#5 Voice: Chester by Melanie Watt

Lesson Focus: Voice

Focus Grade Level: Second Grade

Time Frame: 2 lessons of 30-40 min

Focus Text/Author: Chester by Melanie Watt

Supporting Text for the lesson: Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel

Other Materials: construction paper, markers, chart paper

Ohio Academic Content Standards Lesson Focus:

Standard: Writing Process

K-2 Benchmark: A. Generate ideas for written compositions.

2nd Grade Level Indicators: 1. Generate writing ideas through discussions with others.

Book Summary: Chester is about a cat who takes a story his owner has written about a mouse and changes everything in it by crossing it off and adding his own thoughts. He does this by using a red crayon and  making his own distinguishable marks.

About the Author: Melanie Watt is a children’s book author who likes to write stories about issues that kids face every day. She takes these issues and makes them into cute and interesting stories that appeal to children and help them identify with the character. 

Lesson Steps:

1.       Call students over to carpet and introduce the 6 trait of voice. Tell students that voice also has to do with showing emotion through the way they show their words with font size and writing style. Tell them you are going to read a book to them and ask them to pay attention to the way the author writes and uses font in the book.

2.       After reading Chester by Melanie Watt ask the students to share what they noticed about the font size. If no one offers up the idea about the font changing when Chester the cat spoke, point that out. Tell the students they can add voice to their writing by changing the way the words look and that they are going to do this for a writing project in science.

3.       Tell the students that they are going to make posters to hang around the school encouraging other students to recycle. They need to add voice to their poster by using different font sizes and way they write the words on the poster.

4.       Read the book Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel to help the students generate important ideas about recycling to add to their poster. After reading Michael Recycle ask students to give ideas on why, how, and what to recycle. Record this on chart paper and hang at the front of the room for all to see.

5.       Call the students back to their seats and pass out the construction paper and have them get out their markers. The students will begin working on their posters to encourage students to recycle by adding voice.  Let students work on these during day 2 to complete the project. Hang these around the school when the project is finished.