Literature - Week 4

Introduction (2-3 minutes)

Say: "This week we're reading poetry! Poems are different from stories. They use rhyme (words that sound alike), rhythm (a beat like music), and special words to create feelings and pictures. Today we'll start with nursery rhymes—short poems that have been passed down for hundreds of years."

Ask: "Do you know any nursery rhymes? Let's say one together!" (Try "Twinkle Twinkle" together)

Main Activity (10-12 minutes)

Read or recite 5-6 classic nursery rhymes. After each one, identify the rhyming words together.

Rhymes to share:

• Humpty Dumpty: "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall..." - Rhymes: wall/fall, men/again
• Jack and Jill: "Jack and Jill went up the hill..." - Rhymes: hill/Jill, down/crown, after/laughter
• Hey Diddle Diddle: "Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle..." - Rhymes: diddle/fiddle, moon/spoon
• Mary Had a Little Lamb: "Mary had a little lamb..." - Rhymes: snow/go, sure/for, love/above
• Baa Baa Black Sheep: "Baa baa black sheep..." - Rhymes: wool/full, dame/lane

After each rhyme, ask: "What words rhyme? Let's clap the rhythm!"

Practice (3-5 minutes)

Choose one nursery rhyme to memorize together. Say it multiple times with actions:

• "Humpty Dumpty" - Pretend to sit and fall
• "Jack and Jill" - March up and tumble down
• "Hey Diddle Diddle" - Act out each character

Say: "Nursery rhymes help us hear sounds in words. When we hear 'cat' and 'hat' rhyme, we're learning about how words are made!"

Closure (1-2 minutes)

Challenge: "Can you say your favorite nursery rhyme to someone at home today?"

Preview: "Tomorrow we'll read a very silly Dr. Seuss book with lots of rhymes! Get ready to laugh!"

Introduction (2-3 minutes)

Show the cover and ask: "Have you ever tried green eggs and ham? Would you eat them?" Say: "Today's book is by Dr. Seuss, who wrote silly, rhyming stories. In this book, Sam-I-Am tries to get someone to try green eggs and ham. Let's see if he succeeds!"

Main Activity (10-12 minutes)

Read "Green Eggs and Ham" aloud with energy and enthusiasm. Use silly voices for Sam-I-Am and the grumpy character. Emphasize the repeating rhyme pattern: "Would you eat them in a house? Would you eat them with a mouse?"

Discussion questions during reading:

• "What rhymes do you hear?" (house/mouse, box/fox, train/rain, dark/park, tree/sea, etc.)
• "Why does Sam-I-Am keep asking?"
• "What happens at the end? Does the character try green eggs and ham?"
• "What did the character learn?"

Practice (3-5 minutes)

Discuss the message: "The character didn't want to try green eggs and ham. But when he finally tried them, he loved them! The story teaches us to try new things—we might like them!"

Practice rhyming: "Let's make up our own silly rhymes! Would you eat them on a star? Would you eat them in a car?"

Ask: "What's something new you tried and ended up liking?"

Closure (1-2 minutes)

Say: "Dr. Seuss books are fun because they use silly made-up words and lots of rhymes. Tomorrow we'll read poems by Shel Silverstein, another poet who loves silly and funny poems!"

Introduction (2-3 minutes)

Say: "Today we're reading poems by Shel Silverstein. His poems are funny, silly, and sometimes a little bit naughty! They tell mini-stories in just a few lines. Let's hear some!"

Main Activity (10-12 minutes)

Read 3-4 Shel Silverstein poems aloud with expression and humor. After each poem, discuss what made it funny or interesting.

Suggested poems:

• "Sick": A child lists all their ailments to avoid school, but then realizes it's Saturday! (Funny twist ending)
• "Whatif": A child worries about all the "whatifs" at night (Relatable feelings)
• "Messy Room": Description of an incredibly messy room (Visual humor)
• "Hug O' War": Better than tug o' war (Sweet message)

After each poem, ask:

• "What happened in this poem?"
• "What made it funny?"
• "What rhymes did you hear?"
• "Can you picture what the poem describes?"

Practice (3-5 minutes)

Choose one favorite poem to read again together. Try reading it with different emotions: happy, sad, angry, scared. "How does the poem change when we read it differently?"

Encourage creativity: "If you could write a poem about anything, what would it be about?"

Closure (1-2 minutes)

Say: "Shel Silverstein's poems show us that poems can be funny, silly, and relatable. They're like little stories with rhyme and rhythm. Tomorrow we'll read a rhyming alphabet book that's lots of fun!"

Introduction (2-3 minutes)

Say: "Today's book is special because it's about the alphabet letters racing up a coconut tree! It has a strong beat and lots of rhyme. Listen for the rhythm!" Clap the rhythm: "CHICK-a CHICK-a BOOM BOOM!"

Main Activity (10-12 minutes)

Read "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" aloud with energy and rhythm. Clap or tap the beat as you read. Show the colorful illustrations of the alphabet letters.

Discussion questions during reading:

• "What are all the letters doing?" (Racing up the coconut tree)
• "What happens when there are too many letters?" (The tree bends and they all fall down)
• "Who comes to help?" (The adult letters)
• "Can you clap the beat of 'Chicka chicka boom boom'?"

Read it again—this time, have your student join in saying "Chicka chicka boom boom!" every time it appears.

Practice (3-5 minutes)

Alphabet Review: Point to letters in the book and name them together. "Which letter is your favorite in the story?"

Rhythm Activity: Clap, stomp, or tap the rhythm of the repeated phrase. "Can you move your body to the beat?"

Say: "This book teaches the alphabet in a fun, musical way. The rhythm makes it easy to remember!"

Closure (1-2 minutes)

Challenge: "Can you say 'Chicka chicka boom boom, will there be enough room?' to someone at home?"

Preview: "Tomorrow we'll do action poems—poems where we move our bodies while we say them!"

Introduction (2-3 minutes)

Say: "Today we're celebrating Poetry Week with action poems! These are poems where we move our bodies as we say the words. They're fun and help us remember the poems. Let's get moving!"

Main Activity (10-12 minutes)

Teach and perform 4-5 action poems or chants together. Model the movements and say the words clearly.

Action Poem 1: "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"

"Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes (touch each body part)
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose (point to each)
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes!"
(Repeat faster each time!)

Action Poem 2: "I'm a Little Teapot"

"I'm a little teapot, short and stout (hands on hips)
Here is my handle (one hand on hip), here is my spout (other arm out)
When I get all steamed up, hear me shout (tip over to pour)
Tip me over and pour me out!"

Action Poem 3: "Five Little Monkeys"

"Five little monkeys jumping on the bed (hold up five fingers, jump)
One fell off and bumped his head (fall down)
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said (pretend phone)
'No more monkeys jumping on the bed!' (shake finger)
(Continue with 4, 3, 2, 1 monkeys)

Action Poem 4: "If You're Happy and You Know It"

"If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!"
(Add: stomp your feet, shout hurray, do all three!)

Practice (5-7 minutes)

Poetry Week Review: Celebrate all the poems and rhymes from this week!

• "Monday: What nursery rhymes did we learn?" (Recite favorites)
• "Tuesday: What book by Dr. Seuss did we read?" (Green Eggs and Ham—say the rhyme pattern)
• "Wednesday: Who was the funny poet?" (Shel Silverstein)
• "Thursday: What did the letters do?" (Climbed up the coconut tree—say "Chicka chicka boom boom!")
• "Today: What's your favorite action poem?" (Perform it together!)

Say: "This week we learned that language can be musical, playful, and fun! Poetry uses rhyme, rhythm, and special words to create feelings and pictures."

Closure (2-3 minutes)

Celebrate: "You completed your first month of Literature! We read classic picture books, American folk tales, a chapter book, and lots of poems. You're becoming an excellent listener and thinker!"

Ask: "What was your favorite book or poem from the whole month?"

Say: "Keep reading and enjoying stories. Books and poems help us learn about the world and about ourselves!"