Introduce vocabulary: Franklin's New Friend (Bourgeois, 1997)

From FreeReading

Activity Type: Introduce

Activity Form: Standard

Grade: K, 1

Group Size: Small Group, Whole Class

Length: 30 minutes

Materials: Franklin's New Friend, Paulette Bourgeois

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

Items: mumbled, relieved, scowled, unison

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 Franklin's New Friend. 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.

mumbled

• Mumbled means to talk quietly to yourself. What's the word?
• The man mumbled to himself in the library. When you don't want anyone to hear you talking, you might mumble quietly.
• I'm going to name some activities. If you think you might talk quietly to yourself during the activity, say mumble. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?
  • Cheering at a basketball game
  • Petting a tiny kitten
  • Speaking to a person across the room
  • Singing your favorite song
  • Reading to yourself

relieved

• Relieved means to feel happy everything turned out OK. What's the word?
• The mom was relieved when her lost child was found. When you learn you did great on a test, you feel relieved.
• I'm going to tell you some things that happen. If you think you'd be happy that everything turned out OK, say relieved. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?
  • Your favorite toy is returned to you.
  • You have to get a tooth pulled.
  • You drop a glass but it doesn't break.
  • It's raining on your birthday.
  • The sun is shining when you go to the swimming pool.

scowled

• Scowled means to frown and make a mad face. What's the word?
• The baby scowled when his brother took away his favorite blanket. You will scowl if you are unhappy.
• I'm going to name some things. If you think the thing would make you frown and show a mad face, say scowl. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?
  • Ice cream for dessert
  • A surprise present
  • Finding your toy broken in the driveway
  • A kid on the school bus saying mean things
  • A mosquito that keeps trying to bite you

unison

• Unison means together. What's the word?
• The children sang the song in unison. When you and your friend say the same thing at exactly the same time, you speak in unison.
• I'm going to name some things. If you think these things could happen at the same time, say unison. Otherwise, just sit quietly. Ready?
  • Children say their school pledge
  • The trumpets in a band play a song
  • Children take turns speaking in class
  • The teachers all have lunch
  • The sun shines and the rain falls