Comparing David Shannon Stories

After reading A Bad Case of Stripes and Too Many Toys by David Shannon, the students created Venn Diagrams to compare the stories. After creating their diagrams in small groups, they independently created foldables to show their understanding. On the top flap, they wrote the title "Comparing Stories by David Shannon." On the second flap, they wrote one thing that was the same for both of the stories. On the third and fourth flaps, they wrote how the two stories were different. But, the things that they chose as different had to relate back to how they were both the same. For example, if they chose that they both had a setting, they had to then explain how the settings were different from one another. If they chose that both books had problems, they had to explain the problems for both books. The purpose of this lesson was to build a deeper understanding of the elements that make up fiction stories.

A Bad Case of Stripes

To learn about the elements and features of fiction story, we read various David Shannon books. One of the books we read was A Bad Case of Stripes. After reading, the students created a Story Map to explain the characters, setting, problem, and solution. In a separate lesson, not pictured, they also retold the beginning, middle, and end. After concluding our lessons over this book, the students created art to display with their work during Daily 5 time.

 

Comparing Stories by Eric Carle

As a part of our lessons on fiction story elements and our author study of Eric Carle, we compared the stories The Mixed-Up Chameleon and The Foolish Tortoise. Using a Double Bubble Map, we started with how the two stories are the same: author, problems, solutions, setting, animals, reptiles, etc. We then talked about how those things are the same, there are differences between them. We color coded the parts to show how although they have elements that are the same, the author used them differently to create two unique stories.

The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle

The students read The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle as a part of our author study and lessons on fiction story elements. After reading the book together, the students independently completed story maps to show their understanding of the characters, setting, problem, and solutions. While I worked with students in small groups, they painted a picture of The Mixed-Up Chameleon to display with their story maps.

The Foolish Tortoise by Eric Carle

Last week we conducted an author study of Eric Carle as a part of our unit on fiction texts and story elements. One of the books we read was The Foolish Tortoise. After reading, the students worked in small groups to retell the characters, setting, problem, and solution on a foldable. They also colored a tortoise inspired by Eric Carle's work to display with their foldables.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

We read the How The Grinch Stole Christmas to work on several reading skills. The students first retold the story to a partner and then individually completed a story map to identify the story elements. Then we discussed how the Grinch changed throughout the story. As we discussed the character traits, we talked about better vocabulary to use when discussing emotions. We charted the vocabulary and the students took notes about the Grinch's character traits at the beginning of the story and the end on Deanna Jump's handout from her Grinch unit. The students then created their own Grinch and wrote at least one way they could make the Grinch smile. We have been working on making connections to text as well.

Too Many Tamales

We read Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto. After reading, we discussed the story elements of the book and charted them on the Promethean Board. The students then completed a story map on their own to put the story elements in their own words. They also wrote at least one connection they had to the story and illustrated it.

 

 

Bad Case of the Stripes

Continuing with our study of David Shannon books, we read A Bad Case of Stripes. The students created foldables again to write the beginning, middle, and end. They also completed a Story Map to write the characters, setting, problem, and solution.

Too Many Toys

As a part of an author study of David Shannon, we read Too Many Toys. The students created a three-flap foldable to record the beginning, middle, and end of the story and then completed Story Maps to record the characters, setting, problem, and solution.

The Foolish Tortoise

As a part of our study on Eric Carle, we read The Foolish Tortoise. The students created a Story Map to record the characters, setting, problem, and solution of the story. They then colored a drawing of the tortoise to display with their Story Maps.

Comparing Eric Carle Books

In addition to reading The Mixed Up Chameleon, we also read The Grouchy Ladybug. The students created three-flap foldables for this book as well to write the beginning, middle, and end of the story. They also created Story Maps for the book. As a class we compared The Mixed Up Chameleon and The Grouchy Ladybug on a Double Bubble Map. The students then created their own Double Bubble Maps. They used their own Double Bubble Map to create a four-tiered foldable to write one way the books were the same and two ways they were different.

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.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas Story Maps

After reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the students worked independently to chart the characters, setting, problem, and solution from the story. Parents, as a comprehension extension at home, you can have your child identify these story elements from their daily homework books.

 

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.

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.