Sharing The Storymore
Introducing The story
Introduce the title of the chapter, “The Dream.” Ask, “What is a “dream?” Encourage students to each share a dream they have had.
Reading The Story
Read the story aloud, stopping when appropriate to explore illustrations, address comments, clarify, predict and guide students’ understanding of the story and the values of community -kehillah, to Welcome New Friends- Hachnasat Orchim, and Respect- Kavod.
Discussion Questions May Include:
- What did Squid dream about?
- Why did Squid feel ordinary?
- How did his friend Octopus help Squid feel better?
- What would you like to say to Octopus? What would you like to say to
Squid?
After The Story
Boundary Breaking:
The following will give students the opportunity to discover new things things about their classmates, forging relationships and community as they see many similarities among one another and ways in which each is unique.
- Getting to Know You Bingo (Use a site such as print-bingo.com to create a card that will resonate with your community) Distribute Bingo cards to each student that includes various questions and /or accompanying pictures: (e.g. “Who has more than 2 brothers and sisters?” “Who has read the book, Where the Wild Things Are?” Go over each question and then have students move around the room to find students who meet the various criteria. (Each student’s name or initial can only be filled in one time on a card.) The student who fills in the card first (or fills in X amount of spaces or fills in all spaces across, diagonally, or horizontally, etc.) gets the opportunity to introduce each classmate on his/her Bingo card. Allow for all other students to similarly be introduced.
- Whip Around : Involve students in a “Whip Around,” going quickly around the room posing open-ended questions similar to those below that are open ended. Students can “pass,” but let them know you will come back to them later to respond. Add your own open-ended phrases --do one or more each day as time allows. Allow time at the end of each session for students to ask each other questions about their responses in order to learn more about things they are interested in. Be sure that all students are included and are respectful of each other.
Hamburger or Hot Dog?
Horse or Elephant?
Superman or Spiderman?
Park or Beach?
My Favorite Things:
When you are home, what is your favorite thing to do?
When you are with a friend, what is your favorite game to play?
What is your favorite thing to share with friends or family?
Explore, Discover, and More Extension and Reinforcement Activitiesmore
“Throw Back Thursday”:
Octopus listed a lot of things that Squid did that make him special: Have class list these - reread as necessary:
--knitted cozies for Hermit the Crab’s family when they lost their shells.
--organized Tickle Mondays each week
--can play all Octopus’s favorite music--- at the same time
To help build a sense of community, brainstorm ideas of what type of “special day” they would like to have once a week (let them take part in the preparation) such as:
- “Throwback Thursday”- students bring pictures of themselves when they were younger
- Game Day” -certain students are asked to bring in a favorite game that can be played by 2, 3 or 4 people (rotate so that there are a sufficient number of games for small groups of students to play), etc.
- “Share with us Wednesdays” - students bring in something personal or something special that they want to share with the class.
To continue to highlight student individuality and strengthen community, involve students in “Throw Back Thursday” type of activities on a regular basis (it could be on a different day as appropriate to your school)!