Lesson Plans for DARBY'S BIRTHDAY PARTY level J

Before Reading

Building Background
Write the words birth-day and birthday on the chalkboard or chart paper. Ask children to sound out the word with syllables and then blend the word together and read aloud. As they read, point to the word, in syllable form and in the blended form. Ask: How many syllables did you hear in the word birthday? Explain that they will be working with syllables during the Building Skills activity time and that birthday is one of the words they will hear.

Now ask children to think of a special birthday they have had. Ask them to share what birthday it was (what year) and what they did to celebrate (what games they played, where the party was held, etc.). Next, tell children to pretend that they are going to have a special birthday party—a group birthday party! To plan for the party, they need to make a list of all the children in the group who will be invited and what kind of food they will have.

Make a List

Guests Food


When children have finished making their list, ask: Why do you think it is important to make a list? What would happen if we forgot to write down important details? Stress the importance of planning ahead and keeping important information in a notebook or on a list.

Introducing the Book
Direct the attention of children to the cover. Ask: Who do you think is on the cover of the book? Does the picture help you to guess what the story is going to be about? Point to the title of the book and ask children if they can help with the reading. As you read, encourage them to pronounce the words. Ask: Does the title of the book help you to know more about what is going to happen? Point out the names of the author and illustrator. Turn to the title page. Ask children to read the title of the book. Ask: What is different on this page from the cover? What is the dog doing? Does this picture give more information about the story? What do you think it is telling you? What is the illustration behind the dog? Point out that the illustrations (behind Darby) stand for notes and music. Ask: What song do you think is going to be sung? Take a few moments to sing the "Happy Birthday" song to help children make a correlation between what they see and the words and tune they sing. Point out the author and illustrator names. Have children turn to the back cover. Explain that the back cover is the end of the book.

Book Walk
As you walk through the book, direct attention to the changing text—the increase and decrease in the number of sentences, depending on what is said on each page. Point out the punctuation on the pages—quotations, commas, question marks, etc. Explain to children that as they read, the pictures will provide some clues but not as many as in other books they have read. On page 5, ask: What are the balloons for on the page? Do you think she is thinking aloud? On page 7, ask: What is the boy doing? What is he making in the thought balloon? Why does he have a pencil? As you read pages 10–12, ask children to comment on where they think the boy, the girl, and Darby are: "Do you think they are trying to find a special place for the birthday party? Where are they?" On page 13, point to the word MALL in the picture. Ask children if they know what that word means. If some children do not understand, explain that the word means a large shopping center where people go to buy things. Give an example of a mall near your town or city. On page14, point out the days and ask: Can you see a calendar? What makes you think it is a calendar? What is the calendar missing (the numbers on the days of the month)? Continue to the end of the book.


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