the characters, setting, problem, and solution. The students then created their own Story Maps on construction paper to identify and write about the information.

The next day we read the story again but this time we focused on retelling the story from beginning, middle, and end. The students then created a three-flap foldable to retell the story.

The Mixed-Up Chameleon

As a part of our author study on Eric Carle, we read The Mixed-Up Chameleon. After reading, we discussed the characters, setting, problem, and solution. The students then created Story Maps about the book.

We then read the book again focusing on retelling. The students then created a foldable to retell the story from beginning, middle, and end.

Author Study: Eric Carle

In reading we are studying various authors. One of the authors we are studying is Eric Carle - one of my favorites. Not only do I love his stories, I love his illustrations. As a part of our study, we read about Eric Carle and his accomplishments on his website. Our specials teachers also taught the students about his artwork by showing examples of his artwork and taking them on a virtual tour of his museum.