Text Structure • Repetitive and predictable, listing four items at a partyContent • Important items for a birthday party
Themes and Ideas • You can have a party with balloons, presents, hats, and a cake.Language and
Literary Features• Simple repetitive language
Sentence Complexity • Repetitive sentence pattern, changing only one word on each page• Three-word sentences with simple sentence structure: See the ___.
Vocabulary • Words naming things needed for a party: balloons, presents, hats, cake, partyWords • High-frequency words: see, the
Illustrations • Illustrations that support the textBook and Print Features • Five pages, with one line of text and one illustration on each page
• Labels in illustrations: balloons, presents, hats, cake• Large print and good spacing between words
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Number of Words: 15
L E S S O N 1 0 T E A C H E R ’ S G U I D E
It’s a Party!by Jacob Walker
Fountas-Pinnell Level AFictionSelection SummaryWhat is needed for a birthday party in the barn? Balloons, presents, hats, and a cake! All the animals are invited, except the wolf!
Build BackgroundRead the title to children and talk with them about what they see in the cover illustration. Ask them what they know about birthday parties. Then ask: What are some things you might see at a birthday party?
Introduce the TextGuide children through the text, noting important ideas, and helping with unfamiliar language and vocabulary. Explain important text features, such as the repetition of the phrase: See the. Here are some suggestions:
Page 2: Explain that story is about a barnyard animal’s birthday party.Suggested language: Turn to page 2. What do you see in the picture? Yes, those are balloons. It must be time for a party! So the book says: See the balloons. Say the word see. See begins with the /s/ sound. Find the word See and put your fi nger under the fi rst letter, S. And you can see that See starts with uppercase S because it comes at the beginning.
Page 3: Explain that the pictures in the book have labels to name things. The label in this picture says presents. The book says: See the presents. Say the word the. The has three letters and it starts with the letter t. Can you fi nd the and put your fi nger under it? You will fi nd the on lots of pages in this book.
Page 4: Remind children that they can use information in the pictures to help them read. What are all the animals wearing in this picture? Those party hats are colorful! What do you think the book will say?
Page 5: Now what do you think the book will say?
Now go back to the beginning and read to fi nd out about the birthday party.
K_301754_BL_LRTG_L10_Party.indd 2K_301754_BL_LRTG_L10_Party.indd 2 7/27/09 11:55:55 AM7/27/09 11:55:55 AM
ReadNow have children read It’s a Party! softly while pointing under each word. Observe children as they read.
Respond to the TextPersonal ResponseAsk children to share their personal responses to the book. Begin by asking what they liked best about the story, or what they found most interesting.Suggested language: What things do you like to have at a party?
Ways of ThinkingAs you discuss the text, make sure children understand these teaching points:
Thinking Within the Text Thinking Beyond the Text Thinking About the Text
• You can see balloons, presents, hats, and a cake at a party.
• The barnyard animals (cow, pig, hen, chick) are having a birthday party.
• The wolf has not been invited so he peeks in the window.
• Certain things, such as balloons, presents, hats, and a cake, make a party special.
• Birthdays are a time for friends to gather for a celebration.
• The writer uses the same sentence pattern on each page.
• You can see all the birthday things in the picture on page 6.
• Labels in the pictures tell the names of the things that you can see at a party.
Choices for SupportConcepts of PrintPractice early reading behaviors such as reading from left to right and matching one spoken to one written word while reading and pointing.
Phonemic Awareness and Word WorkProvide practice as needed with words and sounds, using one of the following activities:
• Listening Game Have children listen for words that begin with the same sound. Have children raise their hands if the words begin with the same sound, and keep their hands in their laps if the beginning sound is different. Say pairs of words, for example: balloons and ball, presents and pop, hats and cats, hats and help, cake and bake, etc.
• Build Sentences Materials: index cards. Write the high-frequency words from the story on index cards: See, the. Then write the story words on index cards: balloons, presents, hats, cake, party. Have the children build sentences using the word cards. Have them read the sentences and illustrate them if they wish.
• Matching Letters Materials: upper and lower case magnetic or cardboard letters or letter cards. Have children choose letters and match them with their upper or lower case form.
Writing About ReadingCritical ThinkingRead the directions for children on BLM 10.2 and guide them in answering the questions.
RespondingRead aloud the questions at the back of the book and help children complete the activities.
Target Comprehension SkillStory Structure
Target Comprehension Skill Tell children that a story is made up of many parts. Stories
have settings, characters, and events. Model how to think about the structure of this story.
Think Aloud
This story takes place in a barn. The characters are a pig, a hen, a chick, a cow, and a wolf. The animals are gathered for a birthday party. The pig, the hen, the chick, and the cow are having a good time. The wolf is looking in the window. It’s clear he wasn’t invited to the party!
Practice the SkillHave children choose another story and tell about the settings, characters and events.
Writing PromptRead aloud the following prompt. Have children draw and write their response, using the writing prompt on page 6.
Draw a picture of another animal that might come to the party.
English Language LearnersCultural Support Parties are celebrated differently around the world. Make sure children know about the items listed in this story. Invite them to talk about other ways to celebrate at a party.
Oral Language DevelopmentCheck the children’s comprehension, using a dialogue that best matches their English profi ciency level. Speaker 1 is the teacher, Speaker 2 is the child.
Beginning/ Early Intermediate Intermediate Early Advanced/ Advanced
Speaker 1: Point to the balloons.
Speaker 2: [Child points to the balloons.]
Speaker 1: Point to the hats.
Speaker 2: [Child points to the hats.]
Speaker 1: What do you see on page 5?
Speaker 2: a cake
Speaker 1: What do you see on page 3?
Speaker 2: presents
Speaker 1: What do the pig, the hen, and the cow have on their heads on page 4?
Speaker 2: hats
Speaker 1: What do you see at the party on page 6?
Speaker 2: I see presents, a balloon, a cake, and a hat. (Other answers: a cow, a pig, a hen, a chick, and a very sad wolf.)
