This unit emphasizes emergent reading skills including prediction, vocabulary development, story mapping, character comparisons, and recalling and ordering events.
Every primary teacher knows Tacky, the scrappily individualistic penguin brought to life by author Helen Lester and illustrator Lynn Munsinger. This literature unit accompanies the first book in the series, Tacky the Penguin. It begins with a prediction page the student is asked to return to after reading to judge their its relative accuracy. A vocabulary page that introduces words specific to the story follows. The third page asks the student to correctly order the story�s main events. The student is asked to fill in a story map on pages five and six on which he or she must describe the story�s setting, characters, problem, 3 main events, and the problem�s solution. On page seven the reader is asked to compare him or herself to Tacky. This requires the child to identify Tacky�s character attributes by comparing them to his or her own. The final page is a vocabulary worksheet about words and their opposites. A complete answer key accompanies the download.
great for the advanced group as a center or literature group packet
February 10, 2012
I'm glad it was so useful. I had never thought of it as a center, but for advanced readers, I bet it would work. Thanks for the positive review. - Jane
February 10, 2012
This is exactly what I was looking for. Very creative!! Can't wait to do this with my students. They are going to love it.
February 5, 2012
I applaud your enthusiasm. I'm sure they'll love it. My reading groups did! - Jane
February 5, 2012
Very Nice and easy to follow. User friendly.
February 4, 2012
I'm glad you found my unit easy to use. I aim for that. Good to know Ih it the target! Check out some of my other offerings for similar ease of use - Jane
February 4, 2012
Enjoyed it...
January 28, 2012
Help
Do you have the lesson plans for this unit.
November 23, 2010
I must admit that I don't have a lesson plan as such. I think it would be a good idea to add one. Until then. let me give you this suggested time line for using the worksheets:
1. Start with the vocabulary page -page 2 of the download - These sentences are taken from the story. After familiarizing students with the words in the iceberg, use them to fill in the blanks.
2. Students should then "preview" the book: Look at the cover, read the words on the back or inside sleeve of the dust cover, and flip through the pictures. Then use the first page of the download to write down their predictions. Explain that you will return to check their predictions when they're done reading.
3. Students read the story in whatever way you wish to have them do it.
4. I recommend rereading the story as a group and completing the What Happened First page - page 3 of the download - as a group.
5. I also recommend you complete the story map as a group.
6.The character description page - page 6 of the download - encourages students to make connections between themselves and Tacky. I would recommend having the students fill this out individually and then share with a partner before sharing with the whole group.
7. This is an optional page that can be used with or without page 6 as the basis for a group discussion about the book.
8. The last page of the download is a vocabulary extension page.
I hope all of this helps -
November 24, 2010
I taught for a total of 32 years, mostly in second grade. After getting my Masters in special education, I spent 5 years as an LD Resource teacher before returning to the regular classroom.
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