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Writing a Letter using the book Mole's Hill

Additional Core Ties

English Language Arts Kindergarten
Reading: Literature Standard 3

Time Frame

4 class periods of 30 minutes each

Group Size

Large Groups

Authors

ROBYN JOHNSON
LINDA MINER
MICHELLE RODERICK

Summary

Use the book Mole's Hill by Lois Ehlert to create a interactive letter writing activity with the class and learn about problem and solution. Students will choose a character and write a letter.


Materials

  • Mole's Hill, by Lois Ehlert
  • Chart Paper (three column-chart, letter, etc.)
  • Butcher paper and colored construction paper for art activity (Teacher's Choice)


Background for Teachers

Teacher needs to know the Interactive Writing procedures.


Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • be able to participate in interactive writing of a letter.
  • participate in recognizing problems or conflicts and offer, as well as identify solutions.
  • create a display of their learning.
  • learn the importance of following directions.


Instructional Procedures

DAY 1

BEFORE:
Query- Read the statements and have students discuss whether they are true or false. (The purpose of a Query is to initiate discussion and create background knowledge, not to resolve the true or false issue.)

  1. Friends always get along with each other.
  2. A mole looks like a giraffe.
  3. Everyone likes to be bossed around.
  4. You have to have a shovel to dig a hole.
DURING:
  1. Read the story and identify the problems as they come up. Record them on a three column-chart.
  2. Offer suggestions (student generated) to solve problem and record on the Three Column-Chart.
  3. Record actual solutions on Three Column-Chart.
DAY 2

BEFORE:

  1. Brainstorm and discuss some problems and solutions that students have experienced. (student generated)
  2. Review the chart and discuss problems and solutions from the story.
DURING:
  1. Reread the story.
  2. Discuss the letter that Fox, Skunk and Raccoon wrote to Mole. Why did they write it instead of talking to him? Why would we want to write letters?
  3. Optional: Make a list of reasons to write a letter or note.
DAY 3

WRITING ACTIVITY:

  1. Review the list of reasons to write a letter.
  2. Choose a character from the book to write a letter to.
  3. Prewriting: What do you know about your audience (character)? Why are you writing the letter, or what do you want to say?
  4. Interactive Writing
  5. Independent Writing Activity: students write/draw/label a letter for display.
DAY 4

  1. Reread the story.
  2. Art Activity: make a display of Mole's Hill using colored butcher paper and construction paper for hill and flowers. Students create their own samples of flowers with stencils, pre-cut dies, etc. for the display to go with their writing.
  3. Class creates a tunnel as the final addition, which is the symbol of the solution in the story.


Assessment Plan

  • Teacher observation of student contribution to the charts.
  • Students writing shows knowledge of the letter writing process.
  • Teacher observes that student follow directions during writing and art activities.


Bibliography

Ehlert, Lois; 1994, Mole's Hill, a Woodland Tale. Scholastic.


Created: 08/01/2005
Updated: 02/05/2018
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