Clarence and the Great Surprise
In the classroom/library:
Introduction
GRADE LEVEL: K-1st
SUBJECT: Language Arts and Fine Arts
OVERVIEW: Through hearing the book orally students will learn about
a unique friendship.
PURPOSE: The lesson involves two friends traveling through the West,
bound for the city. The students will learn that friendship comes in
different shapes, sizes, and colors. Students will respond to the theme
of the book through drawing.
Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the meaning of friendship
2. Illustrate (sketch to stretch) an adventure with their friend
3. Interpret their picture (by dictating to an adult)
Standards
Reading
Concept 1: Print Concepts
o Identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of the structures and elements
of literature. (K-R2-C1)
PO 2. Identify elements of a story, including characters, setting, and
key events. Theme
Writing
Strand 1: Writing Process
Concept 1: Prewriting
o Prewriting includes using strategies to generate, plan, and organize
ideas for specific purposes. (K-W1-C1)
PO 1. Generate ideas through class discussion.
Concept 2: Drafting
o Drafting incorporates prewriting activities to create a first draft
containing necessary elements for a specific purpose.
(K-W1-C2)
PO 1. Communicate by drawing, telling, or writing for a purpose.
Concept 5: Publishing
o Publishing involves formatting and presenting a final product for
the intended audience. (K-W1-C5)
PO 1. Share a finished piece of writing.
Resources
Children's Book:
Clarence and the Great Surprise written and illustrated by Jean
Ekman Adams
Materials
Crayons
Paper
Book
Sentence paper
Pencils
Process
Introductory Set
While the students are read the story they will be asked questions about
the story. The students will be creating a piece of art work about an
adventure with their friends. This will allow the students to connect
the story with their own experiences.
Objective/Purpose
Students will create artwork related to the theme of story
Students will fill in their adventure they have chosen into a complete
sentence
Students will discuss what they think a friend is.
Input
Book will be read orally.
Brainstorm different adventures the students and their friend have gone
on
Modeling
Create a picture and sentence of my adventure with my friend.
Check for Understanding
Re-read the ideas listed on our brainstorming.
Ask children to talk about what they are going to draw about. (Share
with a partner, pre-writing)
Guided Practice
Students will be observed as they are designing their adventure to monitor
their understanding of the activity. Teacher and helpers will go around
and have children dictate a sentence about their adventure.
Closure
Students will contribute all their pictures and sentence strips to create
a class book.
The next day the children will present their adventures to the class.
Assessment
Each student will be asked what they are creating in their pictures
and what they are writing.
Extensions/Modifications
Students will continue analyzing the class book: learning about the
features of the book, cover, title page, dedication, table of contents,
illustrations, and print.