Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell - Teaching Ideas

 
Molly Lou was a lot of things: short, buck toothed, bullfroggie sounding and clumsy, but none of these things stopped her from standing tall, singing loudly and believing in herself. Her grandma taught her that. So when Molly Lou had to start a new school and Ronald Durkin made fun of her, she didn't let him get her down. She showed him that just because she was different she could do some amazing things. She not only ran past Ronald on the football field to score the winning touch down but she balanced pennies on her buck teeth and cut out a beautiful paper snowflake. All these things made mean ole' Ronald Durkin double think how he treated Molly Lou Melon.

This is a great character lesson book with so many wonderful teaching opportunities, not only for character lessons but reading lessons as well. Listed below are reading skills and strategies that work great with this book.

I also created a character analysis FREEBIE to use after reading this book to your kiddos.

Reading level: 3.1

Theme/subject: bullying, confronting fears, school, pride & self esteem

Genre: Realistic fiction

Suggested Vocabulary/phrases: buck teeth, fumble fingered, shrimpo, foolish, glee, revealed

Reading skills and strategies:

• Asking questions - {possible questions before} I wonder why Molly Lou Melon must stand tall. I wonder how big Molly Lou Melon really is.  {possible questions during} I wonder why Molly Lou had to move. I wonder how Molly Lou will be treated at her new school. I wonder why Ronald Durkin is being so mean to Molly Lou. {possible questions after} I wonder if Ronald Durkin will bully anyone else.  **Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.
• Author's point of view – Third. Be sure to find 3 pieces of evidence to support this (she, her).
• Author's purpose – entertain/inform {evidence} the illustrations are pretty silly. The author writes about a bully and how Molly Lou handles it. Molly Lou learns a lesson. All these things make an entertaining story that also helps you to learn about bullies and being yourself.
• Beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} Molly Lou’s grandma told her to always be herself. {most important event from middle}Molly Lou moved to a new school and was teased by a bully. {most important event from end} Ronald Durkin brought Molly Lou a penny.
• Cause and effect – Why did Molly Lou’s grandma tell her to “walk as proudly as you can and the world will look up to you”? Because Molly Lou was the shortest girl in first grade. Why did Molly Lou’s grandma tell her “Smile big and the world will smile right alongside you”? Because Molly Lou had buck teeth that stuck out really far. Why did Molly Lou’s grandma tell her “Sing out clear and strong, and the world will cry tears of joy”? Because she had a voice that sounded like a bullfrog being squeezed by a boa constrictor. Why did Molly Lou’s grandma tell her “Believe in yourself and the world will believe in you too”? Because Molly Lou was a little bit of a klutz. Why did the kids at her new school think she was good at football? Because she caught the football and scored a touchdown. How come Ronald Durkin had to go to the nurse? Because he somersaulted backwards and hit his head. How come Ronald Durkin brought Molly Lou a penny? Because he was sorry for teasing her.
• Character analysis - describe Molly Lou Melon. Describe Ronald Durkin {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
• Classify & categorize – Classify things about you: categorize how you look and things you can do.
• Compare & contrast – You and Molly Lou Melon. Any other character that is bullied because of what he or she looks like.  
• Connections - {possible text-to-self connections} Feeling different. Being short. Being clumsy. Starting a new school. Feeling proud of who you are and what you can do.  {possible text-to-text connections} Any book with bullies and starting a new school.
• Drawing conclusions & inferencing – Why do you think Ronald Durkin gave Molly Lou a penny? {text clues} Molly Lou could do some amazing things and every time she did Ronald felt foolish. {what I know} It is hard to tease someone that can do amazing things. I know that sometimes you give someone a little gift as an apology. {my conclusion} I think Ronald gave Molly Lou a penny because it was his way of apologizing to her.
• Main idea & details - {main idea} the story is mostly about Molly Lou Melon and showing that her faults are the best things about her. {details} Molly Lou could balance pennies on her buck teeth. Molly Lou could score a touchdown when playing football by running under everyone’s legs. Molly Lou made all the kids smile when she sang.
• Plot - the turning point or climax in the story was when Molly Lou scored a touchdown and Ronald felt foolish.
• Problem & solution - {problem} Ronald Durkin teased Molly Lou. {solution} Molly Lou showed Ronald and all the other kids that she could do some amazing things.
• Sequencing – Molly Lou’s grandma told her to always stand tall. Molly Lou’s grandma told her to always smile big. Molly Lou’s grandma told her to always sing out loud and clear. Molly Lou’s grandma told her to always believe in yourself. Molly Lou had to move. Molly Lou started a new school. Ronald Durkin teased Molly Lou about being small. Molly Lou scored a touchdown. Ronald Durkin called Molly Lou “Bucky Beaver”. Molly Lou balanced pennies on her teeth. Ronald Durkin made fun of Molly Lou’s voice. Molly Lou sings and all the kids smile. Molly Lou cuts out a beautiful snowflake. Ronald Durkin gave Molly Lou a penny.
• Story elements - list title, author, characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
• Strong thought – Molly Lou Melon’s grandma gave her some great advice about accepting who she was. What is some other advice you have heard that could help Molly Lou or anyone else being bullied?
• Theme – Be the best person you can be. Believe in yourself. Be proud of who you are.
• Visualize – Molly Lou showed Ronald Durkin and the other kids that the things that Ronald teased her about are all the things that made her special. Pick something unique about you and visualize how it makes you special.

IT'S FREE!!

 Happy planning!

6

The Biggest, Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler - Teaching Ideas

Poor Little Nell is continually told that she is too small to help with anything and when her animal friends ask her to show them how to build a snowman she says she can't because she is too small. The animals believed that she was not too small and finally convinced her that she really could show them how to build the snowman. Together, Little Nell and her animal friends built the biggest, best snowman, but when Little Nell got home and told her family about the snowman, they didn't believe her. Poor Little Nell had to take her family to see the snowman so they could once and for all see that she was not too small to do things. Little Nell's mama and sisters were so surprise at the sight of the snowman their mouths dropped open. After seeing the snowman, both her mama and one of her sisters agreed that she was not too small to help. Little Nell was now very happy.

This is a great story with a great lesson for all those kiddos that think they are too small to do something.

Listed below are skills and strategies that you could use to help create a very meaningful lesson.

I have created an entire skills and strategies packet to go with this book, there was just too much wonderful teaching potential not to.

Reading level: 2.8

Theme/Subject: humorous fiction

Genre: family, friendship, pride/self-esteem

Suggested vocabulary and phrases: blustery voices, patted, matted and batted the snow, nudged, gazed

Reading skills and strategies:

• Asking questions - {possible questions before} I wonder what the story is about. Did she make that snowman by herself?  {possible questions during} Why does everyone think she is too small to help? Why do her sisters and her mama make her feel so bad? {possible questions after} I wonder if Big Lizzie will change her mind. **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.
• Author’s purpose – Entertain {evidence} The illustrator drew Big Mama and the sisters to look pretty silly. Animals cannot really talk. Little Nell built a huge snowman. All these things make an entertaining story.
• Beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} Little Nell was told she was too little to help. {most important event from middle} Little Nell builds a snowman with the help of her animal friends. {most important event from end} Mama and Big Sarah told Little Nell that she was not too small.
• cause and effect – Why wouldn’t Big Mama, Big Lizzie, and Big Sarah let Little Nell help? Because they thought she was too small to help. Why is Little Nell so sad? Because her family won’t let her help. Why does Little Nell think she can’t build a snowman? Because her family always tells her she is too small to do things. Why did Little Nell call the birds? So they could put the face on the snowman. Why did Little Nell say goodbye to her animal friends? Because it was time for lunch. Why did Little Nell have to bring Big Mama and her sisters to the snowman? Because they didn’t believe that she could build a snowman. Why did Big Mama and her sisters mouths drop open? Because they couldn’t believe what they saw. Why did Big Lizzie stick her nose up into the air? Because she still didn’t think Little Nell was big enough to do anything.
• character analysis - describe Little Nell, Big Mama, Big Sarah, Big Lizzie {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
• Character changes – In the beginning Little Nell was sad and believed that she couldn’t do anything because she was too small. At the end of the story Little Nell was happy and confident because she built a snowman and her mama and sister said that she could now help out at home.
• Classify & categorize – Things adults should do and things children should do.
• Compare & contrast – this book to the book The Littlest Pilgrim by Brandi Dougherty. Compare and contrast your mom to Big Mama.
• Connections - {possible text-to-self connections} Being too small to help. Building a snowman. Wanting to help but not being able to. Surprising your family with something you did. {possible text-to-text connections} Connect to The Littlest Pilgrim by Brandi Dougherty – both books have a main character that is told they are too small to help.
• Drawing conclusions & inferencing – Why do you think Big Lizzie still thinks Little Nell is too small to help? {text clues} Big Lizzie does not look impressed with Little Nell’s snowman. {my conclusion} I think Big Lizzie still doesn’t believe that Little Nell made that snowman without help, so she thinks she is still too small to help at home.
• Fact & opinion – about The Biggest Best Snowman. {facts} Big Mama, Big Sarah, and Big Lizzie tell Little Nell that she is too small to help. Little Nell takes her mama and sisters to see the snowman Little Nell showed her animal friends how to build a snowman. The birds put the face on the snowman. {Opinions} Little Nell is too small to help. Little Nell’s mama and sisters are mean. Little Nell’s mama and sisters look funny. The snowman should really be wearing a hat.
• Main idea & details - {main idea} Little Nell builds a big snowman. {details} Little Nell’s animal friends helped make the snowman. Little Nell calls the birds to help put on the snowman's face. Big Mama was happy to see the snowman Little Nell made.
• Plot - the turning point or climax in the story is when Little Nell brings Big Mama, Big Sarah, and Big Lizzie out to see the snowman.
• Predict – What do you think the story will be about? Do you think Big Mama will ever let Little Nell help? Will Little Nell show her animal friends how to build a snowman? What do you think Big Mama’s reaction will be when she sees the snowman? What will Big Lizzie and Big Sarah’s reaction be to the snowman? Will Big Mama let her help now? Will Big Lizzie ever change her mind?
• Problem & solution - {problem} Little Nell is sad and thinks that she can’t do anything. {solution} Little Nell’s animal friends talk her into showing them how to build a snowman.
• Sequencing – Big Mama and her sisters won’t let Little Nell help with anything at home because she is too small. Little Nell builds a huge snowman with her animal friends. Little Nell calls the birds to put the face on the snowman. Little Nell goes home for lunch. She tells Big Mama and her sisters about her snowman. They don’t believe her. Little Nell takes her mama and sister out to see the snowman. They are very surprised to see the snowman. Big Mama and Big Sarah tell Little Nell that she can now help at home. Big Lizzie still thinks Little Nell is too small.
• Story elements - list title, author, characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
• Strong thought – Little Nell had all the animals help her build that snowman, so she really did not do it by herself. Big Lizzie still thinks Little Nell is too small to help. Do you think Little Nell is big enough to help out at home, even though she had a lot of help making the snowman?
• Summarize - {someone} Little Nell {wanted} wanted to help at home {but} but her mama and sisters wouldn’t let her {so} so her animal friends helped her make a huge snowman. {then} When Little Nell brought her family out to see the snowman they {finally} finally agreed that she was big enough to now help.
• Theme – You are never too small to help. You can accomplish anything with help from your friends. Not giving someone a chance can hurt their feelings.
• Visualize – Visualize yourself making a snowman, what would it look like?

 Included in the packet:
Directions and Common Core Standards for each skill and strategy. Plus ideas for extending some of the activities.
* Asking Questions - 2 pages
* Author's Point of View - 2 pages
* Beginning, Middle, End - 5 pages
* Cause and Effect - 8 pages and 1 key
* Character Analysis - 2 pages
* Character Change - 1 page
* Classify and Categorize - 5 pages
* Compare and Contrast - 3 pages
* Text-to-Self Connections - 3 pages
* Text-to-Text Connections - 2 pages
* Drawing Conclusions/Inferencing - 6 pages
* Fact and Opinion - 2 pages
* Main Idea and Details - 6 pages
* Making Predictions - 3 pages
* Problem/Solution - 5 pages
* Sequencing - 8 pages plus 2 keys
* Plot - 2 pages
* Summarize - 1 page
* Story Map - 3 pages
* Strong Thought - 3 pages
* Theme - 1 page
* Visualize - 3 pages

 Happy reading!

0