Week 3, Day 1---Day 2
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst
Develop or Activate Background Knowledge:
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Meaning Vocabulary
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses

Week 22, Day 3---Day 4
This book is called Dad, Jackie, and Me. The author is Myron Uhlberg and the illustrator is Colin Bootman. It is about the first black man to play baseball in the major leagues. His name was Jackie Robinson.
Develop or Activate Background Knowledge:
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Meaning Vocabulary
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
The author’s note at the end of the book is important. He describes the connection between Jackie Robinson and Uhlberg’s deaf father. Read it for background yourself, and consider reading portions aloud.

Week 29, Day 1---Day 5
D is for Dancing Dragon: A China Alphabet
"This book is called D is for Dancing Dragon: A China Alphabet. It was written by Carol Crane and illustrated by Zong-Zhou Wang.
You might think that an alphabet book is for kindergartners, but this is no ordinary alphabet book. That’s because it also teaches us about China. On the first page, you can see a map of China, which is a country on the other side of the world."
Introduce Book and Preview Technical Vocabulary
Teach Text Structure
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
visual: comparison chart
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
This is an unconventional alphabet book because of the extensive background information about the word that is given for each letter. We have chosen to use the first 5 days for instruction. If you have extra time, you could read additional segments.

Week 8, Day 2---Day 3
Going Home: The Mystery of Animal Migration by Marianne Berkes, illustrated by Jennifer DiRubbio
Introduce Book and Preview Technical Vocabulary
Chart: Land, Air, Sea
Teach Text Structure
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
The rhyming verses that are told through the voices of the animals are fiction, but the information given in the prose section is nonfiction. This is a blended genre.
The key terms are names of animals.
A world map would be useful.
After Day 2, consider sharing the poem, “Something Told the Wild Geese,” by Rachel Field.

Week 19, Day 1---Day 3
Helen Keller: Break Down the Walls!---nonfiction---biography--Margaret Fetty
Introduce Book and Preview Technical Vocabulary
diagram
Teach Text Structure
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
This biography is organized sequentially, and the timeline at the end is an excellent resource for review. There are many YouTube clips available about Helen Keller. They include recordings of her speech, which was always halting and hard to understand. We recommend clips from the movie, The Miracle Worker, especially the breakthrough scene involving water (6:11 minutes long):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUV65sV8nu0
Narrated clips from the silent movie, Deliverance, mentioned on page 22, are also available in a single short video (4:34 minutes long). This video includes comments by Anne Sullivan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75bMtjVv3yc
An example of Braille to pass around would be a plus.
Finally, many of the bolded words in this book are Tier 2 general words. We suggest that you fast-scaffold them. This lesson plan focuses on the terms related to her disability.

Week 34, Day 1---Day 3
How a Plant Grows written by Bobbie Kalman and illustrated by Barbara Bedell.
Introduce Book and Preview Technical Vocabulary
Teach Text Structure
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
This book contains many excellent diagrams that explain the process of plant growth. These diagrams also contain technical words. Because of their number, we do not attempt to preview all of these words at the beginning of the read-aloud. Instead, this lesson plan discusses the new words as each diagram is encountered.
This lesson plan does not include the activities at the end of the book, but any of these would make a good follow-up.
A short time-lapse YouTube video (1:43) showing a bean developing over 18 days could be useful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYY9X5Lw1V4
Bring the following: a green leaf, a dried brown leaf, an apple, a paring knife.

Week 4, Day 1---Day 2
Magnets Push, Magnets Pull by Mark Weakland
Introduce Book and Preview Technical Vocabulary
Teach Text Structure
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
Make sure you have at least one magnet and some thumbtacks or other small objects that contain iron.
If iron filings are available, you’ll be able to demonstrate the lines of energy on pages 8-9.
If you have several magnets, children could actually experiment as they complete their charts during the writing activity at the end of Day 1.

Week 22, Day 1---Day 2
Mudball written and illustrated by Matt Tavares.
Develop or Activate Background Knowledge:
"Usually, when an author tells a story, it is either a true story or it is fiction....But no one is sure about [this] story....the main character, Andy Oyler, was a real baseball player who played more than a hundred years ago."
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Meaning Vocabulary
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
This book presents a problem because it assumes some prior knowledge of baseball that many second graders are not likely to have. The suggested introduction below is intended to help you provide a working knowledge of the situation so that all students will be able to comprehend.
In addition, you will need to do some fast scaffolding of baseball terms that the writer takes for granted that the children will know.
If you have an interactive board, you could draw a baseball diamond on it and move names around as the runners advance.

Week 23, Day 3--Day 5
My Brother Martin--nonfiction--Christine King Farris, illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet
The author is the sister of Martin Luther King, Junior. The book is called My Brother, Martin, and in it she tells what it was like to grow up with him as a brother.
Introduce Book and Preview Technical Vocabulary
Teach Text Structure
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
This book is an example of narrative nonfiction. The approach to vocabulary taken in this plan is to address a few key terms (the names of the principal people) and also some Tier 2 words.
During the first day, we suggest that you construct the family tree shown below, and that you add to it as characters are introduced.
Note that the “I Have a Dream” Speech is available on YouTube. If you have time, consider playing it.

Week 25, Day 1---Day 5
Poppy--fiction
"Today we will start a chapter book called Poppy. It is written by a man named Avi. ...this author only uses one name. Avi’s twin sister gave him that name when he was just a year old, and he has used it ever since. The illustrations are by Brian Floca."
Develop or Activate Background Knowledge:
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Meaning Vocabulary
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
Planning Notes
The chapters are nearly equal in length and about right for one per day. Note that an additional chapter, called Poppy and Ereth, appears at the end of the book. This is really a teaser for the sequel and it is not part of this set of plans.
Avi talks about the Poppy books in a YouTube video (3:07): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fufgUdq2xR0
The video provides excellent background for teachers, but it refers to some of the later books in the series and some parts may be over the heads of second graders.
However, if you plan on making other books in the series available to your proficient students to read on their own, you might want to play it. Hearing Avi’s voice and seeing that he’s a real person could be of interest to your students.

Week 31, Day 2---Day 4
Starry Messenger
This book about Galileo is called Starry Messenger. It was written by Peter Sís
Introduce Book and Preview Technical Vocabulary
Teach Text Structure
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
illustration
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
This book can be read on two levels. The main, linear text is rather simple, but the sidebars are far more challenging. These are written in script and often have interesting shapes that reflect their meaning. With a few exceptions, this lesson plan is written around the main text.
On Day 1, have on hand two plastic water bottles, one full and one empty.

Week 33, Day 1---Day 3
The Flag We Love
The book is called The Flag We Love. It was written by Pam Muñoz Ryan and illustrated by Ralph Masiello. This book tells the story of our flag and what it stands for.
Introduce Book and Preview Technical Vocabulary
Teach Text Structure
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
Note that reading the poem on each page aloud will require scaffolding certain words. Be sure to read it closely in advance to identify spots where you can scaffold for your second graders.
Also, consider reading the poem portion of each page on a different day than the prose portion, perhaps as an additional reading.

Week 12, Day 3---Day 4
The Legend of the Bluebonnet--fiction-- retold and illustrated by Tomie DePaola
Develop or Activate Background Knowledge:
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Meaning Vocabulary
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
Tomie DePaola avoids a longstanding controversy of terminology—should we say Indians or Native Americans? He sidesteps the question by referring to the Comanche People.
Also this book raises issues of religion. Use your own judgment in addressing them.

Week 30, Day 3---Day 4
The Rough-Face Girl--fiction
"It is a folktale told long ago by the Algonquin tribe. It is about a girl whose face is scarred by fire, so she is no longer pretty. The title of the book is The Rough-Face Girl, and you can see how she hides her face. It was written by Rafe Martin and illustrated by David Shannon."
Develop or Activate Background Knowledge:
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Meaning Vocabulary
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
Have a wall map handy to quickly point out Lake Ontario.
A copy of Cinderella would be useful.

Week 23, Day 1---Day 2
The Story of Ruby Bridges--fiction--Robert Coles, illustrated by George Ford
"Ruby Bridges was an African American child who went to elementary school in the 1950s. One day she had to start going to a different school, a school for white children, where almost no one liked her."
Develop or Activate Background Knowledge:
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Meaning Vocabulary
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
It is a good idea to have a U.S. map on display for quick reference to some of the places mentioned.

Week 33, Day 4---Day 5
The Wall
This book is called The Wall, and it was written by Eve Bunting. It was illustrated by Ronald Himler. The wall is in Washington, DC, and it has the names of all the people killed during the Viet Nam War. There are 58,000 names on the wall. That war ended long ago but people still think about those they knew who died.
Develop or Activate Background Knowledge:
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Meaning Vocabulary
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
The text in this book is not very challenging but it is useful in evoking some higher-order thinking. Locating in advance a few photos through a google image search would complement the watercolors in the book.
You may wish to quickly indicate Vietnam on a wall map, but it is probably not in the spirit of the book to turn this read-aloud into a geography lesson. Bunting does not even mention which war it is, except in the endnote.

Week 6, Day 1---Day 2
What Is It Made Of? Noticing Types of Materials by Martha E. H. Rustad, illustrated by Christine M. Schneider
Introduce Book and Preview Technical Vocabulary
Teach Text Structure
Diagram: What is it made of? Describing objects, Categorizing objects, Finding Patterns
Model a Comprehension Strategy and Ask Questions During Reading
Engage Students in Discussion
Chart: Description of objects
Update Text Structure Anchor Chart
Teach Sentence Composing
Assign or Model Written Response
Review and Share Written Responses
*Planning Notes
Having about 10 physical props (5 for the discussion and 5 for the written response) available would enrich the lesson and engage the children. Find items to fit some of the different categories on page 13.

Students will generate questions regarding a given topic and then research that topic using a kid-friendly search engine. Students will utilize information obtained during their search, in order to create a shared presentation.

Labs component for Grade K: Module 3 of the EL Education K-8 Language Arts Curriculum. Labs provide students with an hour of engaging, hands-on play to build habits of character, literacy skills, and module-related content understanding. Labs are directly connected to the content of this language arts module, Trees Are Alive, and should be implemented alongside the module lessons. For more information on Labs, please visit https://curriculum.eleducation.org/about-k-2-labs-and-ALL-block.

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The Second Grade Elementary Framework for Science and Integrated Subjects, How Can Dams Change the Land Around Them, uses a local phenomena of impact of the Wanapum Dam on the Columbia River and a crack in that dam to understand erosion and changes in the landscape.