Lesson Plans for MAKING RICE level N

Text Type:
Fact – Informational Text / Procedure

Reading Level
N

Word Count:
814

Pages:
18

Text Summary
Making Rice is an informational text about rice and its importance in China. The book provides instructions on how to prepare and cook rice. Also included is a detailed, step-by-step recipe for chicken-fried rice that the whole family can enjoy.

Lesson Objectives
Reading Strategies
Children should use a variety of strategies to determine word meaning and comprehend text. The targeted strategy for this lesson is: Using context clues.

Word and Print Skills
Phonics
Vowel diphthong
Identify and list words with vowel diphthongs

Word Work
Regular plural endings
Identify and list the regular plural ending ies.

Multiple-meaning words
Identify and list multiple meaning words.

Comprehension
You will likely address a number of comprehension skills as children work to understand the text. The targeted comprehension strategy for this lesson is: Asking and finding answers to questions before and during reading.

Visual Learning
The children will note details in the illustrations that will help them understand the text.

Targeted Vocabulary Words
Content words
rice, China, Chinese, measuring cup, strainer, paddies

Before Reading

Introducing the Book
Before handing out the book introduce it by showing the front cover. Ask: What do you see on the cover? What do you think the book will be about? What might the boy be going to do? Turn the book to the back cover. Ask: What other information does this give us about the contents of the book?

Building Background
Make a mind map with the children around the word rice. Have them suggest what they already know about rice and rice products. Write these suggestions around the title. Depending on the student’s knowledge you may need to make some suggestions. For example, rice is grown in paddies.

Book Walk
Without reading the text, turn the pages and ask the children what other information might be contained in the book. Add this to the mind map. Ask: As you look at these pictures what new information do they give you about the contents of the book?

Using the Worksheet
Explain to the children that after reading they will need to fill out the worksheet relating to the information in the story. If the children begin working on them after they have finished reading, it will give you time to assist individuals. Ask the children if there are any questions that they would like to find the answers to while reading. Ask them to write them on the worksheet.

Reading Strategies
Ask: What can you do when you come to a word you do not know? Have the children look for something within the word that they do know. Have them reread the sentence and use context clues.

During Reading

Student Reading
Hand out the books and have the children read quietly a their own pace. Encourage the children to think about the information contained in the story they are reading. Remind them to read to find the answers to the questions they came up with before reading.

After Reading

Comprehending the Text
Ask questions that focus on the information in the text. Ask: What was the story about? What important information did you learn about rice? What products can be made out of rice? Ask questions about the procedure for cooking rice and chicken fried rice. Ask: What things do you need to boil rice? How do you make chicken fried rice?

Visual Learning
Have students look at the pages in the book, and discuss each photograph. Have them look at the subject of the photograph, and ask: What is going on in the photograph? What do the photographs show us?

Explain to children that each photograph was selected to help readers understand the topic. Have children look on page 9. Ask: What is the boy doing in this photograph? Why do you think his mother is standing behind him? (The boy is using a knife, and needs adult supervision.)

Building Skills

Phonics
Vowel diphthong
Explain to the children that a vowel diphthong is when two vowels come side by side in a word, but in most cases make only one sound. Use the following words from the story: boil (page 11) and brown (page 7). Have the children think of other vowel diphthongs. Ask: Can you find any words in the story that have vowel diphthongs? What are they? Can you think of any other words that have vowel diphthongs? Write the children’s answers on the board.

Word Work
Regular plural endings
Explain to the children that one type of regular plural ending is: When a word ends in y, it is made plural by dropping the y and adding ies. Use the following example from the story: countries (page 4). Ask: Can you find any other words with regular plural endings in the story? Write these on to a chart as they find them. Discuss what the singular word would have been. Write these on the chart alongside the plural version. Ask: What would the singular word have been? Ask: Can you think of some other words with the same regular plural ending? Add these to the list.

Multiple-meaning words
Explain to the children that multiple-meaning words are words that have more than one meaning. Use the following example from the story: rulers (page 3). Ask: Can you find any other multiple meaning words in the story? Write these on to another chart as they find them. Discuss what two meanings they have. Write these on the chart alongside the plural version. Ask: What two meanings does this word have? Have the children think of other multiple meaning words and list on a chart. Ask: Can you think of any other multiple meaning words? Add these to the chart.

Expand the Reading

Writing Connection
Have the children write another recipe for a rice dish. Following the same format as the recipes in the story. Ask: What other rice recipes can you think of?

Social Studies Connection
Have the children think about other countries and traditional foods they eat. Research the areas and make a chart showing the countries and their traditional foods.

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.

Home Connection
  • Have the children take the book home to read with family members.
  • Have the children make, with the help of an adult, one of the recipes from the story. Write a story to share what the family members felt about the meal.

Assessment
  • Monitor student’s responses in the Comprehending Text section to assess how well they understand the text or story.
  • Monitor reading to see if children are using the effective reading strategies.
  • Assess student knowledge of regular plural endings, multiple meaning words and vowel diphthongs.


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