Lessons: The Lorax

Unless someone like you care a whole lot, nothing is ever
 going to get better. It's not. ~The Lorax

        Hands down The Lorax was my favorite Dr. Suess book as a child. I always loved it's message of taking care and stewarding the environment wisely--a message I still appreciate as an adult.

Grade(s): Kindergarten, First, Second

Big Picture(s): Preservation, Sustainability, Earth-Friendly

Dictionary: Caretaker/Steward, Environment, Green, Habitat, Nature, Wildlife, Tree, Pollution, Park

In Class: This lesson began with a shared reading of the Dr. Seuss classic, The Lorax, followed up with How to Help the Earth by Tish Rabe. As a whole group, the students fill out a graphic organizer on the SMARTBoard addressing either of the two: What practical (big or little) things they could do to take care of their environment (if the group of students already had a basic understanding of sustainability), or list the different causes and effects that were present in the story as a way to scaffold into further discussions and learning on sustainability. Throughout this time various vocabulary words would be introduced and discussed as well.
    During the next portion of the lesson, students were released to individually write reflectively on what they thought about the reading, class discussion, and how the two connect to them each. As students finished they're writing, they gathered an assortment of art materials provided to them to make their own visual depiction of a Truffula forest around their writing which was mounted on construction paper. 

Further Resources:

• How to Help the Earth by Tish Rabe
• View the Original 1972 short film The Lorax
• Lorax Quest Game on Suessville

*CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.9

Lessons by Natalie Grimm © 2014 

Lessons: Pumpkin Soup

"Deep in the woods in an old white cabin, three friends make
 their pumpkin soup..." ~Helen Cooper

       This sweet tradebook, Pumpkin Soup, tells the tale of how three friends, Duck, Cat, and Squirrel, learn to work together to make their favorite fall dinner. In the elementary grades, the book lends itself well to teaching process writing and verbs. Likewise, preschoolers can be introduced to the same topics of teamwork and friendship that are explored through the text through various play activities. Young children and adults will both love the illustrations and this simple story to celebrate the coming of autumn together.

Ages and Grades: Preschool--First Grade

The Big Picture: Autumn, Teamwork, Friendship 

Dictionary: Process, Sequence, Step(s), Pumpkin, Scoff, Trudge, Mutter, Wail

In The Classroom... 

• Read aloud Helen Cooper's storybook Pumpkin Soup
• Brainstorm a list using a graphic organizer of all the different foods we eat with pumpkins
• Have students sort out the sequence of steps to making pumpkin soup based on what they heard in the read aloud
• Process Writing Activity (1st Grade): Have students pick one of the pumpkin foods brainstormed, write the sequence (series of steps) of how that food is made, then add illustrations
• Have students identify the verbs the author used throughout the book (e.g. scoff, mutter, trudge) through various vocabulary strategies and activities
• For preschoolers discuss each character's job and how they needed to work as a team to make their pumpkin soup using this free job card printable from Learning Parade

In The Home...

• For little ones set up this sensory table inspired by the book from Frogs, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails.
• Read the further tales of Squirrel, Cat, Duck, and their favorite soup in the companion books Delicious! and A Pipkin of Pepper.
• Make a pipping hot pot of pumpkin soup together as a team at home with this recipe: Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Further Resources...

• Related Lesson: It's Pumpkin Time!
• YouTube Video Read Aloud
• Teacher's Notes for The Pumpkin Soup Trilogy (along with discussion questions) 

*CCSS: ELA-Literacy.W.1.5

Lessons by Natalie Grimm © 2014