A Minion Made of Food? Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will analyze the steps it takes to participate in a contest that helps people in need.

 

Social Studies Focus:

citizenship

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, sequencing writing, text features

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a bar graph

 

Vocabulary:

sculpture, donate, characters, layers

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify the main topic; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.5 use text features; RI.2.10 read informational texts; W.2.3 sequencing; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Guided Reading Level:

L

 

Lexile level:

510L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on giving to your community.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "Giving Feels Good.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What kind of gift do you want to give?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Can students predict how the can sculptures help people in need?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about the steps it takes to build a can sculpture.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think skill sheet. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Review vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are sculpture, donate, characters, and layers.

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

  • Use the online game show to gauge comprehension and reinforce the issue’s content. Students can play by themselves or in teams. For each question they answer correctly, they win a point.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words donate, characters, and layers.

Editor’s Pick: Sequencing (15 min.)

  • With the Plan Your Own Canstruction! skill sheet students will imagine their own can sculpture and recall the steps it takes to build one.

ELA Focus: Text-Feature Hunt (15 min.)

  • Students will revisit the issue and examine its features with the Text- Feature Hunt skill sheet.

 Here is a past issue you can use to extend your lesson on giving to your community:

  • "The Donkey Library,” March 2023. Discover how Luis Sorano created a library that provides books to his students.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher Lexile level: 600L
  • Lower Lexile level: 450L