ECTLP Literacy Activity Play Like the Animals Title: Play Like the Animals Developed By: Peggy McLain & Jacqueline McCloskey, Meadow Hall Elementary Edited by: Bonny Chambers Overview: Children will use Instant Reader software to read the story Where Babies Play. The story will motivate children to share and write about pictures of themselves. They will be able to retell the story and discuss how the places they play are similar to the places baby animals play. Student Level: K or 1 Early Emergent Readers Time Frame: Five sessions: Class discussion, web and introduction (30 minutes); Read along literacy center small group (10-15 minutes) Teacher lead literacy group (15-20 minutes) Independent Writing (10-15 minutes) Shared reading of class innovation (10-15 minutes) Materials: Pictures from homework or teacher supplied pictures. Inspiration or other materials to record student brainstorming Where Babies Play Instant Reader Book (if available) Instant Reader CD level 1-2A Story - Where Babies Play Where Babies Play Venn Diagram Classroom Computer with CD Rom Drive Objectives: The students will: Demonstrate Global Understanding by doing an oral retelling of the story Where Babies Play read from the Instant Reader CD. Reflect on what they have read/heard and compare the characters in the selection to their own actions in a similar situation. Procedures: Children should have previous experience using Instant Reader software. If not, be sure to model the use of the software throughout the lesson. Prior to the lesson, ask the children to bring or draw a picture of themselves as babies while playing. Share the pictures and web ideas about where babies play. Use "Inspiration" or other appropriate materials to create the web. In a whole group setting, show the children the cover of the book Where Babies Play. (If you don't have a copy of the book, open the Instant Reader Level 1-2A CD, and choose the story Where Babies Play then choose the "Read" option to show the cover of the book.) Ask children what they think the story will be about. Ask the children what they know about where babies play. Discuss with the group. Explain to the students that during center time they will have the chance to read the story Where Babies Play to see if their predictions were correct. Further set the purpose for reading by explaining to the children that you will ask them to retell the story during their next literacy group meeting. Allow small groups to independently read along with Where Babies Play using Instant Reader software. Using the small group setting will enhance the children's interaction with the story. During your next literacy group meeting with the students, briefly review the story and ask the children to retell the story they read on the computer. Encourage the children to use as many details about the story as they can remember. Depending on the level and needs of the students and the time available, this retelling can be done orally, or as shared or interactive writing. Children who have difficulty remembering the story can use the "Look" feature of the program or a copy of the little book to see pictures from the story to prompt them as they retell. After the students retell the story, go back to the web created in the first session and the pictures students brought or drew of themselves playing. Have students contribute pages to a class innovation of Where Babies Play using these pictures and a template with the words: "Where does this little one play? It plays ____________." Again , depending on the levels and needs of the students this can be done independently using the word wall and web created by the group, or as shared or interactive writing. When the class/group completes the book, read it together and discuss how the play areas of animals and people are the same and different. As a follow up or center activity, complete a Venn Diagram comparing the play areas of the students as babies and animal babies . Add the book to your classroom library. As a follow-up, the children could do one or more of the following activities: dramatize the story, put on a puppet show about the story, write a story about where babies play or baby animals. Additional Resources: The Bear Den Homepage http://www.nature-net.com/bears The Cub Den http://www.nature-net.com/bears/cubden.html Early Childhood Technology Literacy Project site: http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/littlekids/   ©ECTLP Free and unrestricted use granted to educators for non-profit purposes.