Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman is one of my absolute favorite books for Halloween.
It is PERFECT for talking about story elements. It has five wonderful characters that are introduced one at a time, the story only has two settings, and it has a clearly defined problem and solution. It’s a teachers dream!!!
If you would like this graphic organizer click here.
I’ve also created some Math Journal Prompts based on the story.
Click here to download Math Journal Prompts
Oh my goodness! This is the BEST book for writing. My Grade 2's will be introduced to the story of the great, enormous turnip first. Then we will talk about how the characters went from larger to smaller until the little one is the one with just enough help to get the turnip out of the ground. We will act out the story and then I will get the bright idea to turn this story into a Halloween story with a witch needing to get the pumpkin into her house. The students will draw a picture, which will act as a story plan with the witch and 4 more characters attempting to move the pumpkin out of the garden. They will verbally tell other classmates their version and then write it all out, focusing on using the writing targets of having every sentence begin with a capital letter and end with proper punctuation as well as using correct spelling. Quite a lot for early Grade 2 but they really get into the story! We will begin this on Friday and then around Wednesday, I will just happen to find the storybook 'Big Pumpkin" and have some little one turn the pages, as the story is played on CD. They can't believe that their stories are SOO similar to the one that a real author wrote. They are so proud and it gives me a chance to again tell them that anyone can be an author, with a little hard work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the freebies. I will find a way to incorporate them and if I do, you can check out my blog around the 28th to see our finished product.
sherry-matheson.blogspot.com
Thank you! I'm likin' it :)
ReplyDelete❀Barbara❀
Grade ONEderful
Thank you very much! This is one of my first graders' favortie books. When I purchased this book many moons ago it came with a cassette. I love the voice changes and the sing songy way the story is told. Your downloads will help this favorite become more educational!
ReplyDeleteThat is one of my favorite books ever!!!!!
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