Lesson Plan
Relatives
| Subject: | Literacy |
| Grade span: | K to 2 |
| Duration: | 30 minutes |
Description:
This lesson is one example of how you can implement a book discussion group or literature circle. After reading a story aloud, students engage in a discussion about what was read, what it means, and connections they make among the literature, their own lives, and the world around them.Learning Goals:
- Read for a variety of purposes
- Recognize fluent, expressive reading
- Make connections among literature, students' own lives, and the world around them
- Comprehend, interpret, and engage literature through discussion
- Listen and respect others' opinions
Materials:
A copy of the book The Relatives Came, by Cynthia Rylant, for each student
Preparation:
- Review the story in advance, noting key themes and any new vocabulary words
- Jot down any potential discussion questions
What to Do:
- Review the book title and cover with students, inviting any predictions
- Read The Relatives Came aloud, pausing to ask questions and introduce any new vocabulary
- After reading, ask students the discussion questions or use comments that came up during the reading to generate questions for discussion
- Through questioning and modeling, help children connect the story to their own lives and universal themes
- Questions may include: Have your relatives ever come to visit? Where did they come from? How did they travel? Where did they sleep? What did you do together? Does your family go to visit relatives? Why do you think people travel so far to visit relatives?
- To model connections, you might say: I remember one summer when my two cousins from Texas came to stay... Or I wonder why some people don't visit their relatives so often... In general, model the types of connections that you want children to make in the discussion.
- Some children will make connections easily and engage in discussion readily; others will need more prompting. Support student participation by asking open-ended questions and modeling your own connections as shown above.
Evaluate (Outcomes to look for):
- Student engagement and participation
- Comments and answers that reflect an understanding of the story, key themes, and word meanings
- Taking turns talking, listening, and respecting others' opinions
- Comments and answers that reflect students' ability to connect the literature to their own lives and the world around them
