A big guy took my ball

Willems, M. (2013). A big man took my ball! New York: Hyperion.

When Piggy thinks a big guy took his ball away, Gerald decides to get it back. After all, Gerald is a big guy too. When Gerald finds that the ball really belonged to the big guy, a friendly whale, he and Piggy decide to play with him.

Suggested lesson plan

2^nd grade -Reading

Before reading, students should be introduced to characters. Students may or may not have previously encountered these characters. Text should be read aloud, pausing in appropriate areas to allow students to make inferences.

After reading, students should complete a character chart for each of the three characters (Gerald, Piggy, and Whale). Students should can cut and paste character traits onto a chart in the appropriate characters’ name. After identifying character traits, students should discuss the lesson learned from the story.

Questions to be asked:

Why was Piggy upset?

Who took the big ball?

Was Whale really a bad guy?

Why did Piggy think Whale was bad?

Are big guys all bad?

Materials needed:

Character trait chart

Character trait list

2nd grade – Reading

(9)  Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Fiction. Students understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of fiction and provide evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are expected to:

(A) describe similarities and differences in the plots and settings of several works by the same author; and

(B) describe main characters in works of fiction, including their traits, motivations, and feelings.

The three pigs

Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. New York: Clarion.

The three little pigs must face off against a wolf in this familiar tale. However, this classic tale is recreated with some major changes. The three pigs decide to seek refuge in the pages of other stories. As the story leaps off the page, the wolf is hot on the pig’s trail. But when the pigs befriend a lonely dragon, the wolf realizes he must abandon his lust for meat.

If you enjoyed this book, try these other similar titles.

Pinkney, J. (2009) The lion and the mouse. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young

. Readers.

Stone, J. (1971). The monster at the end of this book. New York: Random House.

Balloons over Broadway

Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: The true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s

            parade. New York: Houghton.

Tony Sarg, known as a master puppeteer, created something magical when he invented the giant balloons that grace the streets of New York City every Thanksgiving. With his big ideas and craftsmanship, Sarg took the basic puppet, turned it upside down, and the famous balloons of the annual Macy’s day parade were created.

If you enjoyed this book, try these other similar titles.

Corey, S. (2006). Milly and the Macy’s parade. New York: Scholastic.

Kalman, M. (2012). Looking at Lincoln. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.

It's a book

Smith, L. (2011). It’s a book. New York: Roaring Brook.

A monkey is reading a book, and his donkey friend does not quite understand. How does he charge this book or use it to access Wi-Fi? The answer is simple, you don't. It’s a book. After the donkey begins reading, he realizes the book is interesting, and does not give it back. Frustrated, monkey leaves to pick up a new book.

If you enjoyed this book, try these other similar titles.

Scieszka, J. (1992). The stinky cheese man and other fairly stupid tales. New York:

            Viking Juvenile.

Tullet, H. (2011). Press here. New York: Chronicle Books.

Mirror, mirror

Singer, M. (2010). Mirror, mirror. New York: Dutton.

Fairy tales are not always what they seem, when one views them from a different perspective. Split text and illustrations combine two separate but unified pictures and poems. Traditional fairy tales like Cinderella and Red Riding Hood are given a new appearance through reverso poetry.  Readers too will have to take a double look at each page.

Suggested lesson plan

8th grade - Writing

Students will construct a reverse poem. Teacher will read “Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse” aloud to the class as a large group. In the back of this book is a description of a “reverso” which is a poem that is written backwards from the bottom to the top. Students are only able to change capitalization and punctuation. Have them create two different poems. The first one they can choose a haiku of their choosing, and then create a reverso of the haiku.

For the second poem, they will be required to write the first, as well as the reverso. When students are done, have a few volunteers share their poems. It will be sure to evoke a few laughs and students will gain a better appreciation for the challenges of poetry – and the power of punctuation!

 Materials:

The book, “Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse”

Pencils

Paper

Lesson plan obtained at: http://picturebookjunkie.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/lesson-plan-5-reverso/

8th grade Writing - Poetry

(15)  Writing/Literary Texts. Students write literary texts to express their ideas and feelings about real or imagined people, events, and ideas. Students are expected to:

(B)  write a poem using:

(i)  poetic techniques (e.g., rhyme scheme, meter);

(ii)  figurative language (e.g., personification, idioms, hyperbole); and

(iii)  graphic elements (e.g., word position).