Snowmen at Night, at Work, at Christams, and All Year {Book Companion}

The best part about creating book companions has been pulling out all the treasured tales I use to teach my kids skills and concept while taking a deeper peek at the text.

The next book companion features all books from the snowmen series...

I'm going to share how I plan to use this unit.

 

Begin building background knowledge with the topic of snow.  Record information gathered in a KWL.  An alternative is to discuss snowmen with a Have, Can, Are chart.  Throughout the week, keep track of details from each story with a matrix.  The matrix will be a large component of learning on Thursday and Friday.

Building vocabulary background each day will assist your language learners.  The format remains the same for each book: vocabulary poster, student journal, and interactive page to save on copies.  An additional blank card is available and made editable.  I decided the book Snowmen All Year didn't have the depth of vocabulary and opted to review the matrix by Friday.

 

Reread the story to assist in reviewing 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 rhyming and compound words.

 

You'll find engaging comprehension response sheets for compare/contrast, story maps, plot, adjectives, making connections and a response to literature.

 

Develop writing through the week with a fun published paper with a craftivity.  Provided are poster images for a shared writing.  Depending on their background knowledge, I've provided images to create a functional story on How-to Build a Snowman and How-to Decorate a Snowman.

 

If time provides or the following lesson, allow time for kids to work with graphic organizer. Optional writing pages for published stories or elaborating on the graphic organizer is found at the end of the packet. 

 

Follow up writing with a fun craft.  Allow students to select a setting.  A template on how to color the backgrounds is provided.  Students will color setting, assemble and attach their snowman. 

 

 

You can link to my store by clicking the first and last image.  The cover and preview have links embedded too!

 

 

Squirrel's New Year's Resolution {Book Companion}

This weekend has caused me to feel a bit festive.  We prepared our house for Christmas.  It's a tradition to put up the tree and decorations the day after Thanksgiving but for medical reasons, I'm preparing for the madness two weeks earlier.  During my down time, I've been prepping a New Years book companion. 

 

 

Captivate students with winter themed fun while meeting learning standards! This 80 page packet is packed full of excitement.

What's included...

 

 

Start your lessons with props and pictures so that your little learners activate their schema.  Build background knowledge of New Years with a KWL. 

 

 A heavy dose of story vocabulary will assist language learners with words such as resolution, pinned, bank, scamper, spied, edge, stake, and grumpy.

 

Provided are several options for recording vocabulary words. Option one includes a vocabulary book with clipart images. Option two includes blank vocabulary response 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 goals, resolutions, time, months, years, place value.

 

You'll find engaging comprehension response sheets with a story map, compare/contrast, plot, and sequence of events.

 

 Encourage students to write narratives of their New Year's celebration with a word list and differentiated writing paper.

 

 Engage students while reading by interacting with retelling props. Bring the story to life by simply gluing pieces to a tongue depressor. Or, you can simply place the cards in a pocket chart for additional sequencing practice.

 

 Last, you'll find an developing reader to provide students with fluency practice using both sight words and vocabulary! Little Squirrel, Little Squirrel What Do You See? is sure to captivate students!

The Polar Express {A Book Companion}

Does it seem like November blows through in a blink?  With only 10 days of school remaining this month for me, I've begun to prepare for December with a book companion for The Polar Express!

 

Captivate students with winter themed fun while meeting learning standards! This 71 page packet is packed full of excitement. What's included...

 

A heavy dose of story vocabulary will assist language learners with words such as rustle, conductor, peak, plain, barren, North Pole, factory, sleigh, prance, roar.

 

 

Provided are several options for recording vocabulary words. Option one includes a vocabulary book with clipart images. Option two includes blank vocabulary response 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 metaphors, similes, timelines, and sequencing.

 

 

Build background knowledge of trains with a KWL and Can, Have, and Are Map.

 

 

You'll find engaging comprehension response sheets for compare/contrast, cause/effect, story maps, and plot.

 

 

Use adjectives to describe three main character from The Polar Express  Characters include the boy, conductor, and Santa.

Newly added are writing options for narrative, persuasive, and functional (how-to) writing.  Each option of paper has a picture word list to assist children in their stories.  Also provided are different paper options for developing writers.

 

 

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

Lastly, you'll find an developing reader to provide students with fluency practice using both sight words and vocabulary! Little Boy, Little Boy What Do You See? is sure to captivate students!

If you are interested in this unit, you can access the unit with a link in the first image or the image below.

 

The Ugly Pumpkin {Book Companion}

Happy November!  Today is a crisp, cool morning and gets me in the holiday planning mood!  I've been working on a fantastic book companion for Thanksgiving.

Captivate students with fall themed fun while meeting learning standards! This 60 page packet is packed full of excitement. What's included...

 

 

Build background with themed vocabulary will assist language learners with words such as field pumpkin, sugar pie pumpkin, delicata squash, acorn squash, swan gourd, wing gourd.  I'm following up the reading and provided comprehension questions with the vocabulary to ensure my kid's understanding!

 

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

 

 

Dive into character analysis with a fun craftivity! Determine how the character changes. Follow up with a response to literature, giving a friend who has been "squashed" some advice!

 

 

You'll find engaging comprehension response sheets for compare/contrast, story mapping, plot, and connections.

Lastly, you'll find an emergent reader to provide students with fluency practice with easy to read sight words! Ugly Pumpkin, Ugly Pumpkin What Do You See?

I'm in love with "Oh My Gourd!" by Etsy Seller, Digi Bon Bons!  After communicating with her, I receive permission to create this thematic unit using her adorable art! To purchase the above unit, please click the first image or the image below!