Lesson Title -Animals in Children’s Literature

“Monkey-ing Around!”

GENERAL INFORMATION
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Subject Areas: Technology Integration, Children’s Literature. 
Approximate Time for lesson: 30 -35 minutes (This lesson can be presented in 2 sessions)

PRIMARY LEARNING OUTCOMES (PLO)
The primary learning outcomes to be achieved with this lesson include:
A. Student will be able to use the mouse while operating the computer
B.  Student will be able to respond to prediction questions from looking at an illustration from the story
C.  Student will listen to a children’s story about an animal s/he has learned about in a previous lesson and will be able to understand how this animal is represented in the story.
D.  Student will work cooperatively in small group to retell events of the story by ordering 3 pictures from the story.

Related GPS Standards
A. Grade: K
Technology Integration
Standard: Operates basic technology tools and applications.

English Language Arts Grade: K 

ELAKR5 The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively.
The student
a.   Listens to a variety of texts and uses new vocabulary in oral language.

ELAKLSV1 The student uses oral and visual skills to communicate. The student
g.   Communicates effectively when relating experiences and retelling stories heard.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
1. Computer with Internet connection
2. Topic Literature Web Page  http://www.valdosta.edu/~andreniw/topiclit.html
3.  Book: Curious George Goes Camping by Margret and H. A. Rey Illustrated in the style of H. A. Rey by Vipah Interactive.
2. 8 ½ by 11 sheets of paper.
3.  Photo copies of 2 illustrations from the book (sized to fit on each of the 8 ½ by 11 sheets) for the sequence of events activity. Make one set for each student.
4. Glue stick for each child
5 Markers or crayons
6. Copy of lesson rubric for each group member.

Technology Connection
Technologies that will be used in this lesson include: computer with Internet connection, a picture developed using a computer drawing program, and a designed website that includes a computer painted picture.

PROCEDURE
Part I Step One: Introduction

1.    Work with a small group of students (2-5).  Tell students that today you are going to read them a special book about an animal that they have been learning about.  Can anyone guess what animal this might be?

2.     Ask students an introduction question.

a. What are some things we learned about monkeys?

 
(Estimated time 2 minutes)

Step Two: Teaching the Primary Learning Outcomes  

1. Go to the computer and your Topic Literature website at http://www.valdosta.edu/~andreniw/topiclit.html.

 Students should be grouped around the computer with you so they can see the screen, and have access to using the mouse.
2.  Let children take turns pointing to things in your picture. 
Read each question under the Paint drawing. Ask them to predict the answers of what they think.  They can also try to point to certain words on the screen.

Prediction questions:
1. Why do you think the monkey is in the forest?
2. What animal do you think is hiding under the bush?
3. What do you think will happen when the monkey grabs the animal that is hiding?

3.    Read the short overview about the story to them.

Overview:

This time Curious George and the man in the yellow are going camping! George has never been camping and doesn’t know what to expect. Come along with us as we share the adventures and mishaps with George!

Estimated Time 5 -7 minutes

Part 2
Show the book to the children.  Tell them the title, author, illustrator
Do a VERY brief picture walk and highlight 2-3 aspects of the book

Read the story to the children.  (if the story is very long, read or tell key parts of the story or read story in 2 sittings)

(Estimated time 10-15 minutes)

CLOSURE

After you read the story:

Ask students to tell you some things they liked about the story.  
Ask a question about monkeys as it relates to the story.

Questions:

     1.   How was Curious George able to carry the bucket of water to the fire so easily?
2.What was your favorite part of the story?
3.What part was the funniest to you?
4.Do you think monkey really eat marshmallows like George did in the story?

*Give the students 2 8½ by 11 sheets of paper. Label the pages 1, and 2.
*Give the students 2 photocopied pictures from the storybook you read them, and ask them to paste the pictures on the papers with the event that happened first on the sheet labeled 1 and the next event on the sheet labeled 2.
*Have them paste the papers together from left to right according to the order of events in the story. 
*If they want to dictate something to write under each picture, use markers and write the information as they dictate it to you.  They can also write their own information or draw on the page.
*Ask them to tell you what the pictures are about and what happened in each.

 (Estimated time 10 minutes)

ACCOMODATION  

Since this is a small group activity, the teacher will work individually with each student to help him or her complete the activity.

EXTENSION
Students who complete the work before the other students can add pictures to enhance their finished product.

EVALUATION:
Rubric:  Do one for each student in the group (see below) .

 (Lesson Plan outline developed by Dr. Inez Heath, Fall 2007. Modified by Kim Williams)