Introduce vocabulary: Franklin Goes to the Hospital (Bourgeois, 2000)

From FreeReading

Activity Type: Introduce

Activity Form: Standard

Grade: K, 1

Group Size: Small Group, Whole Class

Length: 30 minutes

Materials: Franklin Goes to the Hospital, Paulette Bourgeois

Goal: Given a word, the student can say its meaning

Items: clutched, equipment, numb, prodded, unfamiliar

What to do

1. If more than three words are listed below, choose three. (It's tough for students to take in more than three new words in one go.) Write the three words on sentence strips (so they can easily be displayed after the lesson).
2. I'm going to read a new book to you today. It's called Franklin Goes to the Hospital. It uses some words you might not know, so I'm going to tell you the words now. Then, when I read the story, I want you to raise your hand when you hear the word. Okay?
3. Tell students the three words and their meanings. Have them repeat the words back to you.
4. Remember, when you hear any of our three words, raise your hand. Ready?
5. Read the story. Praise students who correctly identify the words as you read. Repeat each word's meaning as you encounter it.
6. When you finish reading, go through the three words giving the complete sequence below for each word. You can give the examples/non-examples either to the whole group or to individual students. Feel free to add your own examples and non-examples, particularly if students seem unclear.
7. Optionally, read the story again.
8. Students need to encounter a word multiple times before learning it. So:
   • Try to find opportunities to use the three words during other activities in the next 24 hours.
   • Ask students to use the word themselves and praise them strongly when they do.
   • Be particularly excited about usage in contexts different from that in the book you read, since students often have difficulty dissociating a word and the specific context in which they first came across it.

clutched

• Clutched means to hold something tightly. What's the word?
• The little girl clutched her favorite doll so she wouldn't drop it. When you go on a ride at the carnival, you clutch the handles so you won't fall out.
• I'm going to name some items. If you think a baby could hold on tightly to the item, say clutch. Otherwise, just stay quiet. Ready?
  • A rattle
  • A bottle
  • A spaceship
  • Her sock
  • A zoo

equipment

• Equipment means tools. What's the word?
• The doctor has special equipment in his office. To go to school, you need equipment like pencils, paper, and a backpack.
• I'm going to name some items. If you think a fisherman needs the item to do his job, say equipment. Otherwise, just stay quiet. Ready?
  • A toaster
  • A hook
  • A television
  • A boat
  • A net

numb

• Numb means with no feeling. What's the word?
• I sat on my foot and it became numb. When you go to the dentist, he puts medicine in your mouth to make it numb so it won't hurt.
• I'm going to name some things. If you think the thing would lose its feeling, say numb. Otherwise, just stay quiet. Ready?
  • The sidewalk
  • Your toes
  • A chair
  • Your fingers
  • The carpet

prodded

• Prodded means to push or poke someone gently. What's the word?
• The woman had to be prodded to speak in front of a crowd. If you are very tired, you might need to be prodded to get out of bed.
• I'm going to name some activities. If you think you'd have to be pushed to do the activity, say prodded. Otherwise, keep quiet. Ready?
  • Jump out of an airplane.
  • Go to the circus.
  • Dive off the high board.
  • Build a snowman.
  • Learn to ski.

unfamiliar

• Unfamiliar means something you don't know or have never seen before. What's the word?
• The small child was unfamiliar with her new school. A movie you've never seen before is unfamiliar to you.
• I'm going to name some people. If the person is someone you don't know, say unfamiliar. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?
  • Mom
  • Teacher
  • Best friend
  • A lady who works in the mall
  • A stranger walking his dog