Before Reading
Introducing the Book
Hand out the books and have children read the title and scan the illustrations to make an initial prediction about the setting, plot, and characters.
Ask: Where is this story set? What do you think this story is about? Who are the characters? What are they doing? Do you think the boy is called Turtle Tom? Why or why not?
Build Background
Discuss sea turtles.
Ask: What do you already know about sea turtles? Share what you know about where they lay their eggs. Have any of you ever seen signs warning that there are turtle nests on the beach? When the baby turtles hatch, what do they do? Who are predators of baby turtles?
Book Walk
Ask children to scan page 3 to find out the name of the main character.
Say and ask: Read the main character’s name aloud. What does it make you think of? Does it make you smile? How would you feel if you had a name like this? Would you expect to be teased about it? How does the name fit with the title? Can you see a connection?
Have children turn to page 8.
Ask: What is happening in this illustration? Read the first sentence to see if you are right. What do you think might happen to someone who continually fights with other kids at school?
Ask children to turn to page 9. Read the sentence, He said I was provoked.
Ask: Who knows the meaning of the word provoked? What does it mean to provoke someone? Who can use the word provoked in another sentence?
Have children read the last sentence on page 11.
Ask: What does this sentence mean? What else could the old woman have said that would have meant the same thing?
Ask children to turn to page 12 and read the last sentence.
Ask: What do you think this sentence means? What are violators? What does prosecuted mean? What does the phrase to the full extent of the law mean?
Have children turn to page 14. Discuss with them what you can keep a civil tongue means.
Go to During Reading
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