Lesson Plans for MERMAID IN A TEACUP level Q

Before Reading

Introducing the Book
Hand out the books and have children read the title and scan the illustrations to make predictions about the characters and plot.
Ask: What do you think this story is about? Who are the characters? What do you think they are doing? Can you say anything about the relationships among the characters from the illustrations?
Discuss the format.
Ask: What format is the story written in? What does the format tell you about who is telling the story? How will this format affect the writing style?

Build Background
Discuss mermaids.
Ask: What is a mermaid? Are mermaids real or imaginary? If mermaids were real, what sort of conditions would they need to live in? Why?
Discuss diaries.
Ask: What is a diary? Who keeps a diary? What sort of things do people write in diaries? How are diaries useful?

Book Walk
Have children turn to page 5. Read the sentence: And I definitely am not going to let you read about "super equestrian" Sybil when she fell off her sister’s pony.
Ask children what equestrian means? Explain the term if they do not know.
Say and ask: Now let’s talk about this sentence. Let’s discuss how it adds to the predictions you made when you scanned the illustrations. Can you now name another character besides Hattie? Can you now say anything more about the relationships among the characters?
Have children turn to page 10 and read the first sentence.
Say and ask: In this sentence the author is telling you something about the characters. Share with the group what you think it is. What other things do you think are "so second grade?"
Have children return to page 3.


Go to During Reading