Unit: Stellaluna Lesson Type: Vocabulary and Syntax
Vocabulary and Syntax Lesson: Stellaluna
Reading Comprehension Unit: Stellaluna
Lesson Grade Level: 1st /2nd
Common Core Standards Met: TBD
Learning Goal: Students will learn and demonstrate understanding of select vocabulary from
Stellaluna. Students will demonstrate understanding of syntax using select vocabulary from
Stellaluna.
Materials Provided:
1. Detailed lesson plan
2. Independent student worksheet
Materials Not Provided:
Stellaluna
Vocabulary Word 1: anxious
Step One: Introduce the word in context
a. Teacher writes this sentence from Stellaluna on the board: “The three anxious birds went
home without her.” Teacher underlines the word “anxious.”
b. Teacher says: “In Stellaluna we read the sentence: ‘The three anxious birds went home
without her.’”
c. Teacher writes the word on the board broken into syllables: “anx · ious”
d. Teacher says: “This word is anxious. What is the word?” [All students reply together out
loud: “anxious.”]
Step Two: Provide a child-friendly definition
a. Teacher says: “Anxious means worried or upset. Anxious can also mean to feel excited or
nervous about something that’s going to happen.”
b. Teacher says: “In the book, the birds were anxious, or worried, when they couldn’t find
Stellaluna. It was getting dark and they were worried about her getting home safely.”
c. Teacher says: “What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “anxious.”]
Step Three: Practice the word
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Unit: Stellaluna Lesson Type: Vocabulary and Syntax
Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the first
sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary
word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish reading the sentence
out loud to your students.
1.
a. My parents became very anxious when they missed their flight.
b. When the sky became dark on parade day, the mayor was anxious that it might rain.
c. Marissa could not figure out how to do her homework and she grew more and more
anxious because it was due the next day.
d. The birthday girl was anxious for her birthday cake to arrive.
e. Diego was expecting a letter so he was anxious for the mailman to arrive.
Step Four: Check for student understanding
This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice.
2. Which of these two people looks anxious?
3. How might an anxious person act? Explain.
Suggested answer: An anxious person might be very quiet because they are too worried to
say anything, or they might talk a lot because they can’t stop thinking about what is coming.
4. Rearrange the words into a complete sentence with correct punctuation and capitalization:
worry anxious people
Suggested answer: Anxious people worry.
5. Complete the given sentences using because and so.
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Unit: Stellaluna Lesson Type: Vocabulary and Syntax
Sally felt anxious at the zoo…
Suggested answers:
Sally felt anxious at the zoo because she was afraid of animals.
Sally felt anxious at the zoo so she left.
Note to Teacher: You may want to introduce the following question type with an example.
6. EXAMPLE: Combine the sentences A and B below into one sentence using the word
because.
A. The sun is hot.
B. I went to the pool.
Answer: I went to the pool because the sun is hot.
Combine the sentences C and D below into one sentence using the word but.
C. He went to work.
D. The man was anxious.
Suggested answer: The man was anxious but he went to work.
7. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
The boy in the dentist’s office was anxious.
Who? the boy
(was) What? anxious
Where? in the dentist’s office
Vocabulary Word 2: swoop
Step One: Introduce the word in context
a. Teacher writes this sentence from Stellaluna on the board: “On silent wings the powerful
bird swooped down upon the bats.” Teacher underlines the word “swooped.”
b. Teacher says: “In Stellaluna we read the sentence: ‘On silent wings the powerful bird
swooped down upon the bats.’”
c. Teacher writes the word on the board broken into syllables: “swoop”
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Unit: Stellaluna Lesson Type: Vocabulary and Syntax
d. Teacher says: “This word is swoop. What is the word?” [All students reply together out
loud: “swoop.”]
Step Two: Provide a child-friendly definition
a. Teacher says: “Swoop means to move down or in to a place quickly.
b. Teacher says: “In the story Stellaluna swooped around in the air grabbing the birds when
they couldn’t fly in the dark.”
c. Teacher says: “What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “swoop.”]
Step Three: Practice the word
Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the first
sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary
word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish reading the sentence
out loud to your students.
8.
a. The passengers on the plane were scared when the plane started to suddenly swoop
down.
b. The eagle circled in the air before it suddenly swooped down to attack the rabbit.
c. The police officers swooped in quickly so that they could capture the criminals.
d. The dog came swooping down from the stairs to catch the passing ball.
e. The girl swooped down quickly on the cookie jar and took a cookie before her mom saw
her.
Step Four: Check for student understanding
This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice.
9. Which of these two pictures shows an animal swooping?
10. If an eagle swooped down to get something would it move quickly or slowly? Why?
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Unit: Stellaluna Lesson Type: Vocabulary and Syntax
Suggested answer: If an eagle swooped down to get something it would move quickly so that
the thing it is after does not get away.
11. Rearrange the words into a complete sentence with correct punctuation and capitalization:
swooping the fast moved airplane
Suggested answer: The swooping airplane moved fast.
12. Complete the given sentences using but and so.
The hungry bird swooped down…
Suggested answers:
The hungry bird swooped down but could not catch the mouse.
The hungry bird swooped down so it could catch dinner.
13. Combine sentences A and B below into one sentence using the word because
A. The cat swooped in.
B. The mice ran into the hole.
Suggested answer: The mice ran into the hole because the cat swooped in.
14. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
From high in the sky, the eagle swooped down to begin its hunt.
What? the eagle
(did) What? swooped down
Where? from high in the sky
Why? to begin its hunt
Suggested Additional Vocabulary: sultry, clambered, gripping
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.