WVDE Read Aloud Project Lesson Plan
Title: Gooney Bird and the Room Mother Author: Lois Lowry Suggested Grade Level: Second Illustrator: Middy Thomas
Comprehension Strategy: Context Clues WV CSOs:
RLA.2.1.8 use meaning clues to aid comprehension and make predictions about content
NAEP Context:
_ X__ Reading for Literary Experience _____ Reading for Information
NAEP Aspect of Reading: __X _ Forming a General Understanding _____ Developing Interpretation __X _ Making Reader/Text Connections _____ Examining Content and Structure
Planning
This is an amusing, entertaining book. It is realistic fiction that teaches children complex vocabulary words and the usefulness of a dictionary. Introduce the title, author and illustrator of Gooney Bird and the Room Mother to the students. Lead a discussion on room mothers. Does this class have a room mother? What do room mothers do? Why wouldn’t some moms be able to be a room mother?
Before Reading: Prepare!
During Reading: Guide!
Read Chapter 1 and then discuss the main character, Gooney Bird. Use the sunburst graphic organizer and add stems for details about Gooney Bird. Some characteristics to add at the end of Chapter 1 would include: Wears two different colored socks Was a “new girl” Got dictionaries for the class Wears unusual clothes Is in the middle of everything
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Stop at the end of each chapter to add to the organizer. Read the book through page 25 to the page division and then discuss the Thanksgiving story with the students. Some characters that may need further explanation include: Squanto - an English speaking Indian who helped the Pilgrims Massassoit - the leader of the Wampanoag Indians who lived near the Pilgrim village Miles Standish - the captain of the Pilgrims. He led them in fighting the Indians After Reading: Extend! Give each student a blank sunburst organizer. They will put characteristics of another person familiar to the class on their organizer. These people may include the principal, secretary, other teachers and students in the class. They will not put the name in the center frame. For example they may write: He loves sports. He likes to play basketball at recess. He likes to read Goosebumps books. He likes to use the computer. The teacher will read each description and have the students guess who is being described. Vocabulary Lesson: There are some interesting words in this book that I think you need to know: accomplish obsolete tormenting commotion maneuver Accomplish (p. 3) - to succeed in doing Gooney Bird was able to accomplish the task for getting dictionaries for the class. This past weekend I read about a new cake recipe and baked the cake. I was able to accomplish baking the cake. What is something you have been able to accomplish? Obsolete (p. 5) - no longer in use We may no longer use an old dictionary because it doesn’t
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have newer words in it. We would say that the dictionary is obsolete. My boys want the new PlayStation 3. They think the PS 2 is obsolete. What is something you think is obsolete? Tormenting (p. 41) - to annoy Malcolm was tormenting Beanie by teasing her about her hair. My older brother always was tormenting me. He would flip through the channels on the television whenever I tried to watch a show. Can you think of something or someone that torments you? Commotion (p. 61) - a noisy disturbance Malcolm’s mom bringing the babies to the play caused a commotion. I was eating in a restaurant when we heard a terrible commotion. One of the waiters had dropped a tray of dishes. When have you heard a commotion? Maneuver (p. 62) - a movement requiring skill Malcolm’s mom was trying to maneuver a stroller built to hold three babies. It would take skill to move a stroller that big through a doorway. I was amazed at the maneuvers the athletes could do on the parallel bars, when I watched the Olympic games. Can you tell me something that you can maneuver?
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Starburst Organizer
Gooney Bird Greene
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