Literature - Week 2

Introduction (2-3 minutes)

Show an apple and ask: "Where do apples come from?" (Trees) "Today we'll learn about a real man named John Chapman who planted apple trees all across America. People called him Johnny Appleseed because he loved planting apple seeds everywhere he went!"

Main Activity (10-12 minutes)

Read a Johnny Appleseed story aloud. Emphasize that he was a real person who lived about 200 years ago and walked thousands of miles planting apple trees so future families would have food.

Discussion questions during reading:

• "Why did Johnny Appleseed plant so many apple trees?"
• "Who would enjoy the apples from those trees?" (Future families, people he would never meet)
• "What does this tell us about Johnny Appleseed?" (He was generous, he thought about helping others)

Practice (3-5 minutes)

Discuss the moral: "Johnny Appleseed worked hard to help people he would never even meet. He planted seeds knowing the trees would grow big and give fruit for many years. What can we learn from this?" (Think about the future, help others, be generous)

Connection: "How can you plant 'seeds' of kindness that will help others in the future?"

Closure (1-2 minutes)

Say: "Johnny Appleseed is remembered as an American hero because he helped so many people. Tomorrow we'll meet another strong American hero named Paul Bunyan!"

Introduction (2-3 minutes)

Ask: "Have you ever heard someone tell a story that seems too big to be true? Like catching a fish THIS big?" (Gesture wildly) "Today we're reading a 'tall tale' about Paul Bunyan, the biggest, strongest lumberjack who ever lived—with his giant blue ox named Babe!"

Explain: "A tall tale is a story with exaggerations—things that are so big and amazing they couldn't really happen. They're fun stories that people told for entertainment."

Main Activity (10-12 minutes)

Read a Paul Bunyan story aloud with enthusiasm and dramatic voices. Emphasize the exaggerations: Paul was so big he could flatten mountains, Babe the ox was enormous, they created the Grand Canyon, etc.

Discussion questions during reading:

• "Is this story real or make-believe? How can you tell?"
• "What are some of the exaggerations? What's too big to be true?"
• "Why do you think people told stories about super-strong heroes?"

Practice (3-5 minutes)

Discuss reality vs. exaggeration: "Lumberjacks were real workers who cut down trees. But Paul Bunyan is a made-up character who's much bigger and stronger than any real person could be."

Activity: "If you were going to make up a tall tale about yourself, what super power would you have? What amazing thing would you do?"

Closure (1-2 minutes)

Say: "Tall tales celebrate American strength and hard work, but in an exaggerated, fun way. Tomorrow we'll meet John Henry, another strong American hero!"

Introduction (2-3 minutes)

Ask: "Have you ever worked really hard at something and felt proud?" Today's story is about John Henry, a steel-driving man who worked on the railroads. He was so strong and determined that he raced against a machine—and won!"

Main Activity (10-12 minutes)

Read a John Henry story aloud. Explain that John Henry worked driving steel spikes to build railroad tunnels through mountains. When a steam-powered drill was invented, he raced against it to prove human strength and determination.

Discussion questions during reading:

• "What was John Henry's job?" (Steel driver, railroad worker)
• "Why did he race the machine?" (To show that people are strong and capable)
• "What does this story teach us about hard work?"

Practice (3-5 minutes)

Discuss the moral: "John Henry represents the value of human effort, strength, and determination. Even though machines can be powerful, people have special qualities like courage, pride in their work, and the will to never give up."

Connection: "When do you work hard and feel proud of what you accomplish?"

Closure (1-2 minutes)

Say: "John Henry is remembered as an American hero because he showed tremendous strength and determination. Tomorrow we'll read about a little red hen who also believes in hard work!"

Introduction (2-3 minutes)

Ask: "Have you ever done a chore or job all by yourself when others wouldn't help? How did that feel?" Today's story is about a hardworking hen who asks for help many times, but nobody wants to help her. Let's see what happens!"

Main Activity (10-12 minutes)

Read "The Little Red Hen" aloud. Use different voices for the hen and the lazy animals (cat, dog, pig). Emphasize the repeated pattern: "Who will help me?" "Not I!"

Discussion questions during reading:

• "What did the little red hen ask the other animals to help with?"
• "Did they help? What did they say?"
• "How do you think the little red hen felt when nobody would help?"
• "What happened at the end when the bread was ready to eat?"

Practice (3-5 minutes)

Discuss the moral: "If you don't help with the work, you don't get to enjoy the reward. The little red hen worked hard from start to finish, so she earned the right to eat the bread."

Ask: "Was it fair that the little red hen didn't share? Why or why not?" (Guide toward understanding that those who work hard deserve to enjoy the results)

Connection: "When have you worked hard and earned something you felt proud of?"

Closure (1-2 minutes)

Say: "The little red hen teaches us about personal responsibility and earning rewards through hard work. Tomorrow we'll read a fun story about a gingerbread man who runs away from everyone!"

Introduction (2-3 minutes)

Ask: "Have you ever eaten a gingerbread cookie? What shape was it?" Show the book and say: "Today's story is about a gingerbread man who comes to life and runs away from everyone! He thinks he's so clever and fast that nobody can catch him."

Main Activity (8-10 minutes)

Read "The Gingerbread Man" aloud with energy. Have fun with the repeated chant: "Run, run as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!" Encourage your student to say it with you.

Discussion questions during reading:

• "Who is chasing the gingerbread man? Why?"
• "What does the gingerbread man keep saying?" (Practice the chant together)
• "What happens when he meets the fox? Why does the fox trick him?"

Practice (5-7 minutes)

Discuss the moral: "The gingerbread man was too proud and boastful. He thought he was smarter and faster than everyone. This made him careless, and the clever fox tricked him."

Lesson: "It's good to be confident, but being too boastful can get us into trouble. We should be careful about who we trust."

Week 2 Review: "Let's remember all the folk tales we read this week!"

• "Monday: Johnny Appleseed - What did we learn?" (Generosity, helping others)
• "Tuesday: Paul Bunyan - What's a tall tale?" (Exaggerated story)
• "Wednesday: John Henry - What did he do?" (Raced the machine, showed determination)
• "Thursday: Little Red Hen - What did she teach us?" (Work hard to earn rewards)
• "Today: Gingerbread Man - What lesson did we learn?" (Don't be too proud or boastful)

Closure (1-2 minutes)

Celebrate: "You learned about American folk tales this week! These stories teach important lessons and have been told for many, many years. Which story was your favorite? Why?"

Preview: "Next week we'll start reading our first chapter book together! We'll read a little bit each day and follow a longer story."