2nd Grade - Act. 08: My Rotten, Red-Headed, Brother

Summary

While reading Patricia Polacco's "My Rotten, Red-Headed, Older Brother" story students will discuss family relationships.

Materials

• My Rotten, Red- Headed, Older Brother by Patricia Polacco.
• chart paper with the "Before" and "After" organizer

Background for Teachers

Using a graphic organizer, students will be describing the type of relationship between a brother and a sister. Evidence will be collected and then compared as the story unfolds. Questions need to prompt students to consider changes in relationship and how the brother treats the sister in the beginning compared to the end. Connections need to be made with their personal lives and relationships.

Intended Learning Outcomes

5. Understand and use basic concepts and skills.

Instructional Procedures

Invitation to Learn
How many of you have an older brother or sister? Do they always treat you like they should?

Instructional Procedures

1. Begin reading My Rotten, Red-Headed, Older Brother.
2. As you work through the pages of the book, write down thoughts about the kind of relationship there is between the brother and sister in the “Before” section.
3. Read up to the point when the sister faints from being so dizzy.
4. Prompt students to now look for how the brother treats his sister and see if there is any change.
5. Write down thoughts about the kind of relationship there is now between the brother and sister in the “After” section.

Extensions

Possible Extensions/Adaptations
Complete a journal activity describing a member of family. Instead of rotten, red-headed, older brother, describe a member of your own family with three different adjectives.

Family Connections
Talk about a time when a family member helped you or another member of the family.

Assessment Plan

Are students able to recognize characteristics of the older brother based on what he says or does? Are they able to pull out important things that happen in the story?