Moon Rooster/ David and Phillis Gershator Suggested Time to Spend: 5 Days (Recommendation: one-two sessions per day, at least 20 minutes per session) Common Core grade-level ELA/Literacy Standards: RL.1.1, RL.1.2, RL.1.3, RL.1.4, RL.1.10; W.1.2, W.1.8; SL.1.2, SL.1.4, SL.1.5; L.1.1, L.1.4 Lesson Objective: Students will listen to a story read aloud and use literacy skills (reading, writing, discussion and listening) determine a main idea of the story and to begin to wonder about the phases of the moon. Teacher Instructions Before the Lesson Read the Big Ideas and Key Understandings and the Synopsis below. Please do not read this to the students. This is a description to help you prepare to teach the book and be clear about what you want your children to take away from the work. Focusing Question: Why does the Moon Rooster think his crowing brings up the moon? Because the moon gets bigger when he crows and gets smaller or doesn’t appear at all when he stops. Synopsis: Moon Rooster notices that the sky is dark and realizes there is no one to help it come up. He then takes on the task of cockadoodledooing each night to raise the moon, much to the irritation of the humans around him who cannot sleep
Today we are going to take special notice of the silver writing word labels next to the illustrations. They will help us understand more about the story. Today we are also paying special attention to the ROOSTER. Reread page 1 QUESTIONS: What was this rooster’s problem? Let’s try to figure out the word label used to describe this picture. If we chunk the word, we will be able to pronounce it. An insomniac is someone who cannot sleep. Why did the illustrator label this rooster “insomniac?” Reread page 3 QUESTIONS: What do the illustrations show? Now let’s read the labels to these dreams. Labels in text help you, the reader, figure out what the author is trying to tell you. What is each rooster dreaming about? How is what is over Moon Rooster’s head different than the others? Why do you think it is different? “couldn’t sleep” In-som-ni-ac. Because he couldn’t sleep and an insomniac is someone who cannot sleep. Roosters dreaming. The first one cars, second one being in love, third one no dreams, and fourth one a trophy. (Reread the labels.) Moon Rooster has only one word, “Dreams?” with a question mark over his head- because he is an insomniac, he doesn’t have dreams.
ACTING OUT THE PASSAGES – Make simple stick puppets showing the shapes of the moon that appear on the chart and the Rooster Make multiple copies of each, so that every student has a puppet. You will use the puppets to help students notice the shape of the moon as the rooster attempts to get the moon to rise. 1. Have half the students act out the rooster character, holding a rooster stick puppet. Have the other half of the students hold one of the moon shapes that appear on the chart (several students may have the same shape). 2. Examine and act out each row of the chart, posing questions like the following: How does the sky look at first? What does the rooster do? What shape is the moon after the Rooster crows? Briefly discuss how the sky looks before the Rooster crows. Students with the rooster picture hold it up and pretend to crow (loudly or softly). Students with the appropriate moon shape hold it up in response to the Rooster’s crowing. Ask students if they notice any patterns on the chart. Have them turn and talk to a partner about the focusing question: Why does the Moon Rooster think his crowing brings up the moon? Call on selected students to share responses with the full group; help students to practice pointing out supporting The moon gets bigger when Rooster crows and gets smaller or doesn’t appear at all when he stops. So, Rooster thinks his crowing controls the moon.
of a large family of words with related meanings. These words are likely to describe events, ideas, processes or experiences that most of your student will be unfamiliar with) Page 1- insomniac - a person who can’t Page 5 - crowed – cry of a rooster Page 7 - hen - female domestic fowl Page 8 - clucked - the sound of a hen brooding Page 14 - fowl - barnyard hen or rooster Page 14 - well-bred - properly trained or educated Page 17 - chicken - domestic fowl Page 19 - croaked - low pitched sound often associated with the noise a frog makes Page 24 - sliver – a small, slender piece Page 24 - stiffened - to suddenly become rigid or tense Page 24 - puffed – inhaling air Page 5 - peaceful – calm, free of commotion Page 5 - lo and behold – look, expression of excitement Page 5 - rose/rise - to go up from a lower position Page 5 - proud – having high opinion of oneself Page 6 - bold – showy or flashy Page 6 - king of the hill – undisputed leader Page 9 - appreciation/appreciated – grateful; thankful Page 10 - self-respecting – feeling self-dignity Page 17 - pesty – annoying Page 22 - admitted – concede Page 23 - brave – not afraid Page 24 - courageous – brave Page 25 – deserve – be worthy of Fun Extension Activities for this book and other useful Resources