Main Idea: Snow Camping

In reading the students have been learning how to identify the main idea and topic of a story using details from the text. Because we were learning about camping, we read Snow Camping from Reading A-Z. Using a triangle graphic organizer, the students wrote down key facts about snow camping on the bottom portion of the triangle. After this, they decided what all of the facts had in common to determine the main idea (middle section) and the topic (top section). The triangle graphic organizer can also be used by starting with the details on top.

Comparing Fairy Tales

A few weeks back, we read various fairy tales to discuss recurring phrases and their meanings. We also worked on identifying story elements. Two books that we read were Cinderella and Prince Cinders. After reading and creating Story Maps for both stories, the students created Double Bubble Maps to record how the stories are the similar and how they are different. They then recorded one thing that was similar on a foldable. On the same fodlable, they wrote two things that were different, yet related to the thing that was similar. For example, both main characters got married. But, Cinderella married a prince and Prince Cinders married a princess. Or, they both lost something. But, Cinderella lost a glass slipper and Prince Cinders lost his trousers.

BME: The Princess and the Pea

After reading ThePrincess and the Pea, the students retold the story on a Flow Map using the Promethean Board. Then, individually, they wrote what happened at the beginning, middle, and end in their own words on strips of construction paper. After completing the retell, they glued the strips of paper on a larger piece of construction paper and added brown bed posts to recreate the Princess' bed with the stacks of mattresses. They then added on pea (a green hole punch) to the bottom of the mattresses.

BME: Jack and the Beanstalk

The students wrote to the beginning, middle, and end of Jack and the Beanstalk on a three-flap foldable. I often use this same type of foldable in guided reading and Daily 5 time to have the students work on their retelling skills.

BME: The Emperor's New Clothes

After reading The Emperor's New Clothes, the students wrote what happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story on a Flow Map on the Promethean Board. Then using the class Flow Map for support, they retold the story in their own words on a three flap foldable.

David: Character Traits

Before Christmas break we read David's Christmas and discussed David's behavior. It was a good way to remind the students that although the break was coming up soon, they still needed to behave. The students then used a character trait template to answer questions about David such as what he looks like, how he behaved, what they would do if they were David, etc. They then colored the template to loo like David.

It's Christmas, David!

We read It's Christmas, David! so the students could practice identifying the story elements: character, setting, problem, and solution. After making a chart together on the Promethean, the students completed a story map on their own.

To Make the Grinch Smile

We recently read How the Grinch Stole Christmas to discuss how the main character changed over time. The students used the pattern from Deanna Jump's Grinch Unit to create their own Christmas Grinch. They then wrote about one way they would make the Grinch smile.

The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Pets

We recently read The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Pets to practice retelling stories including the beginning, middle, and end. The students retold the story on a three-flap foldable and then illustrated each part.

Comparing Stories

As a part of our story of fairy tales and recurring phrases we read Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. After reading, the students compared and contrasted the two stories and we charted their comparisons on a Double Bubble Map.

A Visit From Aunt Rose

After reading A Visit From Aunt Rose by Patrsy Bevcar, the students retold the beginning, middle, and end of the story on a foldable.

Blueberries for Sal

In reading we are working on retelling stories including the beginning, middle, and end. We recently read Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey. As a group we summarized and charted what happened in the story. The students then created a three flap foldable to illustrate and write to retell the story.

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.

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.

Intro to Research: Skateboarding

Last week in reading we worked on an introduction to research: asking relevant questions and finding answers in text to those questions. With this lesson, we read Skateboarding from WeGiveBooks. If you have not visited WeGiveBooks, you should! There are so many current and classic books online for FREE! Before reading, the students shared what they already know about skateboarding which we recorded on a KWL chart under the K for what we "know." The students then divided into groups and wrote down questions they had or things they "wondered" on post-it notes. We added these to the KWL chart. We then read the book, including taking a close look at the parts of the book such as the table of contents, glossary, etc., to find answer to the questions. We then added the information under the L for what we "learned." The students then created their own skateboard out of construction paper and wrote at least one answer they learned from the book.

The Emperor's New Clothes

Last week we read The Emperor's New Clothes and the students again created a foldable to retell the story in their own words. This story is pretty complex for first grades but they did a good job!