NEVADA STATE COLLEGE

TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM

LESSON PLAN FORMAT
Sandra Montgomery & Melissa Waite

Description of Classroom:
2nd grade general education classroom

Background:
Elementary students with varying degrees of reading fluency and comprehension and a wide range of
ethnical backgrounds.

Content Objective(s):
Student will explain the life cycle of a butterfly.

Language Objective(s):
Students will identify how rhyme affects a text by reading a book and a poem.
Students will listen to and respond to oral communication through questioning and discussion.
Students will expand their vocabulary through a shared reading and read-aloud.
Students will demonstrate phonemic awareness in a rhyming activity.

Nevada Standards:
RI.2.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 2 topic or subject
area.
RF.2.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills on decoding words.
L.5.B.2 Students know living things have predictable life cycles.

Key Vocabulary:
Rhyme- have or end with a sound that is similar to another
Predict- to make a guess about the future
Life cycle- series of changes of a living thing(egg, larva or caterpillar, chrysalis and adult butterfly)

Best Practices: (put an X next to those that you address in your lesson)
X
X
X
X
X

Preparation
Adaptation of content
Links to background
Links to past learning
Strategies incorporated
Integration of Processes
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Scaffolding
Modeling
Guided practice
Independent practice
Verbal scaffolds
Procedural scaffolds
Application
Hands-on
Authentic (Meaningful)
Linked to objectives
Promotes engagement

X
X
X
X
X

Grouping Options
Whole Class
Small groups
Partners
Independent
Assessment
Individual
Group
Written
Oral

Teaching Strategies:
Read Aloud
Shared Reading
Use of Whiteboards
Context Reading and Rhyming Strategies

Warm Up Activity:
Class will begin in the reading corner of the classroom. The teacher will introduce the new book
Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood. The teacher will point out the parts of a
book: title, author, artist, cover. (At this point do not open the book, it will ruin the read-aloud).

Lesson Sequence:
Day 1
Read Caterpillar Spring Butterfly Summer as a Read Aloud. Show the students the fun pictures after
reading each page. Before the teacher turns and reads the last page, the teacher will have the students
close their eyes and visualize what they think will happen next. Teacher can give clues to guide them
during the visualization process. After time is given, the teacher will open the last page, where a
butterfly pops out, and then read the page.
Is this picture of the butterfly similar to what you pictured in your mind?
How was it the same?
How was it different?
Now read Caterpillar Spring Butterfly Summer as a 2nd Read Aloud. This time the students will be
instructed to say the last word with the teacher and to pay attention to the sounds of the words at the
end of each sentence or phrase. Make sure that the pictures are shown at the end of each page. (The
pictures are bright, engaging and fun.)
What are some things that you noticed about the ending sounds that we read in each of the sentences?
What is it called when words sound the same?
Lets see if we can come up with some words that rhyme? The teacher will write down a word and say
it, then have the students come up with a word(s) that rhyme with the given word. Then place the
students in groups and have the students play the rhyming spinner matching game.
Instruct the students to get into groups 3-4. They will be directed to a table where there will be a
color-coded spinner with words on it. Also at the table will be a list of words. They will each take
turn spinning the spinner. Whatever word their arrow points to they will have to find a word off of the
list and color it the same color as the word on the spinner. Each person will take turns until all of the
words on the list are color coded.
Day 2
The teacher will gather the students in the reading corner and do a quick review of yesterdays story
and rhyming activity.
The teacher will then engage students in a shared reading by using a poem called caterpillar by
Christina Rossetti. The poem will be written on a poster board with the final word of some of the
lines missing.
The students will read the poem with the teacher pausing where ever there is a blank. The teacher

then has a helper come and point to the words as the class is reading it again. However this
time when the pointer comes to a blank the whole class will pause and each student will be asked to
write down a word which they believe fits in the blank. (A different helper may be called on at the end
of each blank).
The class will discuss some of the choices and choose which word they believe best finishes the line,
the teacher will need to point out that in order to choose the best word for the poem, the word should
rhyme and make sense.
After all of the blanks are filled in the class will once again read the whole poem, inserting the
New words that they came up with.
A discussion will then take place about the book and how it relates to a butterflys life cycle.
View website http://vimeo.com/27816465 as a class, to learn more about the life cycles of butterflies.
Discuss these terms:
egg
larva or caterpillar
chrysalis
adult butterfly
After observing the stages of the life cycle of the butterfly, instruct students to create their own
butterfly life cycle book by putting each stage of development in order and coloring.
Ask students to compare the life cycle of a butterfly with the life cycle of an animal with which they
are familiar: humans, a dog, or cat. How are butterfly life cycles similar to the life cycles of other
animals? How are they different? How many stages are found in the life cycle of a butterfly? a frog? a
bird?

Accommodations:
Accommodations will be allowed in spelling when the students are asked to write down a word that
fits into the blank during the shared reading portion of the lesson. The teacher will assist those
students who need the extra help in spelling the words correctly.

Supplementary Materials:
Caterpillar Spring Butterfly Summer book by Susan Hood
Caterpillar poem by Christina Rossetti poster
Life Cycle of a butterfly booklet (copies for the class)

Review/Assessment:
Informal assessments will take place as the students and the teacher discuss the book and the poem.
Comprehension of the rhyming strategy will be assessed as the students play the spinning rhyme game
and as they fill in the blank spaces during the shared reading.
Understanding of a butterflys life cycle will be assessed when the students hand in their finished life
cycle booklet that they created.

Reflection:
To be determined. We will see how this goes.

The Caterpillar

Brown and furry

Caterpillar in a hurry;
Take your walk
To the shady leaf, or stalk.
May no toad spy you,
May the little birds pass by you;
Spin and die,
To live again a butterfly.
-Christina G.
Rossetti.