Text Type:
Fact / Informational
Reading Level:
J
Word Count:
365
Pages:
16
Text Summary
Let's Make Shapes is an interactive book that introduces children to geometric shapes. As children learn about these shapes, they discover ways to use the shapes to draw various things, as well as vocabulary for their developing drawing skills.
Suggested Lesson Focus
Comprehension
Following Directions
Phonological Awareness
Long /a/ Sound
Explain to children that you will be learning about the long /a/ sound later in this lesson.
Phonics
Long a
Word Work
Hyphenated and Compound Words—half-circle
Mechanics/Word Structure
Commas in a Series
Visual Learning
Visual learning is a very important comprehension strategy. Model this strategy through teacher think aloud, sharing with children what you see in your mind as you read through the text. Looking at each illustration should tell children something about the information on the pages.
Targeted Vocabulary Words
High Utility Words
then, use, when
Content Words
Shape Words—circle, square, rectangle, triangle, geometric, piece, length, straight, curved
Before Reading
Introducing the Book
Show children an example of the various shapes and have them identify each one. Then have children look for examples of the various shapes in the classroom (clock, books, trash can). Ask: What are some shapes that are in our classroom? Have children each point out something that has a shape from the book. Make sure they choose different things and different shapes.
Show children the book and ask: What do you notice (author, title, illustrator)? Talk about the illustration on the front cover, the title page, and the back cover. Ask them to make predictions about what they think the text will be about.
Book Walk
Take a walk through the book and point out that the illustrations in this text are very different than the type of illustrations in fiction text. Ask questions to find out if children notice that the illustrations are done in a way that makes them easy to draw. Ask children if they think they could recreate the drawings that are discussed in the book. Talk about why there is no setting, main character, etc., in a book like this. It is a nonfiction book and it is meant to teach the reader about shapes.
During Reading
Model Reading
Since this is an informational text and children are reading for a very different purpose, have children read each page for a different reason. Use the following to lead the students through a page-by-page reading of this text.
Setting the Purpose:
Say: Today we will read each page together and find out interesting information about geometric shapes.
Have children read page 3 and discuss the characteristics of a line.
Have children read pages 4 and 5 and discuss the names of some geometric shapes.
Have children read pages 6 and 7 and discuss what we might do with a circle.
Have children read pages 8 and 9 and discuss what happens when we cut a circle in half.
Have children read pages 10 and 11 and discuss triangles.
Have children read pages 12 and 13 and discuss the description of a square.
Have children read pages 14 and 15 and discuss the description of a rectangle.
Have children read page 16 and discuss what children are to do with the shapes.
After Reading
Using the Worksheet
Give children the comprehension worksheet and have them make a picture using the shapes. Have children develop the directions they should follow to complete the worksheet. As they give the steps, list them on the board. Have children share their pictures.
Building Skills
Phonological Awareness
Say the words square, shape, day, and plain, exaggerating the long a. Have children repeat the words. Ask: What sound do all of these words have in common? Have children repeat the sentence: May plays with the gray clay all day. Explain that all of the words with the /a/ sound are the long a.
Phonics
Long /a/
Write the words shape, tape, day, and plain on the board. Say the words and have children repeat them. Underline the letters a, ay, and ai. Explain that these letters all make the long a sound and that some sounds can be spelled more than one way. Have children brainstorm to come up with some of their own long a words to add to the list.
Word Work
Have children look at page 8 and find the word half-circle. Point out the hyphen and explain that when you make a compound word, you sometimes use a hyphen. With some words, you can make a compound without a hyphen as in chalkboard or with a space between the words as in food chain.
Mechanics
Have children turn to page 5 and point out the commas in the second sentence. Explain that when you list items in a sentence, commas are used to separate the items. Have them look for other examples of commas in a series (pages 7, 9, and 15). Explain to children that commas are used to separate words in a list. They are like written pauses. To illustrate this concept, read a list of words (butter, lettuce, flour, pepper, food-coloring, syrup) and do not pause between words. Now read them with pauses for the commas. Ask: Could you understand me better when I did not pause, or when I did pause? Do you think it is easier to understand a written list with pausing commas or without?
Expand the Reading
Writing Connection
Have children draw and label a simple map. Draw the neighborhood surrounding your school using lines for roads and squares for buildings. With chalk, draw a line from a nearby building to the school. Have children make a map of their route to school, to the store, or to any location they might frequent. Have them try to include roads and buildings and help them label their starting and ending points. You can use a map of your own to demonstrate how to trace a route.
Math Connection
Connect this to an early level math unit about geometric shapes. You can use relation shapes (flat, plastic geometric shapes) or have children make their own shapes on paper. Have children make new shapes and pictures using the shapes they have learned about in this book.
Reading Independently
Have children read the book independently or with a partner. You can also encourage them to read other books of their choice at the appropriate level.
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