Introduce vocabulary: Cows Can't Fly (Milgrim, 2000)

From FreeReading

Activity Type: Introduce

Activity Form: Standard

Grade: K, 1

Group Size: Small Group, Whole Class

Length: 30 minutes

Materials: Cows Can't Fly, David Milgrim

Goal: Given a word, the student can say its meaning

Items: absurd, raving, unaware

What to do

1. If more than three words are listed below, choose three. (It's tough for students to take in more than three new words in one go.) Write the three words on sentence strips (so they can easily be displayed after the lesson).
2. I'm going to read a new book to you today. It's called Cows Can't Fly. It uses some words you might not know, so I'm going to tell you the words now. Then, when I read the story, I want you to raise your hand when you hear the word. Okay?
3. Tell students the three words and their meanings. Have them repeat the words back to you.
4. Remember, when you hear any of our three words, raise your hand. Ready?
5. Read the story. Praise students who correctly identify the words as you read. Repeat each word's meaning as you encounter it.
6. When you finish reading, go through the three words giving the complete sequence below for each word. You can give the examples/non-examples either to the whole group or to individual students. Feel free to add your own examples and non-examples, particularly if students seem unclear.
7. Optionally, read the story again.
8. Students need to encounter a word multiple times before learning it. So:
   • Try to find opportunities to use the three words during other activities in the next 24 hours.
   • Ask students to use the word themselves and praise them strongly when they do.
   • Be particularly excited about usage in contexts different from that in the book you read, since students often have difficulty dissociating a word and the specific context in which they first came across it.

absurd

• Absurd means really silly. What's the word?
• A pig wearing a dress is an absurd sight. You might laugh when you see something absurd.
• I'm going to describe some animals. If you think the way I describe the animal is really silly, say absurd. Otherwise, just sit quietly. Ready?
  • A horse driving a car
  • A dog using a computer
  • A monkey on a bicycle
  • A mouse eating cheese
  • A giraffe in the zoo

raving

• Raving means to talk in an excited way. What's the word?
• The boy was so excited about his birthday, he was raving about it. You might be raving when you tell your friends about your really fun summer.
• I'm going to name some events. If you think people will talk in an excited way about the event, say raving. Otherwise, keep quiet. Ready?
  • An exciting soccer game
  • A birthday party
  • Bedtime
  • Your favorite movie
  • Bath time

unaware

• Unaware means to not know something is happening. What's the word?
• The student was unaware that she had a math test today. When you don't know what day it is, you are unaware of the day.
• I'm going to name some holidays. If you don't know when it happens, say unaware. Otherwise, just sit quietly. Ready?
  • President's Day
  • The 4th of July
  • Memorial Day
  • Your birthday
  • Thanksgiving