Splat the Cat and the Pumpkin-Picking Plan by Rob Scotton - Teaching Ideas

Splat is being a bit of a pest so his mom sends him to the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin. Splat spends some time at the pumpkin patch searching for the perfect pumpkin. He finally finds one but there is just one problem, it won’t fit in his wagon! How will Splat get his perfect pumpkin home?

Your students will enjoy the silly chaos that ensues as Splat gets his pumpkin home.

Use the below information and ideas to help extend the reading experience of Splat the Cat. I have also created a Visualizing FREEBIE (link below) to use if you want your students to practice this. 

Reading level: 1.3
Theme/subject: holiday
Genre: holiday 

Suggested Vocabulary/phrases: autumn, hay-bale maze 

Reading skills and strategies:

• Asking questions - {possible questions before} I wonder what the story is going to be about. I wonder what Splat’s plan is. {possible questions during} I wonder what kind of pumpkin Splat will pick out. I wonder if Splat will be able to stop the pumpkin. {possible questions after} I wonder how they are going to decorate the pumpkin. I wonder if Splat will have to fix the front gate. **Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.
• Author's point of view – Third person. Be sure to find 3 pieces of evidence to support this. (he, they, Splat)
• Author's purpose - entertain {evidence} Animals in the story are talking. Splat the cat is raking leaves and cats don’t rake leaves. Splat the cat is running on top of a pumpkin as it rolls out of control. All these things make for a very silly and entertaining story.
• Beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} Splat’s mom told Splat that he should go to Farmer’s Patch to pick out a pumpkin. {most important event from middle} Splat picked out a perfect pumpkin. {most important event from end} Splat got his pumpkin home.
• Cause and effect – Why did leaves go flying everywhere? Because splat jumped in the pile of leaves they just raked. Why did mom send Splat to the pumpkin patch? Because he was making a mess of the pile of leaves. Why did Splat love Farmer Patch’s pumpkin patch? Because there was so much to do and see. Why did Splat’s tail wiggle wildly with worry? Because he was afraid he would never find a perfect pumpkin. Why was getting Splat’s pumpkin home going to be a problem? Because it would not fit in his wagon. Why did Splat yell for help? Because he couldn’t get the runaway pumpkin to stop.
• Character analysis - describe Splat {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
• Compare & contrast – compare and contrast your pumpkin to Splat’s pumpkin.
• Connections - {possible text-to-self connections} Raking leaves. Jumping in a pile of leaves. Going to a pumpkin patch. Going in a hay-bale maze. Picking out a perfect pumpkin. {possible text-to-text connections} The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis. Both books have a pumpkin that runs away through town.
• Drawing conclusions & inferencing – Why does Splat’s mom send him to Farmer Patch’s pumpkin patch? {text clues} Splat and his mom are raking leaves and Splat jumps in the middle of the leaves and makes a mess. {what I know} I know that when I am getting in someone’s way they always send me away or give me something else to do. {my conclusion} I think Splat’s mom sent him to the pumpkin patch because he was getting in the way of cleaning up the leaves.
• Fact & opinion – {fact} Splat helped his mom rake leaves. Splat jumped in the pile of leaves. Splat got lost in a hay-bale maze. Splat found the perfect pumpkin. Splat’s pumpkin wouldn’t fit in his wagon. {opinion} Splat was being a pest. Scarecrows are scary. Apple-and-fish cider is delicious. Small pumpkins are the best kinds of pumpkins.
• Main idea & details - {main idea} The story is mostly about Splat at Farmer Patch’s Pumpkin Patch. {details} Splat got lost in a hay-bale maze. Splat saw a scary scarecrow. Splat found the perfect pumpkin.
• Plot - the turning point or climax in the story was when Splat found the perfect pumpkin.
• Predict – What do you think the story is going to be about? What do you think Splat’s great idea was? Do you think Splat will find the most perfect pumpkin? What do you think Splat will do at Farmer Patch’s Pumpkin Patch? How do you think Splat will get his pumpkin home? Do you think Splat’s mom will be mad at him for breaking down the gate?
• Problem & solution - {problem} The problem in the story is that Splat is having a hard time finding a perfect pumpkin. {solution} Splat keeps looking until he finds the perfect pumpkin.
• Sequencing – Splat helps his mom rake leaves. Splat jumps in the pile of leaves. Splats mom sends him to the pumpkin patch. Splat looks for a perfect pumpkin. Splat finds a perfect pumpkin. Splat’s pumpkin rolls all the way home.
• Story elements - list title, author, characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
• Strong thought – Splat picks out the perfect pumpkin but it won’t fit into his wagon. What would you say to him about his choice?
• Summarize - {someone}Splat {wanted} wanted to pick out the perfect pumpkin {but} but he was having a hard time finding one {so} so he kept looking {then} then he {finally} finally found the perfect one.
• Visualize – Splat knew the exact kind of pumpkin that he wanted to get. Visualize what your pumpkin would look like.

 IT'S FREE!!

Enjoy!

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The Lonely Scarecrow by Tim Preston - Teaching Ideas

This is a wonderful tale about a scarecrow that longs for the company of the little animals he sees playing in the distance. The little animals are afraid of the scarecrow because of how he looks, so they stay as far away from him as possible. As winter comes to town and blankets the land and the scarecrow with a beautiful white coating, the little animals come to play on the snowman that has taken the scarecrows place. What the animals don't  realize is that the snowman is really the scarecrow. The scarecrow is so happy to have the company of all the little animals but he is also very nervous for the day the snow melts and he scares the little animals away. The day the snow starts to melt, he is pleasantly surprised to see the animals not running away from him. The animals are also surprised to find that their happy snowman is really the scary scarecrow, they don't run away because they realize that the scarecrow is not what they thought.

Here are some reading skills and strategies that will help you make a lesson to use with this book.

Reading level: 3.5

Theme/Subject: feelings, friendship

Genre: fiction

Suggested Vocabulary Words & Phrases: cornflowers, flapping coat, beady eyes, swaying wheat, lark, marooned, combine monster, harvest, churning jaws, ravaged, stubble, sly breeze, nestle in the folds

Reading skills and strategies:

• asking questions - {possible questions before} I wonder what the story is going to be about? I wonder why the scarecrow is so lonely? {possible questions during} I wonder why the animals are so scared of the scarecrow?  I wonder if the animal will ever go to the scarecrow? I wonder why the animals didn't know the snowman was the scarecrow? {possible questions after} I wonder if the animals will come play with the scarecrow all the time now?

**Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.

• author's point of view - 3rd person. Be sure to find 3 pieces of evidence to support this.
• author's purpose - entertain {evidence} Scarecrows don't have feelings. Scarecrows and animals don't usually play.
• beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} The scarecrow was lonely because the animals wouldn't come play with him. {most important event from middle} It started to snow and covered the scarecrow to look like a snowman. {most important event from end} The animals played with the snowman and saw that the snowman was the scarecrow when the snow melted.
• cause and effect - Why was the scarecrow lonely? because he was scary looking. Why did the scarecrow loose sight of the animals? because the wheat in the field kept growing taller and taller. Why did the animals play on the snowman? because they didn't know it was the scary scarecrow. Why was the scarecrow afraid of what would happen when the snow melted? because he was afraid the animals would run away. Why did the animals not run away? because they realized that the scarecrow was not scary.
• character analysis - describe scarecrow {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
• character changes - scarecrow was very lonely at the beginning of the story and at the end he was very happy. What happened in the story to change scarecrows feeling?
• compare & contrast - scarecrows and snowmen
• connections - {possible text-to-self connections} Feeling lonely or left out. {possible text-to-text connections} The Witch Next Door by Norman Bridwell and The Lonely Scarecrow by Tim Preston. They both have people/animals judging what they are like before they get to know them. The witches neighbors think she is evil and mean because of the way she looks and the animals think scarecrow is scary because of they way he looks.
• main idea & details - {main idea} The story is mostly about a very lonely scarecrow. {details} The animals won't come play with him. He gets buried in the deep wheat fields and can no longer watch the animals play.
• plot - the turning point or climax in the story is when it starts to snow. The snow makes the scarecrow look like a jolly snowman. The animals play with the snowman. When the snow melts the animals are no longer afraid of the snowman.
• predict - What do you think the story is going to be about? Will the animals ever play with the scarecrow? Will the scarecrow ever be happy?
• problem & solution - {problem} The scarecrow was lonely because all the animals thought he was scary looking. {solution} The weather changed and covered the scarecrow with snow. He now looked like a jolly snowman so the animals came to play with him. When the snow melted the animals realized that the scarecrow was not scary like they thought.
• sequencing - Scarecrow was lonely. Scarecrow watched all the animals play and was sad. It snowed and covered scarecrow. Scarecrow looked like a snowman. The animals came to play with the snowman. The snow melted and revealed that the snowman was the scarecrow. The animals didn't run away. The scarecrow was no longer lonely.
• story elements - list title, author, character's, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
• summarize - {someone} Scarecrow {wanted} wanted friends {but} but they were all afraid of him {so} so he was very sad. {then} It started to snow and he looked like a snowman all covered in snow. {finally} Finally the animals came to play with the snowman and when the snow melted the animals realized the scarecrow was not scary. 
• theme - never judge a book by its cover.

 IT'S FREE!!

Happy fall!

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The Fox and The Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson - Teaching Ideas

This book was originally called Fletcher and the Falling Leaves and then was changed to The Fox and the Falling leaves - I am not really sure why?!?!
Little Fletcher has a favorite tree and he doesn't understand why the tree is turning brown and the leaves are all falling off. Fletcher is trying with all his might to save the leaves on his favorite tree, but he just can't do it. Poor Fletcher is so worried, he just can't stop thinking about his poor tree. One night he decides to go out and check on his tree when he sees that is it covered in beautiful icicles and seems to be singing in the breeze. This is such a comforting site to Fletcher that he no longer is worried about his favorite tree.

The illustrations in this book are so wonderful and the author uses such vivid, colorful words and phrases and descriptions, you and your students will thoroughly enjoy this book!

I have a freebie for this book focusing in on the beautiful words the author uses, but if you are looking to create a reading skill or strategy lesson, I hope some of the below information will help you out.

Reading level: 3.5

Theme/Subject: Fall

Genre: fiction

Suggested Vocabulary: bounded, crinkly, ruffled, rustle, whirled, swirled, bounding off, snuffled, whoosh, icicles

Colorful phrases to explore: the rich green of the forest, dusty gold, soft, swishing sound of summer, crinkly whisper, patted the rough bark, caught it gently, a tiny rustle, little lost leaves, birds fluttered away, branches still danced, leaves shivered and shook, they tossed and turned and twitched and twirled and tumbled to the ground, filled his dreams with a whispering sound, sudden whoosh of wind, branch bounced high, fluttered like a little flag, pale stars glimmered, shining silver in the early light, sparkling branches nodded   

Reading skills and strategies:

• asking questions - {possible questions before} I wonder what the story will be about? I wonder what the fox will do with the falling leaves? {possible questions during} How come the fox didn't know that trees are supposed to change color and loose their leaves?  I wonder why the birds were putting the leaves back on the tree?  {possible questions after} I wonder what Fletcher will think when the leaves start to come back? **Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.
• author's point of view - 3rd person. Be sure to find 3 pieces of evidence to support this.
• author's purpose - entertain {evidence} The illustrations show Fletcher and his mom sitting around a fire with a kettle over it. Fletcher is a fox that is talking to a tree. The illustrations show Fletcher, a fox, walking on his two hind legs. All these things make a very cute and entertaining story.
• beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} Fletcher was worried about his favorite tree turning brown. {most important event from middle} Fletcher thought his tree was safe after the birds put the leaves back on the tree. {most important event from end} Fletcher saw his beautiful tree with icicles all over it and was not worried anymore.
• cause and effect - Why did Fletcher worry about his favorite tree? because it looked dull, dry and brown. Why did Fletcher tell the tree that he would fix him? because the tree's leaf fell off. Why did the porcupine need the leaves? so he could keep warm. Why did the leaves blow off the tree? because it was autumn. Why did Fletcher climb the tree? because there was one leaf left in the tree and he wanted to protect it. Why did Fletcher make a cozy little bed for the leaf? because he told the tree he would protect the leaf. Why did Fletcher tiptoe outside? because he couldn't stop thinking about the tree. Why did Fletcher think the tree was more beautiful than ever? because it was covered in thousands of icicles, shining silver.
• character analysis - describe Fletcher {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
• character changes - In the beginning of the story Fletcher is very worried about his tree. At the end he is no longer worried.
• classify & categorize - Things that happen in the fall and things that happen in the winter.
• compare & contrast - fall and winter
• connections - {possible text-to-self connections} Seeing leaves fall off a tree because of fall. Having a favorite something and wanting to take care of it.
• fact & opinion - {facts} about fall {opinions} about fall
• main idea & details - {main idea} Fletcher wanted to protect his tree. {details} He tried to tie the leaf back on to the tree. He climbed up the tree to save the last leaf. Fletcher went out to ask the tree if it was okay.
• plot - the turning point or climax in the story was when the last leaf fell off. There was nothing more Fletcher could do to protect his tree.
• predict - What do you think the story is going to be about? What do you think Fletcher is going to do with the leaf that he caught? What do you think is going to happen to the tree? What do you think Fletcher is going to do about his favorite tree? What do you think will happen to the tree with all the wind? Why do you think the birds put the leaves back on the tree? What do you think is going to happen to the tree while Fletcher is sleeping? What do you think Fletcher is going to do about the one leaf left on the tree? What do you think Fletcher is going to find when he goes out to check on his tree?
• problem & solution - {problem} Fletcher was sad because nothing he did helped his tree. {solution} When Fletcher asked his tree if it was all right, the sparking branches nodded and the wind through the icicle branches sounded like laughter, he knew his tree was alright.
• sequencing - Fletcher thought his tree was sick. He tried to save the leaves that blew off. The squirrel and porcupine took the leaves. The birds put the leaves on the trees. Fletcher took a nap under the tree and when he woke all the leaves were gone. He saw one leaf left on the tree. He tried to save it but it fell off. Fletcher took the leaf home to take care of. When Fletcher came out to ask the tree if it was alright the tree answered yes.
• story elements - list title, author, character's, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
• strong thought - What would you tell Fletcher to make him understand what fall means to a tree?
• summarize - {someone} Fletcher {wanted} wanted to help his tree feel better {but} but the leaves kept falling off {so} so he took the last leaf home to take care of.  Fletcher couldn't stop thinking of his tree so he {finally} finally went out and saw that it was covered in beautiful icicles. 
• theme - there are a number of theme's you could get from this book. What you think is a problem might not really be a problem. There are times with you just can't help. Change can be a good thing. 

Here is the Descriptive Phrases Activity I created. 

IT'S FREE!!

Happy reading!

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