Red is Best Lesson - Alexandra Rotondo

LEARNING EXPERIENCE PLANNING SHEET
Learning Experience: Storytelling: Red is Best
Age Group: Grade 1 (Age 6-7 years old)
Date: Tuesday, October 28th, 2013
Lesson Plan Purpose:
As the weather changes, the children are learning what is appropriate clothing for the weather
change. I thought I would be a fun idea to have a hand on idea of what is important to wear for
the changing of the weather.
Objectives:
1. Continue to identify a few listening comprehension strategies and use them before, during,
and after listening in order to understand and clarify the meaning of oral texts, initially with
support and direction. (1.3 of Ontario Language Curriculum)
2. Continue to demonstrate an understanding of the information and ideas in oral texts by
retelling the story or restating the information, including the main idea. (1.4 of Ontario
Language Curriculum)
3. Continue to extend understanding of oral texts by connecting the ideas in them to their own
knowledge and experience; to other familiar texts, including print and visual texts; and to the
world around them (1.6 of Ontario Language Curriculum)
Props:
! Red is Best by Kathy Stinson
! Drawing of Katie
! A Box
! 1 Red cup
! 1 Paint Brush
! 1 pair of red stockings
! 1 Red jacket
! 1 pair of red boots
! 1 pair of red mittens
! 1 red pajama (top and bottom)
! 2 red barrettes
Introduction/Opening:
- Teacher: Hands on top. Students: that means stop. I am going to call the students who are
sitting quietly at their desk to come and join me at the mat.
- Before we start this exciting circle time, we have to remember to sit quietly, with our legs
crossed and our hand in our laps. If we need to say something we need to patiently wait our
turn, with our hand up.
Body/Content:
1. Today I have something very special planned for you all, and it is waiting in this box. So I
want you to make a circle as tight as you can around the box so we can see what is inside.
(Invitation)
2. Lets all shake the box and take our best guess of what is inside the box. (Questions) (Let each
child analyze the box and ask each child what they think is in the box, one at a time.)
3. Now that we made all of our best guesses, lets open the box and see what is inside.
(Invitation)
4. (Slowly, open the box and pull the book out.) It’s a book! We also have some props to go
with it. (Bring out the board with the Katie on it.) This is Katie, can we make some
predictions about Katie.
5. As we read along with the story we are going to place the props on Katie, but we have to
make sure we put them in the right place.
6. What do we think this story is about? (Questions) (Wait for children to put their hand up and
choose a couple of children who are sitting quietly and waiting their turn.)
7. (Distribute one prop to each of the children.)
8. Start to read page one: “My mom doesn’t understand about red.” Ask children “What do you
think Katie’s mother does not understand about red?” (Questions)
9. Continue reading: “I like my red stocking best. My mom says. “Wear these. Your White
stockings look good with that dress.” But I can jump higher in my red stockings.” Ask the
children to get up. “Let’s all jump the highest we can.”
10. “I like my red stocking best.” (Call Child A with the red stockings up) Ask the child, can you
show me where the stockings go on Katie? (Challenge) (Wait for child to put stocking on
Katie).
11. Continue reading: “I like my red jacket the best. My mom says, “You need to wear your blue
jacket. It’s too cold out for your red jacket.” But how can I be Red Riding Hood in my blue
jacket? I like my red jacket the best.”
12. “I like my red jacket the best.” (Call Child B up with the red jacket) Ask child “Where does
the red jacket go on Katie?” (Challenge) (Wait for child to place the jacket on Katie.)
13. Continue reading: “I like my red boots the best. My mom says; “You can’t wear your red
boots in the snow. They’re just for rainy weather.” But my red boots take bigger steps.”
“Let’s all get up and take our biggest step.”
14. “I like my red boots the best.” (Call Child C up with the red boots) “Where do we put our
boots?” (Question) (Have Child C place boots on Katie).
15. Continue reading: “I like my red mitts the best. My mom says, “Your brown mitts are
warmer. Your red mitts have holes in them.” But my red mitts make better snowballs.”
“Show me how you would throw a snowball as far as you can.” (Challenge)
16. “I like my red mitts the best.” “Who wears mittens when it’s cold?” (Questions) (Call Child
D up with the red mitts) “Can show me where we should put the mittens on Katie?”
(Challenge) (Wait for child to put mittens on Katie.)
17. Now that Katie has played outside where do you think she will go next? Do you think she
will change her clothing? (Questions)
18. Continue reading: “I like my red pajamas the best. My mom says, “Your yellow pajamas will
keep you warm when you kickoff your blankets.” But my red pajamas keep the monsters
away when I’m sleeping.” “Let’s all make our scariest monster face.” (Invitation)
19. Now we need to get Katie ready for bed. (Take off all clothing on Katie).
20. “I like my red pajamas the best.” (Call Child E up with the red pajamas) “Can you please put
the pajamas on Katie like she has them on in the book?” (Challenge) (Wait for child to place
both top and bottoms of the pajama).
21. Continue reading: “I like the red cup the best. My mom says, “Oh Kelly, what difference
does it make? I already poured your juice in the green cup.” But juice tastes better in the red
cup. I like the red cup best.” “Let’s pretend we are drinking our juice like Katie.” (Invitation)
22. “I like the red cup the best.” “How do we properly hold our cups?” (Questions) (Call Child F
up with the red cup) “Can you please show me where Katie will hold her cup.” (Challenge)
(Wait for child to place cup on Katie’s hand).
23. Continue reading: “I like my red barrettes the best. My mom says, “You wear pink barrettes
with a pink dress.” But I like my red barrettes make my hair laugh.” “Let us let out our
biggest laugh.” (Invitation)
24. “I like my red barrettes the best.” (Call Child G up with the red barrettes) “Can you please
show me where Katie wears her barrettes?” (Challenge) (Wait for child to put the barrettes
on Katie).
25. Continue reading: I like red paint the best. My mom says, “But Kelly, there is hardly any
paint left. Maybe you could use orange instead.” But red paint puts singing in my head.”
“Can you all show me you best singing voice?” (Challenge)
26. “I like red paint the best.” (Call Child H up with the paint brush) “How do we properly hold a
paint brush?” (Questions) (Wait for child to put paintbrush on Katie).
27. Finish reading: “I like red, because red is best.”
28. Ask the children: “Why do you think Katie like all of her red things best?” Then ask, “What
is your favourite colour?” Finally ask, “Do you have anything at home that is your
favourite?”
Ending/Closing:
Now that the weather is getting colder, what type of clothing should we be wearing?
Transition:
Teacher: 1, 2, 3, eyes on me. Students: 1, 2, 3, eyes on you. Now it's time to sit quietly at the mat
and get ready for Italian class.