My Stars is a poem about a young girl who enjoys viewing the starts from her backyard. The poem is written in a fun, rhyming format. Detailed photographs and illustrations support text.

Build Background
Read the title of the book. Ask students to share what they know about stars. Explain to students that we call a pattern of connected stars a constellation. There are many different constellations. Ask students if they know the names of any constellations, and write any names given on the board. Discuss any known characteristics of stars.

Discuss poetry's rhymes and rhythms. Explain that rhyming poetry follows a beat based on syllables and includes words that rhyme. Write the word bear on board. Invite students to identify words that rhyme with bear. Write these words on the board. Remind students that not all ending sounds of rhyming words are spelled the same. For example, bear and there rhyme but have ending sounds that are spelled differently.

Preview the Poem
Show students the front and back covers of the book. Turn to the title page. Discuss the pictures and the information on the page (title of book, author's name, illustrator's name). Ask students to explain what this poem might be about based on the pictures and what they already know about the stars and the various constellations. Explain to students that thinking about what they already know about the topic will help them understand and enjoy the poem.

During Reading
Have students listen as you read the poem. Tell them you will pause at the end of each page and give them time to write down one of the pairs of rhyming words for each page. Read the book expressively and emphasize the words that rhyme in each pair of sentences. Then reread the book with students.

Use think-aloud strategies to remind students to use what they already know to help make sense of the poems. React to parts of the poems with facial expressions and gestures.

Allow students to stop and ask questions during reading, especially if they do not understand something. Invite students to share how they connected to prior knowledge while reading or listening to the poem.

After Reading
Reader Response
Ask students what they thought of the poem. Have volunteers describe their favorite part of the poem and something they learned about stars. Ask a student to summarize the main idea of the poem and have others give details to support the main idea.

Comprehension
Ask specific questions that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the poem.

• Do stars stop shining during the day? Explain your answer.
• Are there actual people or other animals in the stars? Why do we give them names of people or other animals?
• What do you know about the Sun?