The Halloween Play by Felicia Bond - Teaching Ideas

This is a sweet little story about Roger and his class play. Roger has a small but very important part in this play and the whole town will be there to see it. The author keeps the reader wondering what Rogers small but very important part is. Your students will smile when they finally find out what Rogers part in the play is.

If you have this book here is some information that may help you create a fun lesson for your students.

Reading level: 1.6

Theme: Halloween, school

Genre: fiction

Suggested Vocabulary: honor, leaped, twirled, modest

Reading skills and strategies:

• asking questions - {possible questions before} I wonder what the play is going to be about? I wonder who is standing on the pumpkin? {possible questions during} I wonder what Roger's part is going to be? {possible questions after}I wonder what Roger meant when he said he didn't need a picture? **Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.
• author's point of view - 3rd person. Find 3 pieces of text evidence to prove this.
• author's purpose -  entertain {evidence} Mice don't go to school. Mice can't sing and dance and mice don't put on plays. All these things make for a very entertaining story.
• beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} Roger's class was practicing for a play. {most important event from middle} All the mice were singing and dancing in the play. {most important event from end} Roger came on stage in his costume and all the mice danced around him.
• cause and effect - Why was Roger's class putting on a play? because it was almost Halloween. Why did the class practice over and over again? because they wanted to get everything right. Why did the class make invitations? because they wanted to invite everyone from all over town. Why did the audience laugh? because the play was funny. Why was Roger listening closely from behind the curtain? because he was waiting for his part to come up. Why did the audience applaud loudly? because the Halloween pumpkin came out on stage.
• characterization - describe Roger {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
• connections - {possible text-to-self connections} Having your class put on a play. Singing and dancing in your classroom. Having the lead role in a play. Feeling good about something you did.
• drawing conclusions & inferencing - How do you think Roger felt after the play? {text clues} Everyone applauded when he came out on stage. I see that Roger is smiling as he is laying in bed. {what I know} If people clap for me I usually feel very happy. {my conclusion} I think Roger felt very happy after the play.
• main idea & details - {main idea}Roger's class is putting on a class play for Halloween. {details} The class is practicing their singing and dancing. The class sends out invitations. The auditorium is filled. Everyone applauds at the end and the class takes a bow.
• plot - the turning point or climax in the story when Roger comes out on cue.
• predict - What do you think the story is going to be about? What do you think Roger's part is? Do you think the audience will like the play?
• sequencing - It is three days before Halloween. The class is practicing for the play. The class sends out invitations. The auditorium is filled. The class is singing and dancing on stage. Roger comes out on cue. The audience applauds. Roger's dad takes his picture.
• story elements - list title, author, character's, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.

Here is a fun sequencing freebie for you to share with your students.

Happy Reading!