Guess I better get this thing started then! I have used this lesson a couple of times. I would recommend it with Kindergarten and 1st grade, although I'm excited to try with pre-k to see what can be done. It is based around the very popular and VERY funny Pigeon books by Mo Willems. Really any one will do, but it's fun to start with the first which was Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. I really enjoy basing lessons around books for the obvious reason that it can encourage a love of reading and draws literacy into everything. When I did this lesson last Spring in a Kindergarten class it exploded into an entire theme. We read every Pigeon book there was in preparation for the lesson. Soon the walls were papered in pictures like the one to the right. Children who had never shown any interest in the writing center began spending their entire playtime there creating new stories and begging for them to be shared with the class. I'll be honest, it was beyond what I could have hoped for. The end result of this lesson can be a single Big Book that is kept in class for the children to read whenever they want. Because of the popularity it took on in my class I decided to copy, laminate, and bind a small book for each child to take home with them. A lesson similar to this can also be found on Mo Willems own website, as are a few more that are worth a look! Don't Let The Pigeon!
Learning Objective: The class as a whole will write their own book. Academically children will be able to use dialogue in the writing process. For emotional development students will identify bodily emotions and the use of excuses. |
Connection: Children are learning the different components of writing a story including twists and exciting endings. Children are encouraged to add environmental print to their illustrations and will be better equipped to develop multifaceted stories after adding dialogue. |
Teach/Model: 1) Week leading up to the lesson read “Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus!” by Mo Willems. (Or any other Pigeon book available) Discuss the use of only dialogue to tell a story. Ask the class who likes to use the word “no”. Talk about if there are right and wrong times to use the word. Which are which? Talk about why it is ok to say “no” to the Pigeon, what could happen if he drove the bus? 2) Day of lesson: Remind students of the Pigeon books they have been reading this week. Ask if anyone had a particular favorite. Reiterate why is was important to say "no" to the pigeon when he asked for something. 3) Ask children what sorts of things they ask for but are told “no” (i.e.. stay up late, eat candy for dinner, watch TV all day). Make a list on chart-pad. 4) Have students vote on one that most kids agree on, Write “Don't Let the Pigeon _______” on the chart-pad. 5) Ask kids to think of different excuses they say to their parents to try to allow them to do the things they aren't allowed. Write each excuse on a different newsprint. 6) Announce that the children will be writing their very own Pigeon book together using the title they all voted on. Each child will get one page of the book to write and color. Show students the different options of Pigeon they might be assigned (Pre-made pictures of pigeon with empty dialogue bubbles). Ask them to consider the emotion the Pigeon is expressing when thinking of an excuse (Ie...Pigeon looks sad, what is something sad you might say to try to get what you want?). 7) Provide children with a "brainstorm" page. Have them write down the excuses they want the pigeon to say on their book page (think of 2-3). Once they have decided on the best one they may write it in their dialogue bubble and color in their pigeon. 8) When the children have finished their pages put them all together and read the classes Pigeon book. Bind this book to keep in class and make copies for the children to keep at home. |
Active Engagement: 1) Children will work together to develop excuses and Title ideas. |
Link to Independent Work: 1) Children will each develop excuses for their own page that they will write and illustrate. |
Quality Questions: 1) What is an excuse? What kinds of excuses do we use? 2) What kinds of things is it ok to say "no" to? Why do we say "no"? 3) What are things we are told "no" to? 4) How does our emotion change our excuse? |
Share: Have children read their book at home to their parents. |
Materials: 1) Chart-pad & markers 2) Pre-made empty pigeon dialogue pages 3) Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus book, and any others available 4) Binding materials |
Sorry for the wonky formatting. I promise I'll get better at it!
This lesson can be readjusted for any number of requirements. I think if and when I get the chance to do this with pre-k I would do a single big book and teach it completely as a carpet lesson rather than have the children brain storm and work individually. This lesson has a lot of components, but if the children can come away with only an understanding of different emotional vocal responses then I believe it's a job well done! Check back for new lesson plans and as always don't feel shy to share your own!
Teach on!
