“ The Grouchy Ladybug” – First Grade – Lesson Plan

Fluency in reading is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. One of the most effective ways to build fluency is through repeated readings of the same text. Some researchers hold that text should be reread at least four times in order to build on fluency. Often, it’s a difficult task to get early readers to get enthusiastic about rereading the same text. This is why stories that repeat the same sentences throughout the text provide both building fluency and reading motivation.

Grade Level : First Grade Lesson Plan

Benchmark Description :

LA.1.1.1.1 – Locate the title, names of author and illustrator.

LA.1.1.5.1 – Apply letter-sound knowledge to decode phonetically regular words quickly and accurately in isolation and in context.

LA.1.1.5.2 – Recognize high frequency and familiar words in isolation and in context.

LA.1.1.5.3 – Adjust reading rate based on purpose, text difficulty, form, and style.

Objectives:

Students will build reading fluency through repeated readings of the text.

Students will apply letter-sound knowledge to decode phonetically regular words quickly and accurately in isolation and in context.

Students will learn new vocabulary (aphids, insist, suggest).

Materials:

“The Grouchy Ladybug Story” by Eric Carle

Journals

Sentence strips.

Procedures:

1. Teacher reads “The Grouchy Ladybug Story” by Eric Carle, aloud.

2. Teacher and students reread the story aloud together.

3. Have the student practice reading a passage with emotion, to emphasize expression and      intonation.

4. Students are grouped together for paired reading.

5. Students are given a sentence strips with text on it. Students then cut apart the words in    sentences and reconstruct the sentences again.

Assessment:

Teacher will informally assess student’s progress on fluency.

Teacher will informally assess student’s ability to reconstruct the story sentence.

Students will write and illustrate a new ending to the story in their journals.

Extension Activities:

Students prepare “The Grouchy Ladybug” performance during which every student takes a part and rehearses his/her lines(s).

Moon Phases Lesson Plan – First and Second Grade Lesson Plan

Grade Level : 1st and 2nd Grade

Benchmark Description :

SC.2.E.7.1: Compare and describe changing patterns in nature that repeat themselves.

LA.2.1.7.3 – summarize information in text, including but not limited to main idea, supporting details, and connections between texts.

LA.2.1.7.4 – identify cause-and-effect relationships in text.

LA.2.4.2.2 – record information (e.g., observations, notes, lists, charts, map labels, legends) related to a topic.

LA.2.4.2.3 – write informational/expository paragraphs that contain a topic sentence, supporting details, and relevant information.

Body of Knowledge: Science & Language Arts

Objectives:

After this lesson:

Students will understand that Moon goes through phases and looks different every night.

Students will make Moon observations each night at the same time for two weeks.

Students will learn that the Moon does not shine on its own, but reflects the Sun’s light.

The Moon orbits around the Earth.

Students will understand that Moon changes follow a pattern.

Students will understand that we only see one side of the Moon.

Students will learn new vocabulary, New Moon, First Quarter, Crescent Moon, Full Moon, Third Quarter Moon, and Orbit.

Students will complete a word study.

Materials:

Moon chart

Pencils

Color Pencils

Journals

“Papa, Please Get The Moon For Me” By Eric Carle

Procedures:

Students will track the moon phases for two weeks. They will draw their findings on their Moon charts.

Teacher will start the class with the discussion about students’ Moon findings and observations.

Teacher will present pictures of the Moon along with the new vocabulary.

Teacher will discuss with students the reason that some of their findings are not the same.

Teacher will introduce “Papa, Please Get The Moon For Me” by Eric Carle

Throughout the book teacher will note the changing phases of the Moon. Teacher and students will discuss the text forms fiction and non fiction.

Teacher and students will identify Moon phases and apply new vocabulary to the text.

Teacher will summarize the story through a think aloud and he/she will involve students in making connections between the story ”Papa, Please Get The Moon For Me” and their own observations and conclusions.

Assessment:

Students will complete their two week Moon charts.

Students will write a paragraph about their findings in their journals.

Extension Activities:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0714_040714_moonfacts.html

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question3.html

http://www.noao.edu/education/phases/phases_demo.html

10 Best Christmas Books for Children

1. The Night Before Christmas Pop-Up- by Clement Moore
2. Eric Carle’s Dream Snow Pop-Up Advent Calendar – Eric Carle
3. How The Grinch Stole Christmas- by Dr. Seuss
4. Olive, the Other Reindeer - by J. otto Seibold
5. Merry Christmas Mom and Dad – by Mercer Mayer
6. The Polar Express – by Chris Van Allsburg
7. Mr. Christmas (Mr. Men Series) - by Roger Hargreaves
8. Little Miss Christmas (Mr. Men and LIttle Miss Series) –
9. The Night Before the Night Before Christmas – by Natasha Wing
10. Arthur’s Christmas : An Arthur Adventure – by Marc Brown

10 Best First Science Books for Kids

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar- by Eric Carle

2. Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me – by Eric Carle

3. The Moon Seems to Change – by Franklyn M. Branley

4. There Is No Place Like Space – by Tish Rabe

5. Wish for a Fish: All About Sea Creatures – by Bonnie Worth

6. Oh Say Can You Seed? All About Flowering Plants – by Bonnie Worth

7. What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases – by Kathleen Zoehfel

8. Why Do Leaves Change Color? – by Betsy Maestro

9. My Five Senses -  by Aliki

10. What Makes a Magnet – by Branley Mansfield

Eric Carle- Rooster’s Off to See the World- First Math Concepts

Rooster’s Off to See the World – by Eric Carle

Eric Carle’s books are just brilliant. They are inspiring, fun, and educational, and they are books that parents enjoy to read as well. In this story a rooster decides that he wants to go see the world, and as he starts his adventure he invites his other animal friends. And as cats, frogs, turtles, and fish join him, a child is able to visualize addition of animals, and then subtraction, as animals return to their homes. In addition to being a great first math concept book, this is often one of the first books that your child can read independently. It is a wonderful story that will be read many times over.

Hope you enjoy it!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar – by Eric Carle

Your child will love this book and ask you to read it over and over and over. Finally, he/she will memorize the book and then he/she will pretend to read it to you. And that is great! Encourage and tell your child what a good job he/she is doing in “reading”. Pretend reading is one of the major milestones of reading process. But back to the book now. This is a story about a caterpillar who becomes a butterfly. It’s a story about changes that take place in the life of a catterpillar/butterfly. It also teaches children days of the month, along with beautiful illustrations of all the foods kids just love, such as, lollipops, cake, and so on. Of course, after eating too much junk food, the caterpillar has a stomach ache, which is another one, any child can probably relate to . Buy it, get it from the library, read it, and enjoy it.

Happy Reading!  

Great Children's Books of Seasons

Great Children's Books of Shapes, Colors, and Numbers