Introduction
Welcome class! Today we will be reading, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. Kevin Henkes is a famous author who wrote lots of fun books about mice. Chrysanthemum is about a mouse with a very different name who loves it, until she starts school. Your job as a class is to be detectives and find out why she changes from a happy mouse who loves her name to a sad mouse that wants to change her name. You will share what you found at a Mouse Party! We are going to talk about respectful and disrespectful behavior. It is never okay to make fun of others! In order to get the party ready, you need to collect the cheese. Because after all, every mouse needs cheese - especially at a party!
So let's get started and remember to use your listening bodies to show respect to others.
Task
In this lesson you will be using your detective skills to understand why Chrysanthemum is upset. In this lesson you will use the items I give you to do many fun activities! We will have whole group class discussions, partner work and whole group projects. You will be graded on you ability to describe and show respect.
First, you will listen to a reading of Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes with the class.
While listening with a partner, you will fold a piece of your heart each time something is said that upsets Chrysanthemum.
Then you and your friend will identify why Chrysanthemum is upset.
Finally the class will talk about encouraging things they could say to Chrysanthemum.
Process
It is time to get started detectives!
1. Let's read a great book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. Choose a partner at your table and take one heart for you to share. Once you have your heart, show me your listening bodies so I know you are ready for the next direction.
2. As detectives, you are listening for things that upset Chrysanthemum. Each time you hear something in the story, fold a piece of your heart like this (model). You are going to take turns folding and it does not matter how you fold it.
3. When the story is finished, work with partner to unfold the heart. Try to get all the wrinkles (folds/creases) out of the heart.
4. Think about how we can forgive people for saying mean things and hurting our feelings, but they still leave an impression, or a wrinkle, on our heart and feelings. The next time a person makes fun of someone, you can remind him or her that they are leaving a wrinkle of that person's heart. Remind students that the pain that is left on someone's heart from the hurtful/mean things said does not go away.
5. Okay detectives Think About... What are some examples of disrespect from the story? What are some examples of respect in the story?
--Would you want to be Chrysanthemum when her classmates called her names and made fun of how many letters were in her name? Why or why not?
--How did it make Chrysanthemum feel when the other girls were not being respectful? Why?
--When Chrysanthemum's feelings were hurt, she was sad. When she was sad, how do you think she did on her schoolwork? Why?
--How did Chrysanthemum feel when the music teacher said she liked her name?
--Would you want to feel this way?
-- How do other people show respect for you?
-- How do you feel when other people show your respect?
-- How do you feel when other people show you disrespect?
6. Ask students to demonstrate how they show respect while taking a stretching break. (Emphasize giving enough space to your neighbor, respecting personal space, etc.) Turn music on and lead students in stretching activities (2 minutes).
7. I think Chrysanthemum could use some cheering up! Work on your own to write a letter of encouragement to Chrysanthemum. You can include a story about a time that for were teased for being different. Give a reason why it is important to show respect.
8. It is time for our Mouse Party. Sit in circle on the carpet with your legs in front of you. Giving someone a compliment shows respect. Say a person's name and give them a compliment. Fold your legs when you receive a compliment and you will be rewarded with cheese and crackers. Discuss how it feels to receive compliments and be shown respect.
Evaluation
You will be graded on your participation and your completed work. You also will be graded on your cooperation while working with a partner (taking turns, using nice words, etc.). I will be watching to see if you are using your listening bodies (eyes on the speaker, hands and feet quiet, brain is thinking about what is being said or done, mouth is quiet when listening, etc.) I will use the rubric below.
| Beginning 1 |
Developing 2 |
Qualified 3 |
Exemplary 4 |
Score |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participation | Did not contribute to the whole class discussion or partner activity. | Somewhat contributed to whole group discussion and partner activity. Made some comments and opinions. | Mostly involved in the whole class discussion and partner activity. Made a number of comments and opionions. | Fully involved in the whole class discussion and partner activity. Asked and answered many questions. Gave comments. | 1-4 |
| WebQuest | Student complained about WebQuest and did not attempt to complete. | Student did not complete WebQuest. Did not stay on task. | Student completed WebQuest and needed some teacher assistance. | Student completed the entire WebQuest with no teacher assistance. | 1-4 |
| Listening Body | Student was disruptive and did not cooperate with partner. | Student called out a couple of times and talked while others were talking. Had difficulty sitting still. | Student sat still and did not talk while others were talking. Made a lot of noise during transitional activities. | Student was able to keep hands and feet quiet. Student was quiet at the appropriate. Student showed effort. | 1-4 |
| Letter | Student did not attempt to write letter. | Student wrote letter. Did not include example nor give reason to show respect. | Student wrote letter. The letter had basic information about respect and encouragement. | Student wrote letter with no teacher assistance. Information about respect shows great understanding. Student gave an example of when someone was disrespectful to them. Encouragement letter format was followed. |
1-4 |
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have reached the end of your Webquest adventure. You have worked very hard and I am very proud of you! Today you worked together to learn important things about respect. You learned that it is okay to be different and you should be proud of who you are. It is NEVER okay to tease others for any reason! Remember to show respect to everyone.
Teacher Page
This is a Webquest is designed for a first grade classroom. This is an extension lesson on differences and why it is important to show everyone respect.