List and Pattern Books
About the Unit:
· 3 week unit
· Immersing students in list books by reading a variety of them
· Students produce many lists books in a short time period
· Paper choice—1/2 size paper in booklets of 6-8 pages with the
invitation to add more pages
· Find texts to support the different kinds of lists you want them to
write
· Mechanics lessons include: periods, capital letters, word wall use--easily done in this unit because the sentence structure is short
· More complex list book structures can be introduced in the second
week and paper choice can change to add more lines
· Adding an opinion to a pattern book can come near the end of the unit
Goals:
· Children learn that each page of a list book is part of a list
· Understand that lists do not need to be in order
· The last page of a list book can, sum up the list, have a twist/change in
pattern, or surprise ending
List Books
The Party
Going to School
In the Mirror
I am eyes Ni Macho
This Quiet Lady
My Friend John
Sunday
I Can Read
Just Like Daddy
In the Small, Small, Pond
In the Tall Tall Grass
Early Morning in the Barn
Joy Cowley
Leila Ward
Charlotte Zolotow
Synthia Saint James
Roxanne Lanczak Williams
Frank Asch
Denise Flemming
Nancy Tafuri
Charlie Parker Played Be bop
Off We Go!
No David!
One of Three
The Flower Box
Guess What?
Boo to a Goose
Tough Boris
Zoo Looking
My Mom is Excellent
My Dad is Awesome
My Grandma is Wonderful
My Grandpa is Amazing
Good-bye Geese
Water, Water
Grandma’s Memories
Chris Raschka
Jane Yolen
David Shannon
Angela Johnson
Diana Roll
Mem Fox
Nick Butterworth
Nancy White Carlstrom
Eloise Greenfield
Virginia King
Possible Minilessons for List Books
·
Make lists by thinking about places you go all the time
·
Make lists by thinking about people you see all the time
·
Make lists by thinking about things you do all the time
·
Turn lists into a book by sketching and labeling one page for each item
on your list
·
Say more on each page by adding another sentence after the pattern
·
Write a list book with no pattern by making each page sound different
·
Say more by adding how you feel/what you think
·
Turn your list into a pattern book by using the same words on each
page
·
Give your list books a twist by changing the pattern on the last page
·
Give your book a twist by writing the opposite on the last page
·
Make your writing easier to read by beginning each sentence with a
capital and ending with an end mark
·
Stretch out tricky words
·
Write sight words quickly by using the word wall
·
Revise your list book by saying more, adding a twist
·
Revise your book by adding an opinion
Minilesson Idea
Connection: I know you have been working really hard on your small moment
stories and you even had a writing celebration for those stories! Today we
are going to start a brand new kind of writing; we are going to start writing
List Books and I’m going to teach you what a list book is so that you are
ready to write them.
Teach: A list book is a book that lists things that go together somehow. A
book that is about one topic and each page lists one thing that goes with
that topic. Lets look at this book (one of the very basic, easy books from
the above list and explain how it is a list book.) Now lets look at this book
that one of my students did---show animal list book. Today we are going to
get ready to write these kinds of books by making lists of things. I have
this special paper for you to use to make your lists. Watch me as I make
some lists. Demo thinking about a topic and listing things that go with that
topic. This is what you are going to do today, just make lists and if you
have so many lists to make, you can get a second piece of paper.
Active Engagement: Right now, on the rug think of something you could make
a list about---turn and tell the person next to you what you can make a list
about.
Link So today you are each going to get one of these special papers and you
are going to make lists.
Minilesson Idea
Connection:. You started writing List books last week and I know you have
learned that list books sometimes have patterns in them. Today I’m going to
teach you how to write a list book that is a little longer than the ones you
have been writing.
Teach: There are list books called Say More list books. That means that
each page says more than just one sentence. The list book still has a
pattern on each page but then the author says a little more on each page.
Show student sample and explain. Model with my own Say More list book.
Active Engagment: I’m going to continue my Say More list book but now I
need help. Have kids turn and talk to about how I can say more on one page.
Link: Today, when you are writing a list book, you can make it a Say More list
book by adding more on each page.
Minilesson Idea: Lists with twists
Connection: I know you have been writing list books in writing workshop and
you already know that list books usually have a pattern to them and that all
the pages go together somehow. Today I’m going to teach you how to write a
list book with a twist by changing the last page.
Teach: All the pages in a list book go together; they’re all about the same
thing or they follow the same pattern. Show examples and point out how the
pages go together and follow a pattern. Something you can do to make your
list book more interesting is add a twist at the end—that means change the
pattern on the last page to surprise the reader. Let me show you what I
mean. I have a list book here that I’m working on; it’s about things I like to
eat. Every page says “I like to eat…” So now I’m going to twist it at the end.
Model writing the last page of the list book and changing the pattern. Did
you see how I did that? I made a twist at the end by changing the pattern
and writing the opposite thing? Now you guys help me with another list book.
Teacher shows second list book.
Active Engagement: Now turn and talk—what can I write on my last page to
make a twist?
Link: Today and any time you are writing a list book, you can try to add a
twist at the end to surprise the reader.