literacy44

everyday strategies to enhance literacy in the classroom

Frisson l’écureuil

Frisson L'ecureuil

by Melanie Watt

Frisson est un peu paranoïaque. Pourquoi risquerait-il de descendre de son arbre? Heureusement qu’il possède une trousse d’urgence! Mais est-ce suffisant?

Strategies/Skills Used

Reading Strategy 1: Access background knowledge.
Reading Strategy 2: Predict what will be learned or what will happen.
Reading Strategy 6: Connect what you read with what you already know.
Reading Strategy 10: Summarize what has been read.

Writing Skill 2: I organize my ideas based on my purpose for writing.
Writing Skill 5: I carefully choose the most effective words to express my ideas.
Writing Skill 8: I re-read, reflect, revise and edit.

PhasePre TEACHING THE ACTIVITY: PRE-READING

PPT(1) Using the strategy Directed Reading/Thinking Activity, show the students the cover of the story Frisson l’écureuil by Melanie Watt and make predictions about the story. 

PhaseDuringTEACHING THE ACTIVITY: DURING READING

(2) Read part of the story and stop after the first page, where Frisson is in his tree and states he does not leave. Ask students:

  • What is happening here?
    • Qu’est-ce qui se passe ici?
  • What will happen next?
    • Qu’est-ce qui va arriver maintenant?
  • Why do you think so?
    • Pourquoi pensez-vous cela?

(3) Continue reading and then stop when Frisson looks through his binoculars and spots a bee. Ask the students the same questions and discuss.

(4) Continue reading and stop again after Frisson dives out of the tree – before you open the flap and reveal he is a flying squirrel. Ask students the same questions and then make a prediction.

PhasePostTEACHING THE ACTIVITY: POST-READING

(5) Use the What’s in a List? process.

(6) Discuss how Frisson uses lists in the story (the things he is scared of, reasons for and against leaving his tree, his daily life, things in his first aid kit, and his evacuation plan).

(7) Make a connection to the students’ own lives and interests, and have them write a list of items they need for their next birthday party. Get students to imagine their birthday and what they see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Encourage them to include things to decorate the space as well and eat. Provide students the chance to orally rehearse their list with a partner before writing. Allow students to share their lists with others once they have completed them.

PhasePost

TEACHING THE ACTIVITY: POST-READING EXTENSION

(8) Use Snatching a Series to engage students with Frisson and imagine themselves as the author Mélanie Watt.