Two Crazy Zebras
Text Type: Fiction • Word Count: 333

READ-ALOUD LESSON
Two Crazy Zebras
Consonant Zz /z/

Other Resources
Decodable Book
The Zim-Zam Man

• Introduce and expose students to the /z/ sound represented by the letter z.
• Build oral comprehension skills.
• Model fluent reading.

Story Summary
The two zebras at the zoo don't look or act like any zebras anyone has ever seen. The narrator of this rhyming story camps out in a tree near the zebra cage to uncover the truth. She learns that when the zoo couldn't buy zebras, two chimps volunteered to dress up as those animals.

Build Background
Ask students if they have ever visited a zoo. Invite them to describe the types of animals they saw there. Ask them if they have ever seen a zebra. Have them to share what they know about zebras.

Preview the Book
Read the title and ask students to identify the sound at the beginning of the word zebras. Then have students identify the /z/ sound in the word crazy. Explain that you will read a story aloud that has many words with the /z/ sound. Have students say the /z/ sound. 

Write crazy and zebras on the board. Read each word aloud to students. Have volunteers come to the board and take turns circling the letter that stands for the /z/ sound in the words. 

Open the book and show students the illustrations on each page. Ask them to identify any words with the /z/ sound from the pictures. Invite students to predict what the story might be about.

During Reading
Read the story aloud with expression, emphasizing the /z/ sound in the words. Ask students to clap their hands each time they hear the /z/ sound. Point out that they might hear the /z/ sound at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the word. 

Allow students to ask questions during reading. Pause occasionally to ask students to predict what might happen next.

After Reading
Reader Response
Have students explain whether the book is fiction or nonfiction. Invite them to summarize the story and/or describe their favorite part. 

Comprehension
Ask specific questions that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the book.

• What was strange about the zebras?
• How did the girl try to solve the mystery?
• What did the zebras turn out to be?