Robust Vocabulary Lesson for 3 Little Dassies
by Jan Brett
As always, make adaptations to the words selected to meet the needs of your diverse students.
Authorship Credit: Richard Field- Numa Elementary
Tier 2 Words Selected:
distant adj
abundant adj
pesky adj
bundling n
swooped v
plunked v
Tier 3 Words:
dassies n
Planning for instruction/Resources neededA copy of 3 Little Dassies by Jan Brett
Day 1-Read aloud and discuss 3 Little Dassies. During the reading define the word dassie as an
African rodent, found among rocky outcroppings; sometimes called rock rats. Also define porridge
(cooked oatmeal) and hammock (a piece of cloth hung between two trees or posts for sleeping)
Day 2-Introduce Tier 2 Vocabulary Words using the following steps:
1. Say the word and show the written word on a card or listed on the board.
2. Tell the students the word in the context of the story. “In the story...”
3. Provide a student-friendly definition.
4. Talk about the word in an additional context beyond the one used in the story.
5. Give students opportunities to interact with the word.
distant – In the story it reads: “Mimbi, Pimbi, and Timbi waved good-bye to Mommy, Daddy, aunties,
uncles, and all their cousins and set out for the distant mountain”. Distant means far away in space or
time. Think to yourself for a moment of when you have gone to a distant place. Discuss with your
shoulder partner when you've gone to a distant place.
Opportunity for practice: I will give examples of things or places that are distant, and things or places
that are not distant. If I say something that is distant from our school, say “distant.” If it close to our
school say, nearby.
The ocean
Your house
Across town
The mountains
Your school desk
The city park
abundant – In the story it reads, “There's nothing like a stone house when there are eagles
abundant!” Abundant means there is more than enough of something. At the Thanksgiving table
the food is abundant (opposite of abundant is scarce).
Opportunity for practice: I will give you some examples of abundance. If the example shows an
abundance of something hold your arms out in front you like you are holding a large bowl full of
something.
A farmer's field at harvest
An apple tree loaded with apples
An empty can
A crowded room
A bag of candy after trick-o-treating
pesky –In the story it reads: As for the pesky eagles, they are easily spotted, for their feathers are as
black as soot. Pesky means annoying. If someone is being pesky, they are bothering you.
Opportunity for practice: I will give you examples of being pesky and examples of not being pesky
(opposite of pesky is comfort, soothe, and console). If I say something that is an example of being
pesky, tip your head back and roll your eyes and say "pesky", if the example is not pesky say nothing.
A little brother wanting to play with you when you don't want to play.
Eating an ice cream cone.
A dog barking continuously.
A mother rocking her child.
A fly flying around you.
Mosquitoes biting you.
bundling – In the story it reads: “These grasses will make a lovely cool house,” she said, and she set
to work cutting, twisting, and bundling.” Bundling means packaging together.
When I put a rubber band around a deck of cards, I am bundling the cards together.
Opportunity for practice: I will give examples of bundling and examples of not bundling. If the
example is bundling, hug yourself tightly. If the example is not bundling, then do nothing.
Tying up a stack of newspapers
Grouping pencils with a rubber band around them
Scattering papers across my desk
Laying my playing cards out on a table
Putting my hair in a ponytail
swooped – In the story, as the eagle swooped down, it screeched, “I see you, dassie.” Swooped
means to move suddenly down through the air, especially in order to attack something.
The owl swooped down to get the mouse.
Opportunity for practice: I will give examples of an action of swooping and not swooping, and
opposite of swoop (rise, ascend). If the example means to swoop move your hand and arm in a
downward motion. If the example is not to swoop, make no movement.
a helicopter lifting off the ground
a kite suddenly dropping in the sky
a rocket launching into space
a car driving on a smooth road
the eagle flew down with speed to get the mouse on the ground
plunked – In the story it reads: “Then, just like Mimbi, she felt herself being lifted high in the sky and
plunked down in the eagle's nest.” Plunked means flopped down carelessly. I plunked my homework
down on the table.
Opportunity for practice: I will list some actions of plunking, If the statement means to put
something down noisily say “plunked”
to slam the book down on the desk
carefully place the dishes on the table
to toss my shoes on the floor
to set my magazine on the table
to toss my spoon into the sink
Day 3 – Cut apart the definitions and match to the key vocabulary words.
.
Day 4 – Vocabulary. Vocabulary Log. Depending on your classroom procedures or the skill level of
your students, provide an opportunity for students to record the Tier 2 words in a Vocabulary Log.
The log can include the word, a student friendly definition, and the word used meaningfully in a
sentence.
Day 5 – Informal Assessment.
1. Write down an example of something that distant to our classroom, and something that is not.
Explain why.
2. Use plunked in a sentence that shows you understand its meaning.
3. Draw a picture of something swooping. (Example – bird, kite, etc.) Include a caption using the
vocabulary word.
4. Draw a picture of a bundling of items. Write how they are bundled together.
Extended activity: Using a Venn-Diagram compare the stories of The Three Little Pigs and the 3 Little
Dassies. What do both stories have in common? What is different about each story? With your VennDiagram write a paragraph comparing the two stories, remember to edit your writing for
capitalization, spelling (using the dictionary to check the spelling of the words unknown), and does
each sentence makes sense? Did you write a topic sentence and supporting facts and a conclusion.
Name__________________________________
1. Write down an example of something that distant to our classroom, and something
that is not. Explain why.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Use plunked in a sentence that shows you understand its
meaning._______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. Draw a picture of something swooping. (Example – bird, kite, etc.) Include a
caption using the vocabulary word.
4. Draw a picture of a bundling of items. Write how they are bundled together.
far away, far away in space or time
is available in large quantities so that
there is more than enough
annoying
group bound together, package, dress
warmly
it moves suddenly down through the air,
especially in order to attack something
to put or place something somewhere,
especially in a noisy, sudden, or careless
way
African rodents sometimes called rock
rats.
dassies
distant
bundling
swooped
plunked
abundant
pesky
dassie