Text Summary
This is the fourth book in the Hoppers series. The Hoppers want to go to the circus, but the family can’t afford to go. Grandpa Grizzly comes to the rescue. But then, Snubby Nose decides he wants to join the circus. Instead, the clowns give him musical instruments so he can play music at home. 

Lesson Objectives

Reading Strategies
Students should use a variety of strategies to determine word meaning and comprehend text. The target strategy for this lesson is: making connections between what they are reading and what already know. 

Word and Print Skills

Phonics
Variant vowel long /o/
Word Work
Homonyms
Contractions 

Content Words
trapeze artist, elephant, lemonade, popcorn, show, flute, horns
These are words that are associated with the topic of the circus. You may want to review and discuss the words and have students add them to the classroom word wall or dictionary. 

Comprehension
You will likely address a number of comprehension skills as students work to understand the text. The target comprehension strategy for this lesson is: the effect of character actions on the problem and solution.