Lesson Plan

Lesson Title	“The Big Orange Splot”
Target Audience	1^st Grade
Program Length	45 minutes
Primary Discipline	Reading
Secondary Disciplines	Delete all secondary disciplines NOT included; Social Studies, Writing, Reading, Vocation, Other
State Indicators	Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities standard: Show why it is important to have fair play, good sportsmanship, respect for the rights and opinions of others and to treat others the way you want to be treated. Reading Applications standard: Identify characters and setting (time, location) in a story Writing Applications standard: Write a response to a story to show a feeling or view about what has been read.
Project Description	Come to the street where Mr. Plumbean lives. All of the houses are exactly alike and the people like it that way. Hear the story of “The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater as something mysterious happens to the neighborhood. One by one each person talks to Mr. Plumbean and goes about changing their house to look like all their dreams. The story stresses the importance of communication with a message of affirmation. We will read this entertaining book that reflects on positive reasons for communication and celebrating differences. Following a discussion period, each student will be given the opportunity to create their own home that reflects their dreams of who they are and what they would like to become.
Student Activity	Each student will create a drawing of a house that reflects who they might wish to be when they grow up. The house may also reflect activities they enjoy participating in such as sports, hobbies etc. The individual houses will be cut out and assembled onto a prepared base of bulletin board paper where room has been left to create additional details around the houses. Students will be led in a discussion about what changes they observed in the behavior and demeanor of the people in the story as the book progresses. We will also discuss how and why the appearances of the houses change and compare them with the versions created by the students. Students will write down their ideas of why the people began to finally communicate with one another and to show their individuality.
Assessment	Monitor student participation in creating their own drawing of a home that reflects their dreams, future vocation, activities that they participate in. Monitor individual student participation as they work cooperatively to create a class mural of their own version of Mr. Plumbean’s street. Assess writing skills and the ability to communicate how the atmosphere and visual aspect of the street changed as the story progressed in a final writing assignment.
Materials	White drawing paper, 12”x18” or 9”x12” Crayons or markers scissors glue bulletin board paper long enough to glue the houses on to and leave room for a added details students can draw in later i.e.: yards, parks, street, cars etc.
Name	Colette Buck
School	Longfellow Middle School
District	Lorain City Schools
Email	cbuck@lorainschools.org
School Phone	(440) 288-1002