ideas for the book Chrysanthemum

Teaching Common Core Standards With Kiddy Lit

A Great Back To School Book: Chrysanthemum!

first day of school lessons, first week of school lessons, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading lessons, common core writing lessons, Chrysanthemum activities,Chrysanthemum lessons, teasing lessons, teasing activities, friendship lessons, friendship activities,first day of school activities, first week of school activities, no bullying activities, anti bullying activities, first week of school stories, first day of school stories, back to school stories, back to school lessons, hooway for wodney wat lessons, wooway for wodney wat activities, back to school activities, I designed the Chrysanthemum packet to help reinforce LOTS of Common Core State Standards in quick, easy and fun ways.

first day of school lessons, first week of school lessons, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading lessons, common core writing lessons, Chrysanthemum activities,Chrysanthemum lessons, teasing lessons, teasing activities, friendship lessons, friendship activities,first day of school activities, first week of school activities, no bullying activities, anti bullying activities, first week of school stories, first day of school stories, back to school stories, back to school lessons, hooway for wodney wat lessons, wooway for wodney wat activities, back to school activities, As with The Kissing Hand Packet featured in yesterday's article, this packet reinforces Common Core State Standards: RI.K5,RI.K6,RI.K9,RI.K10,RL.K2, RL.K3,RL.K6, L.K1d, RI.1.9, RL.1.2, RL.1.3

The packet includes:

  • A beginning-middle-end story map, that will help students retell Chrysanthemum
  • A "favorite part" retelling "writing prompt" bookmark
  • A compare and contrast Venn diagram with Hooway For Wodney Wat
    • Character, Setting and Event cards. (Laminate, put magnets on the back and put them up on your white board. Write down students' answers under the cards.)
    • Cover to label book parts + review author and illustrator
    • Question words activity sheet, reinforcing who, what, why, when, where & how
    • 2 cover templates for the following activity:

I use the book Chrysanthemum as a wonderful lead-in story that the nursery rhyme: “Sticks and stones may hurt my bones but names will never harm me” is simply NOT true’ as words can be very mean AND hurtful!

I Xerox off the cover of the book Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes, and read the story.

first day of school lessons, first week of school lessons, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading lessons, common core writing lessons, Chrysanthemum activities,Chrysanthemum lessons, teasing lessons, teasing activities, friendship lessons, friendship activities,first day of school activities, first week of school activities, no bullying activities, anti bullying activities, first week of school stories, first day of school stories, back to school stories, back to school lessons, hooway for wodney wat lessons, wooway for wodney wat activities, back to school activities, Each time someone hurts Chrysanthemum's feelings, I pass the paper around the circle.

We each crumple up the paper, say "I'm sorry" and then smooth it out.  By the time I am done reading the story, the picture of Chrysanthemum is in shreds and full of holes as well.

We discuss the fact that words hurt, and even though we say that we are sorry and “smooth things out” with that person, we have still hurt them.

The words sort of leave “scars” on their heart and in their mind, just like the dilapidated paper visually demonstrates.

I cut out a large red paper heart and glue the poor shredded cover of Chrysanthemum next to a fresh cover, as a gentle reminder to think before you speak, as words DO make a difference.

I also want children to understand that being critical of each other and saying things like "I don't want to be your friend” and leaving them out of a group when they play, is also hurtful.

I'll ask them a question like: “How would you feel if Mrs. Henderson said that to you?”, or how would they feel if I gave everyone else a toy or piece of candy, or let everyone go out for recess and didn't let them go?  It really gives them a wake up call.

Chrysanthemum discusses making fun of a child’s name.  Hooway For Wodney Wat is a wonderful book that delves into bullying and making fun of a child with a speech impediment.

This is a great comparison-contrast book to work on that Common Core Standard, using a Venn diagram that once again brings home the fact that teasing is hurtful.

Click on the link to view/download Chrysanthemum Packet Thank you for visiting today. Hope you can pop back tomorrow for more helpful tips. first day of school lessons, first week of school lessons, common core lessons, common core activities, common core reading lessons, common core writing lessons, Chrysanthemum activities,Chrysanthemum lessons, teasing lessons, teasing activities, friendship lessons, friendship activities,first day of school activities, first week of school activities, no bullying activities, anti bullying activities, first week of school stories, first day of school stories, back to school stories, back to school lessons, back to school activities, Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find useful.

“All you need is a plan, a road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.” –Earl Nightingale

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