OFF THE SHELF---Mini-Lessons for Literature Circles

Mini-lessons for Literature Circles

by Harvey Daniels , Nancy Steineke

Heinemann, 2004

Teachers and Student Interns often ask where I get some of my creative ideas.  I have to give a lot of credit to Harvey Daniels and Nancy Steineke's Mini-lessons for Literature Circles.  While Mr. Daniels previous books on literature circles provided a lot of theory behind the practice, this book provided actual lessons that could be quickly adopted or modified.  It is probably the single most influential professional text for activities that I have read.  I have adapted its tenets for other subject areas and units. 
Level: Professional

Look at the Size of That Long-Legged Ploot!

Look at the Size of That Long-Legged Ploot! 
by Scott E. Sutton
Action Publishing, 2010

Summary:  When a Beebee accidentally breaks something and blames someone else, Jeeter and his friends set out to find the culprit.  A rhyming picture book that is also a chapter book.  Part of the Family of Rhee series. 

Lesson:  I only read the first 3 chapters to the students and then asked them to predict how the story would unfold.  Students had to provide prove from the text for their predictions.  Once it was established the Beebee had lied and blamed someone else, we discussed the consequences and morality of his actions. Then Scott E Sutton visited the campus.  He talked about drawing.  The he talked about narrative story building.  Afterwards, the kindergartners wrote their own stories and hosted their author visit, when the parents came to see them. 

Level: 1st-3rd

That's Good! That's Bad! in Washington, DC

That's Good! That's Bad! in Washington, DC

by Margery Cuyler , Michael Garland (Illustrator)

Henry Holt and Co., 2007

Summary:  As a little boy tours Washington, DC, he encounters hilarious incidents that are both good and bad along the way.  From the Smithsonian National Zoo to the Lincoln Memorial, it is a fast and hilarious romp. 

Lesson:  This entire series by Margery Cuyler is good for predicting what will happen next.  I picked the one about Washington, DC, because it was Constitution week, so we could talk about the nation's capital afterwards.  For a science/geography lesson, the book about the Grand Canyon would be an equally good choice. 

Level:  1st-3rd

Chalk

Chalk

by Bill Thomson (Illustrator) 

Cavendish, Marshall, 2010

Summary: In this wordless picture book, three kids use their imagination to make their chalk drawings come to life. 

Lesson:  The story was told by allowing each student to interpret a page of the story, since there are no words to the story. At different junctures, students were asked to predict what would happen next.  Students then went outside to draw on the sidewalk with chalk (can color inside on rainy days).  Book can also be used to show perspective, as the drawings are highly realistic and from a multiple of levels.

Level:  PreK-2nd