Splat is being a bit of a pest so his mom sends him to the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin. Splat spends some time at the pumpkin patch searching for the perfect pumpkin. He finally finds one but there is just one problem, it won’t fit in his wagon! How will Splat get his perfect pumpkin home?
Your students will enjoy the silly chaos that ensues as Splat gets his pumpkin home.
Use the below information and ideas to help extend the reading experience of Splat the Cat. I have also created a Visualizing FREEBIE (link below) to use if you want your students to practice this.
Reading level: 1.3
Theme/subject: holiday
Genre: holiday
Suggested Vocabulary/phrases: autumn, hay-bale maze
Reading skills and strategies:
- Asking questions - {possible questions before} I wonder what the story is going to be about. I wonder what Splat’s plan is. {possible questions during} I wonder what kind of pumpkin Splat will pick out. I wonder if Splat will be able to stop the pumpkin. {possible questions after} I wonder how they are going to decorate the pumpkin. I wonder if Splat will have to fix the front gate. **Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.
- Author's point of view – Third person. Be sure to find 3 pieces of evidence to support this. (he, they, Splat)
- Author's purpose - entertain {evidence} Animals in the story are talking. Splat the cat is raking leaves and cats don’t rake leaves. Splat the cat is running on top of a pumpkin as it rolls out of control. All these things make for a very silly and entertaining story.
- Beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} Splat’s mom told Splat that he should go to Farmer’s Patch to pick out a pumpkin. {most important event from middle} Splat picked out a perfect pumpkin. {most important event from end} Splat got his pumpkin home.
- Cause and effect – Why did leaves go flying everywhere? Because splat jumped in the pile of leaves they just raked. Why did mom send Splat to the pumpkin patch? Because he was making a mess of the pile of leaves. Why did Splat love Farmer Patch’s pumpkin patch? Because there was so much to do and see. Why did Splat’s tail wiggle wildly with worry? Because he was afraid he would never find a perfect pumpkin. Why was getting Splat’s pumpkin home going to be a problem? Because it would not fit in his wagon. Why did Splat yell for help? Because he couldn’t get the runaway pumpkin to stop.
- Character analysis - describe Splat {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
- Compare & contrast – compare and contrast your pumpkin to Splat’s pumpkin.
- Connections - {possible text-to-self connections} Raking leaves. Jumping in a pile of leaves. Going to a pumpkin patch. Going in a hay-bale maze. Picking out a perfect pumpkin. {possible text-to-text connections} The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis. Both books have a pumpkin that runs away through town.
- Drawing conclusions & inferencing – Why does Splat’s mom send him to Farmer Patch’s pumpkin patch? {text clues} Splat and his mom are raking leaves and Splat jumps in the middle of the leaves and makes a mess. {what I know} I know that when I am getting in someone’s way they always send me away or give me something else to do. {my conclusion} I think Splat’s mom sent him to the pumpkin patch because he was getting in the way of cleaning up the leaves.
- Fact & opinion – {fact} Splat helped his mom rake leaves. Splat jumped in the pile of leaves. Splat got lost in a hay-bale maze. Splat found the perfect pumpkin. Splat’s pumpkin wouldn’t fit in his wagon. {opinion} Splat was being a pest. Scarecrows are scary. Apple-and-fish cider is delicious. Small pumpkins are the best kinds of pumpkins.
- Main idea & details - {main idea} The story is mostly about Splat at Farmer Patch’s Pumpkin Patch. {details} Splat got lost in a hay-bale maze. Splat saw a scary scarecrow. Splat found the perfect pumpkin.
- Plot - the turning point or climax in the story was when Splat found the perfect pumpkin.
- Predict – What do you think the story is going to be about? What do you think Splat’s great idea was? Do you think Splat will find the most perfect pumpkin? What do you think Splat will do at Farmer Patch’s Pumpkin Patch? How do you think Splat will get his pumpkin home? Do you think Splat’s mom will be mad at him for breaking down the gate?
- Problem & solution - {problem} The problem in the story is that Splat is having a hard time finding a perfect pumpkin. {solution} Splat keeps looking until he finds the perfect pumpkin.
- Sequencing – Splat helps his mom rake leaves. Splat jumps in the pile of leaves. Splats mom sends him to the pumpkin patch. Splat looks for a perfect pumpkin. Splat finds a perfect pumpkin. Splat’s pumpkin rolls all the way home.
- Story elements - list title, author, characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
- Strong thought – Splat picks out the perfect pumpkin but it won’t fit into his wagon. What would you say to him about his choice?
- Summarize - {someone}Splat {wanted} wanted to pick out the perfect pumpkin {but} but he was having a hard time finding one {so} so he kept looking {then} then he {finally} finally found the perfect one.
- Visualize – Splat knew the exact kind of pumpkin that he wanted to get. Visualize what your pumpkin would look like.
IT'S FREE!!
Enjoy!
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