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.

Caterpillar Writing

After reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, the students created their own caterpillars. We then researched caterpillars on Pebble Go. They then wrote to describe caterpillars and facts learned.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's 45th Anniversary

To celebrate the 45th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and the first day of spring, all of first grade headed out to our school garden. We started our lesson by reading the book in English and Spanish. The students then worked in small groups to paint concrete stepping stones to look like The Very Hungry Caterpillar. After they dried, we added them to our garden as a pathway.

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.

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.