Introduce Vocabulary: Charlie Parker Played Be Bop (Raschka)

From FreeReading

What to Do

Prepare

Select three Tier Two vocabulary words to teach your students. A list of suggested words appears below. Write the vocabulary words on the board or on chart paper.

Model/Instruct

1. Introduce the story.

Today we are going to read a story entitled Charlie Parker Played Be Bop.

2. Introduce the three vocabulary words you have chosen.

Before we read the story, I want to introduce some new words that we will come across. Please repeat each word after I say it.

3. Read the story.

Let’s read the story. Make sure to listen for today’s vocabulary words and to think about how they are used in the story. If you hear a vocabulary word while I am reading, raise your hand.

4. Define key vocabulary words. See definitions below.

Let’s think about our vocabulary words. The word ______________ means ____________. Does anyone remember how this word was used in the text?

Call on students to answer the question. Then refer to the text to show how the word was used in context. Repeat this process for each vocabulary word.

Practice

Now let’s practice what we’ve learned.

alone

Alone means being all by yourself. What’s the word?

Sometimes it’s nice to be alone instead of in a big crowd. Do you like to be alone for a little while after school?

I’m going to name some activities. If you do the activity with no one else around, say alone. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Watching a parade
• Eating in a restaurant
• Playing at recess
• Reading during quiet time
• Sleeping

barbecue

Barbecue means to cook food on a grill outdoors. What’s the word?

Almost every kind of food tastes better when it’s barbecued. Do you know how to barbecue hamburgers?

I’m going to name foods. If you think the food could be cooked on a grill outdoors, say barbecue. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Spaghetti
• Cold cereal with milk
• Oatmeal
• Steak
• Chicken

be bop

Be bop is a lively and fast type of music. What’s the word?

Dancing to be bop takes a lot of energy. If you learn to play be bop, people will love to listen to your music.

I’m going to name some places. If you think it’s okay to play lively and fast music in the place, say be bop. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• At a dance for kids
• In a hospital
• Math class
• At the skating rink
• In exercise class

saxophone

Saxophone means a large brass instrument that people play music on. What’s the word?

Learning to play the saxophone takes a lot of practice. You have to be able to blow out a lot of air when playing the saxophone.

I’m going to name some things. If you think you need the thing to play music on a big brass instrument, say saxophone. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Fingers
• A mouth
• Blue eyes
• Black hair
• Lungs

trombone

Trombone means a large brass instrument with a booming sound and a sliding tube. What’s the word?

The big brass trombone led the band in the parade. Since a trombone is big and heavy, you’d have to be strong to play it.

I’m going to name some places. If you think you might see someone playing a large brass horn with a booming sound in the place, say trombone. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• In the music room
• In a parade
• Playing the national anthem at a baseball game
• In the closet
• In the principal’s office

Adjust

For Advanced Students:

If time permits, have students create more examples for the vocabulary words.

For Struggling Students:

If time permits, have students record the words on a Vocabulary Discovery Chart or in a Word Journal.

For ELL Students:

In order to help ELL students learn the words, it may be helpful to use realia and/or to teach cognates.

Related activities

• All Vocabulary Activities