Lesson Topic

Animals in Jan Brett's book, "The Mitten."

Proficiency/Grade Level:

Advanced Beginners to Low Intermediates in grades K-2.

Content Concepts and Skills:

Social vocabulary; oral language, sequencing, oral reading,

Lesson Objectives

1. Students will demonstrate comprehension of the story "The Mitten."

2. Students will retell the story.

3. Students will write and perform a group play.

Materials Needed:

Animal masks; Play "No One Says "No" to a Big Bear;" Animal cut-outs with mitten

Vocabulary

Mole, snowshoe rabbit, kickers, hedgehog, prickles, owl, talons, badger, diggers, fox, bear, mouse.

Instructional Sequence:

• Read The Mitten to your class. Have students predict what will happen next by using the keyholes on each page.
• Teach the vocabulary in the context of the story. Practice the vocabulary of the story with students. Use Put the Animals in the Mitten for a fun way to practice.
• Have students sequence the story using sentence strips or by retelling the story in their own words.
• Depending on the ability level of the group, download No One Says "No" to a Big Bear or have students dictate their own play.
• Print animal character masks from Jan Brett's website.
• Have students cut out the masks and tape a cardboard stick to the back so that they can easily hold the masks in front of their faces.
• Cut out a huge white mitten that students can stand on for a prop in your play.
• Perform the play for another class. If your students have difficulty remembering lines, tape their script on the back of the mask.