Lesson 1: What's in a Name
Questions to Explore
- How do you identify change?
- What causes change?
- Why is change necessary and often helpful?
- What can lead to a positive change? A negative change?
Facts and Definitions
- Names always begin with capital letters.
- The suffix (end of a word) "-less" means "without" (painless, helpless, useless)
- The suffix (end of a word) "-ful" means "full of" (painful, helpful, useful)
- Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on age-appropriate reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies. (LA)
- With guidance and support from adults, demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings. (LA)
- Use frequently occurring affixes as a clue to the meaning of a word. (LA)
- Capitalize dates and names of people. (LA)
- Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses. (LA)
- construction paper (kit)
Discuss that in most stories the characters grow and change. Tell your child that today she is going to listen to a story about a girl who changes. She loves something about herself and then begins to hate the very thing she loved. Ask your child to predict what that might be.
Let your child listen to the story read at the following link. Tell her to pay close attention to the illustrations as the narrator reads.
- How did Chrysanthemum feel about her name before she started school?She loved it and thought it was perfect.
- Why did Chrysanthemum change her mind about her name when she started going to school?The other kids made fun of her name.
- From this story, what can you learn about how your words can affect others?Words can hurt people. Words can make people not feel good about themselves.
- How did Mrs. Twinkle change the students' feelings about Chrysanthemum's name?She tells them she is also named after a flower and that she wants to name her baby Chrysanthemum.