Text Structure • First-person plural narrative naming four animals seen at the zoo• Last page summation: We like the zoo.
Content • Animals seen at the zooThemes and Ideas • It’s fun to look at animals at the zoo.
• Families enjoy going places together..Language and
Literary Features• Simple repetitive language• Meaning provided through integration of pictures with text.
Sentence Complexity • Repetitive sentence pattern, changing only one word on each page• Four-word sentences with simple sentence structure: We like the ___.
Vocabulary • Words relating to animals: lions, monkeys, bears, birds, zooWords • High-frequency words: we, like, the
Illustrations • Illustrations that support the textBook and Print Features • Five pages, with one line of text and one illustration on each page
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Number of Words: 20
L E S S O N 7 T E A C H E R ’ S G U I D E
At the Zooby Ben Devanthery
Fountas-Pinnell Level AFictionSelection SummaryWhile on a visit to the zoo, a family enjoys seeing lions, monkeys, bears, and birds. They leave saying that they like the zoo.
K_302010_OL_LRTG_L07_atthezoo.indd 1 11/20/09 1:18:28 AM
like the we
Words to Know
At the Zoo by Ben Devanthery
Build BackgroundRead the title to children and talk with them about what the characters are doing in the cover illustration. Ask them what they know about zoos. Then ask: What kind of animals might you see at the zoo?
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 We like the. Here are some suggestions:
Page 2: Explain that this book is about a family enjoying a trip to the zoo and the animals they like. The family is telling the story. Suggested language: Turn to page 2. In the picture, the family is looking at lions. The family says: We like the lions. Say the word We. We begins with the /w/ sound. Find the word We and put your fi nger under the fi rst letter, W. And you can see that We starts with uppercase W because it comes at the beginning.
Page 3: Remind children that they can use information in the pictures to help them read. Turn to page 3. What animals can you see in the cage? Yes! Monkeys are in the cage. So the family says: We like the monkeys. Say the word like. What letter would you expect to see fi rst in like? Find the word like and put your fi nger under it.
Page 4: What do you think the family will say on this page?
Now go back to the beginning and read to fi nd out all the animals the family likes at the zoo.
ReadNow have children read At the Zoo 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 book, or what they found interesting. Suggested language: Have you ever been to the zoo? Which animals would you like to see?
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
• On a trip to the zoo, a family sees lions, monkeys, bears, and birds.
• The family likes to visit the zoo.
• It’s fun to look at animals at the zoo.
• Family outings are fun for everyone.
• The writer uses the same sentence pattern on each page.
• The words and the pictures show how much the family likes the zoo.
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 letter is different. Say pairs of words, for example: lions and lamps, monkeys and chimps, bears and chairs, birds and bears, zoo and zippers, etc.
• 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.
• Build Sentences Materials: index cards. Write the high frequency words from At the Zoo on index cards: We, like, the. Then write the story words on index cards: lions, monkeys, bears, birds, zoo. Have children build sentences using the word cards. Have them read the sentences and illustrate one of them.
Target Comprehension Skill Remind children to use details to tell more
about characters. Model how to think about understanding characters:
Think Aloud
I can understand more about the characters in this story when I think about the details. Everyone in the family likes to look at animals. On page 4, it looks like the girl wants to get closer to the polar bears, and that makes the mother a little nervous. But on the last page, I can tell all four people in the family had a good time at the zoo.
Practice the SkillHave children choose another picture and tell what they can learn about the characters from looking at the details in the picture.
Writing PromptRead aloud the following prompt. Have children draw and write their response, using the writing prompt on page 6.
Draw a picture of an animal you would like to see at the zoo.
English Language LearnersCultural Support Many children have never been to the zoo. Make sure children recognize the animals in this story and talk about why animals may be in a zoo.
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 lions.
Speaker 2: [Child points to the lions.]
Speaker 1: Point to the bears.
Speaker 2: [Child points to the bears.]
Speaker 1: What animals are on page 5?
Speaker 2: birds
Speaker 1: What kind of animal is on page 3?
Speaker 2: monkeys
Speaker 1: What kind of animal is on page 4?
Speaker 2: bears
Speaker 1: What animals did the characters see at the zoo?
Speaker 2: They saw lions, monkeys, bears, and birds.
Speaker 1: What does the family say about the zoo?
