Before Reading

Lesson Plans for FLYING KITES Level K

Before Reading

Build Background
If students have read the first and second Hoppers stories, The Igloo and Valentine's Day, review what happened in those books. Have them recall the characters, and talk about what they remember about each one. Explain that the book they are about to read is another book about the Hoppers, and that it is part of a series. Make sure that students understand what a series is, and provide examples of other series the students might have read. Have them determine what makes these books a series.

Ask students if they have ever flown a kite. Have them recount their experiences with kites. Talk about what conditions are favorable and unfavorable for flying kites.

Introduce the Book
Show students the cover of the book and read the title. Talk about the illustration.
Ask: What is happening in this picture? Can you recognize any of the characters? Who do you think will fly a kite? What might happen when the Hoppers go out to fly kites?

Book Walk
Show students the first illustration. Ask them what they think is happening. Reinforce language that students will read in the text.
Ask: Who do you see with their faces pressed against the windowpane? What might the bunnies be thinking?
Continue to show students the pictures and have students make predictions about what is happening in the story. Stop with the picture of Snubby Nose being carried away by the kite, and ask them what they think might happen to him next.

Reading Strategies
Remind students of what they can do when they come to a difficult word. Model the reading strategies they can use.
Say: When I come to a word I don’t know, there are several things I can do to figure it out. I can think about what word would make sense in the sentence. Sometimes the picture can help me figure out the word. I can sound the word out, using what I know about letter sounds. After I sound it out, I reread the whole sentence to see if the word makes sense.

Go to During Reading

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Ask students if they have ever flown a kite. Have them recount their experiences with kites. Talk about what conditions are favorable and unfavorable for flying kites.

Introduce the Book
Show students the cover of the book and read the title. Talk about the illustration.
Ask: What is happening in this picture? Can you recognize any of the characters? Who do you think will fly a kite? What might happen when the Hoppers go out to fly kites?

Book Walk
Show students the first illustration. Ask them what they think is happening. Reinforce language that students will read in the text.
Ask: Who do you see with their faces pressed against the windowpane? What might the bunnies be thinking?
Continue to show students the pictures and have students make predictions about what is happening in the story. Stop with the picture of Snubby Nose being carried away by the kite, and ask them what they think might happen to him next.

Reading Strategies
Remind students of what they can do when they come to a difficult word. Model the reading strategies they can use.
Say: When I come to a word I don’t know, there are several things I can do to figure it out. I can think about what word would make sense in the sentence. Sometimes the picture can help me figure out the word. I can sound the word out, using what I know about letter sounds. After I sound it out, I reread the whole sentence to see if the word makes sense.