The Curious Garden {Book Companion}

I'm fresh off a week break from school and currently diving head first into sharks!  I hope to have a post of the activities we completed this weekend.  In preparation for the following unit, I updated my book companion for The Curious Garden! 

If you haven't read this story, you MUST listen here...

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown from johnvu on Vimeo.
Captivate students with ocean themed fun while meeting learning standards! This 126 page packet is packed full of excitement.
What's included...

Build background knowledge about gardens with KWL or Have, Can and Are graphic organizers.

 

Begin instruction with a heavy dose of story vocabulary that will assist language learners with words such as city, garden, dreary, drizzly, discovery, wandering, railway, explore, tracks, gardener, pruning, restless, weeds, curious, spring, summer, autumn, winter, moss, and blossomed. 

 Provided are several options for recording vocabulary words. Option one includes a vocabulary book with clipart images. Option two includes blank vocabulary response pages.

Build schema by understanding the meaning of curious with a craftivity. 

Open discussions during reading with text dependent questions.

You'll find engaging comprehension response sheets for compare/contrast, visualization, story maps, plot and sequencing events with a summary. Practice cause/effect, inferences, and predictions in the final half the of the story.

 Practice adjectives by describing the city before and after Liam (the main character) tends to the growing gardens on the city railway.  Several options available.

Work on character traits with a lesson and follow up response about the main character, Liam. 

Produce a beautiful bulletin board with a response to literature craft.   

This file combines science content through literacy centers.  Explore sand and soil with engaging curious centers. 

Introduce photosynthesis with a color page and follow up with an experiment and observation recording page. Thank you!

Engage students while reading by interacting with retelling props. Bring the story to life by simply gluing pieces to a tongue depressor.

 Engaging clipart sets the stage for procedural writing.  Students will craft a procedural response with one of several options provided!

Groundhog Informational Book Companion

Learning through information makes this time of the year so special.  With Groundhog's Day only several weeks away, I started reading and  displaying books on the topic. This year I will kick off informational writing about groundhogs.  Many of my kids have love exposure to topics.  Providing background knowledge would make reading books on Groundhog's Day a little easier. 

This new packet doubles as a informational groundhog packet and a book companion.  It contains 81 pages packed full of excitement. 

What's included...

Build background knowledge on groundhogs with KWL or Can, Have, Are chart.  Keep up with facts or allow students to organize their sticky notes with the pack page.

Included is a heavy dose of vocabulary to assist language learners iwth words such as groundhog, burrow, hibernate, peek, forecast, weather, shadow, predict, kit, herbivore, rodent, marmot, handler, and diurnal.

Provided are several options for recording vocabulary words.  Option one includes a vocabulary book with clipart images.  Option two includes blank vocabulary response pages.  Option three includes interactive pages.

Read various stories throughout the week using comprehension response sheets with an animal comparison, story map, main events, and connections.

Also provided is a developing informational reader on groundhogs.  Each vocabulary word has been underlined in the text.  A color reader is provided whole group instruction.  Save ink!  You can display this file on the white board.  A blackline is included for independent student bags.

Having the blackline reader will be a great reference for student research.  Use sticky notes and the provided graphic organizer.  Once thoughts are ordered, students can use the paper at the end of the packet to create their own informational piece.  Included: an editable cover, editable heading, place for a diagram or illustration, and writing lines. 

Advance first or second grade classrooms can work to classify the animals with a visual display.

Wishing you the best!  Happy Teaching.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch {Book Companion}

I've been working on this file off and on for a hot minute but finally found the motivation to complete it yesterday!  I'm so grateful for the lovely feedback on the unit! 

I fell in love with Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch with the Storyline Online Reading by Hector Elizondo. 

Captivate students with holiday themed fun while meeting learning standards! This 73 page packet is packed full of excitement.

What's included...

Build background knowledge of Valentine's Day with a KWL or record facts with new learning.

A heavy dose of story vocabulary will assist language learners with words such as prune, supper, supper, packages, fluttered, wondered, valentine, mysterious, harmonica, delivered, fetched, streamers.

Provided are several options for recording vocabulary words. Option one includes a vocabulary book with clipart images. Option two includes blank vocabulary response pages. Option three includes interactive pages.

Reread the story throughout the week using my prepared interactive skills pages. Included are essential questions, flip flaps for note taking, and a student page for informal assessment. Each of the above options are provided for transitions, days of the week and communities.

You'll find engaging comprehension response sheets with a story map, compare/contrast, plot, cause/effect and connections.

Encourage students to write friendly letters. Included for lesson is an instructional poster and matching checklist, parts of a letter poem and Valentine's Day card with key words.

Spruce up your bulletin board with a Lovebug Craft or send home for mom and dad. 

Last, you'll find a developing fluency reader. Mr. Hatch, Mr. Hatch What Do You See? 

I'm eager to use this unit and hope you find the activities engaging yet meaningful.  Click the image below to link to the unit.