We Share Everything by Robert Munsch - Teaching Ideas

Jeremiah and Amanda are not used to sharing anything, and when they get to kindergarten they must share everything. Jeremiah and Amanda are having a hard time with sharing, they each throw a bit of a fit when the other won't share. The teacher continually comes prancing over to them to explain that in kindergarten "we share everything". Finally, Jeremiah and Amanda have a great idea, they decide to share their clothes. They share their shirts, pants, shoes and socks. This "sharing" shocks the teacher and delights the rest of the class.

Once again Robert Munsch writes a story that  your students will find quite funny and at the same time it is a great story to segue into what it means to share.

Listed below are the reading skills and strategies and ideas you can use to create a meaningful lesson. Below you will also find a freebie I created to go with this book.

Reading level: 2.5

Theme/subject: school, behavior

Genre: humorous

Reading skills and strategies:

• Asking questions - {possible questions before} I wonder if they really will share everything.  {possible questions during} I wonder if Jeremiah and Amanda will ever share. I wonder if Jeremiah and Amanda will get their clips moved down.  {possible questions after}  I wonder why Jeremiah and Amanda got in trouble for sharing their clothes. **Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.
• Author's point of view – Third. Be sure to find 3 pieces of evidence to support this (he, they, the teacher).
• Author's purpose – Entertain {evidence} The illustrations of the teacher floating around with flowers and birds around her head are silly. It was funny when Amanda stuck the book in Jeremiah’s mouth. Jeremiah and Amanda looked silly wearing each other’s clothes. All these things make a very entertaining story.
• Beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} Jeremiah and Amanda started kindergarten. {most important event from middle} The teacher told Amanda and Jeremiah that in kindergarten they are supposed to share everything. {most important event from end} Jeremiah and Amanda decided to share their clothes.
• Cause and effect – Why did Amanda put the book in Jeremiah’s mouth. Because Jeremiah yelled when Amanda wouldn’t share the book with him. Why did Amanda kick down Jeremiah’s block tower? Because he wouldn’t share the blocks with her. Why did the teacher come running over to Jeremiah and Amanda after Amanda kicked the blocks down? So she could tell them that in kindergarten they are supposed to share everything. How come the paint went flying all over the room? Because Amanda and Jeremiah wouldn’t take turns painting; they tried to both be first to paint. How come Jeremiah and Amanda decided to share their clothes? Because they were told they had to share everything.
• Character analysis - describe Amanda. Describe Jeremiah. {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
• Character changes – at the beginning of the story both Amanda and Jeremiah didn’t know how to share. At the end of the story Amanda and Jeremiah were sharing their clothes.
• Classify & categorize – Classify things – things that are good to share and things that shouldn’t be shared.
• Compare & contrast – Amanda and Jeremiah. You and Amanda or Jeremiah. Your class and Amanda and Jeremiah’s class. Your teacher and Amanda and Jeremiah’s teacher.
• Connections - {possible text-to-self connections} Not wanting to share what you have. Having someone not wanting to share with you. Sharing your clothes with a friend.
• Drawing conclusions & inferencing – Why did the author draw the teacher with birds and flowers around her head and to look like she was flying? {text clues} The teacher  has a smile on her face and looks really happy and nice.  {what I know} I know that flowers, and bird and smiles are all nice happy things. {my conclusion} I think the author drew the teacher to look like she was flying to show that she is a really nice teacher.
• Main idea & details - {main idea} The story is mostly about Jeremiah and Amanda not sharing. {details} Jeremiah yelled when Amanda would not share her book. Amanda kicked down Jeremiah’s block tower when he would not share the blocks.
• Plot - the turning point or climax in the story is when Jeremiah and Amanda decided to share everything.
• Predict – What do you think the story is about. What do you think Amanda is going to do after Jeremiah yells in his face? What do you think Amanda is going to do to Jeremiah’s block tower? What do you think will happen to Jeremiah and Amanda after they made a mess with the paint? Do you think Jeremiah will ever share anything? What do you think Amanda and Jeremiah will end up sharing? What do you think the teacher will do when she sees Jeremiah and Amanda in each others clothes?
• Problem & solution - {problem} Jeremiah and Amanda are not sharing. {solution} Amanda and Jeremiah finally decide to share their clothes.
• Sequencing – Amanda and Jeremiah start kindergarten. Amanda won’t share her book. Jeremiah won’t share his bocks. Amanda and Jeremiah both want to be first to paint. Amanda and Jeremiah decide to share their clothes. The teacher faints and all the kids share their clothes.
• Story elements - list title, author, characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
• Strong thought – It looks like Amanda and Jeremiah don’t know how to share. How would you explain to them how to share?
• Summarize - {someone} The teacher {wanted} wanted Amanda and Jeremiah to share {but} but they never did {so} so the teacher had to keep telling them that in kindergarten they are supposed to share everything. {then} Then Jeremiah and Amanda decided to share their clothes.
• Theme – It is important to share. There are some things that you shouldn’t share.

Happy Planning!

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Blabber Mouse by True Kelley - Teaching Ideas

Blabber Mouse is a great book to read when you have students that just don't know when to stop talking. In the story Blabber Mouse loves to talk but he not only talks about himself, he also tells other people's secrets. He doesn't tell these secrets to be mean, he just does it because he likes to talk and he doesn't think about what he is saying. He doesn't understand what it feels like to be on the other end of his blabbing. His classmates are fed up so they plan a way to make Blabber Mouse stop blabbing once and for all. What is their plan? Will they give him a dose of his own medicine? You and your students will be surprised at what they have planned for Blabber Mouse.

If you have this book and want to use it for more than just a read aloud, here is more information that may help you create a skills or strategy lesson.
 
Reading level: 2.8

Theme: behavior, social skills, friends, friendship

Genre: animal stories

Suggested Vocabulary: blabber, recited, spread gossip, nervous wreck, scurried

Reading skills and strategies:

• asking questions - {before possible questions} Is Blabber Mouse his name? What does blabber mean? {during possible questions} Why did Blabber Mouse talk so much? Why does Blabber Mouse tell his friends secrets? How are his friends going to keep Blabber Mouse for blabbing again? What is everyone doing at school? Why did his class throw a party for Blabber Mouse? {after possible questions} Was Blabber Mouse going to tell his friends secrets anymore?
• author's point of view - third person
• author's purpose­ - entertain - {evidence} - silly illustrations, silly explanations such as "...wearing dress inside out...", "Everybody had on silly party hats...", and "Charlotte's mom wrecked their house last night..."
• beginning, middle, end - {the MOST important event from the beginning} - Blabber mouse liked to talk about everything to everyone. {the MOST important event from the middle} - Blabber Mouse told Mrs. Numley that she forgot to give homework and his classmates got upset with him. {the MOST important event from the end} - His classmates threw him a party ruining the surprise because they told him what was happening, but they kept one secret, the top secret diary they gave to him. Now he could write all his secrets down and not blab about them.
• cause and effect - Why was he called Blabber Mouse? because he always told his friends secrets. Why did Blabber Mouse say that Charlotte's mom wrecked their house? because he misunderstood what "nervous wreck" meant. Why did the kids all of a sudden pay attention in class? because Blabber Mouse told them that Mrs. Numley had a tattoo by her armpit and they were all trying to see what it was. Why did Blabber Mouse feel left out? because the class was doing something and they weren't telling him or having him help. Why did the class throw a party for Blabber Mouse? because they wanted to ruin the surprise by telling him what was happening and they wanted to give him the super secret diary. Why did the class give Blabber Mouse a super secret diary? so he could write all his secrets instead of blabbing about them.
• characterization -  describe Blabber Mouse {looks, type of person he is, his feelings, his ideas}
• classify & categorize - have students classify and categorize the types of situations or information that should be told or should be kept a secret. This will help students understand that not all things should be kept a secret, there are times when it is important to tell an adult.
• compare & contrast - compare you and Blabber Mouse or your friend and Blabber Mouse.
• connections - possible text-to-self connections - Students may know someone that talks a lot. Student may be just like Blabber Mouse and talk a lot.  Students may have been embarrassed by a secret they told someone and that someone told the secret. Students might have been the one to tell a secret and make someone feel bad because of it. Students might have had a surprise party, or invited to a surprise party.
• drawing conclusions & inferencing - How do Blabber Mouse's classmates feel about him telling their secrets? {clues from text} LuLu got embarrassed, his sister pretended to be surprised about her birthday gift, students were a little upset when he reminded the teacher that she forgot to give out homework. {what I know} if my friend tells someone else what I said and I told them not to, I get mad. If someone tells me what my present is before I unwrap it, I get sad because I want to be surprised. If my teacher forgets to pass out homework and someone reminds her I might be a little upset, because I was excited not to have homework that night. {my conclusion} I think Blabber Mouse's classmates get angry with Blabber Mouse when he tells everybody everything.
• main idea & details - {main idea} - Blabber Mouse talks too much. {details} - Blabber Mouse liked to talk about his adventures, hobbies, his friends, the things he saw, where he had been and the things he remembered. Blabber Mouse liked to tell jokes and stories and he liked to recite poetry. Blabber Mouse told others where LuLu hid her cheesy-chip cookies. Blabber Mouse told LuLu that JoJo liked him. Blabber Mouse told everyone that Charlotte's mom wrecked the house. Blabber Mouse told the class that Mrs. Numley had a tattoo. Blabber Mouse told his sister what he got her for her birthday. Blabber Mouse told his friends Joan and George the ending of the movie they went to go see. Blabber Mouse told Mrs. Numley that she forgot to pass out homework.
• plot - the turning point of the story was when the class was doing things and leaving him out of it, but telling him bits and pieces to ruin the surprise.
• predict - What do you think the story is about? What do you think the kids are doing? Why did Blabber Mouse feel left out? Why did the class throw Blabber Mouse a party? Why do you think the kids still liked Blabber Mouse even though he kept telling their secrets?
• problem & solution - {problem} Blabber Mouse kept telling everybody's secrets. {solution} The class decided to throw a party in honor of Blabber Mouse. They told him some of what they were doing to ruin the surprise, because that is what he always did but they also kept some of it a secret so he could see what it was like be surprised.
• story elements - list theme, genre, setting, characters, problem and solution or beginning, middle and end. 
• strong thought - students may have strong thoughts every time Blabber Mouth tells a secret.

To extend this book into a character lesson use the classify and categorize idea listed above, or have students act out different ways one might react to their secret being told. Discuss the pros and cons with each reaction and decide which is the best way to handle a situation like this.

Here is a beginning, middle, end foldable to use with this story. Print both both pages and then copy double sided.  

Click on the picture to download the foldable.

Happy teaching!

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The Very Busy Day by Diana Hendry - Teaching Ideas

This book is not only wonderfully written but the illustration {done by Jane Chapman} are so bright and creatively detailed. Your students will have fun looking at all of the human objects that Big Mouse and Little Mouse have used to make their special home. My favorite is the drain stop used as a tree swing...sooo cute!

Big Mouse has a lot of work to do and really wants some help. Unfortunately, Little Mouse is too busy thinking about his dream to help. As the day wears on Big Mouse is growing more frustrated with Little Mouse as he makes daisy chains, collects clovers, and lays around thinking about his dream. Finally, at the end of the day with Big Mouse tired and grumpy, Little Mouse comes running out of the kitchen with a surprise for Big Mouse. While Big Mouse was working and thinking that Little Mouse was doing nothing, he was really making Big Mouse a sun hat! Big Mouse was so surprised the he was no longer in a bad mood. He realized that Little Mouse really was doing something, making him a special sun hat.

Here is some more information that you might find useful.
 
Reading level: 2.5

Theme: behavior, social skills

Genre: animal stories

Suggested Vocabulary: grumbled, wheelbarrow, mopped his brow, indignantly, muttering angrily, annoyed

Reading skills and strategies:

• asking questions - {before} - What is going to keep the characters busy? Why do they have a wheelbarrow made out of clothespins? {during} - What was Big Mouse planting in the garden? Why wouldn't Little Mouse help Big Mouse? What is Little Mouse dreaming up? Why did Big Mouse dump Little Mouse out of the wheelbarrow? Where did Big Mouse and Little Mouse get all the stuff they have? Why is Little Mouse collecting bird feathers? {after} Why was Big Mouse not mad at Little Mouse any more? Why did Little Mouse make a sun hat for Big Mouse?
• author's point of view - 3rd person point of view
• author's purpose - entertain
• beginning, middle, end - {beg.} Big Mouse was working in the garden and wanted Little Mouse's help. {mid} - Little Mouse would not help Big Mouse because he was busy doing something else. {end} Little Mouse gave Big Mouse the sun hat that he was making all day and Big Mouse was happy. They were so tired from all their work that they took a nap.
• cause and effect - Why was Big Mouse upset with Little Mouse? because Little Mouse would not help Big Mouse in the garden. Why did Big Mouse dump Little Mouse out of the wheelbarrow? because he didn't want to push the weeds AND Little Mouse. Why did Big Mouse and Little Mouse take a nap? because they were both tired from all the work they did.
• characterization - describe Big Mouse, describe Little Mouse
• compare & contrast - compare Big Mouse to Little Mouse
• connections - text-to-self - having to do all the work while a brother or sister does nothing. Working in the garden. Being tired after a long day of work. Text-to-text - connect this book to The Little Red Hen. They both ask others for help and don't get it.
• drawing conclusions & inferencing - What feelings does Big Mouse have toward Little Mouse during the story? {clues from text} Big Mouse keeps asking Little Mouse to help and he wont. {what I know} I know that when I ask for help and no one helps me I get angry or frustrated. {conclusion} Big Mouse is angry and frustrated with Little Mouse during the story. How does Big Mouse feel about Little Muse at the end of the story? {clues from text} Little Mouse gives Big Mouse a new sun hat. {what I know} I know that when someone gives me a gift I get happy. {conclusion} I think Big Mouse is not angry at Little Mouse anymore because even though he didn't help him he was doing something, he made him a sun hat.
• predict - What do you think Little Mouse was dreaming about? What do you think Little Mouse is doing?
• problem & solution - {problem} Big Mouse wants some help in the garden and Little Mouse won't help him because he is busy doing something else. {solution} At the end of the story Little Mouse gives Big Mouse a sun hat that he had been working on all day. Big Mouse realized that Little Mouse was actually doing something.
• sequencing - Big Mouse asked for help in the garden. Little Mouse said he was too busy to help. Big Mouse asked Little Mouse to plant some seeds. Little Mouse said that he was thinking about his dream. Big Mouse needed the wheelbarrow so he dumped Little Mouse out of it. Little Mouse made a daisy chain while Big Mouse picked up all the weeds. Little Mouse picked clover as Big Mouse dumped the weeds. Big Mouse wanted Little Mouse to help rake but Little Mouse was busy collecting feathers. Big Mouse wanted Little Mouse to help carry strawberries but Little Mouse ran into the kitchen to get something and didn't help. Little Mouse rushed out of the kitchen with a gift for Big Mouse, it was a sun hat he made for him. Big Mouse and Little Mouse were so tired from their busy day they both lay down to take a nap.
• story elements - list title, author, theme, genre, characters, setting, BME.
• summarize - {somebody} Big Mouse {wanted} wanted Little Mouse to help him in the garden {but} but Little Mouse was busy with something else {so} so Big Mouse was getting frustrated with Little Mouse. {then} Then Little Mouse came out of the kitchen with a surprise, a sun hat that he had made for Big Mouse during the day. {at the end} At the end of the day Big Mouse realized that Little Mouse was really busy all day so he was no longer mad at him. They were both so tired they took a nap.

I have created a few activities to go with this book...I hope it is something you will be able to use!

IT'S FREE!!

Happy teaching!

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