IM-PACT Lesson Planning Guide
Cover Page
Lesson Title: __Click Clack Moo: Doreen Cronin Author Study_______________________
Creator: Lynn M. Brown, IST 504, Summer 2007_____________________________
Brief Description: _This information literacy skills lesson will introduce students to the zany
works of author Doreen Cronin while building their appreciation and understanding of literature.
Information Literacy Skill(s):
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Accesses information resources
Explores a range of information sources
Extracts information from selected resources
Selects most appropriate format for communicating results.
Information Literacy Standard(s):
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Pursues information related to personal interests
Produces and communicates information and ideas in appropriate formats.
Is a competent and self-motivated reader.
Derives meaning from information presented creatively in a variety of formats.
Appreciates literature and other creative expressions of information.
Participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.
Related Subject Area(s): Language Arts, Information Literacy, Thinking and Reasoning ____
Related Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
 Show interest in a wide ran of grade-level texts, including historical fiction, science fiction,
folktales, fairy tales, poetry, and other imaginative and informational texts.
 Reads voluntarily for own purposes and interests.
 Reads independently and silently.
Collaborator(s): _none.
Credits:
American Association of School Librarians (1998). Information power: Building partnerships
for learning. Chicago: American Library Association._________________________________
Small, R.V. (2005) Designing digital literacy programs with IM-PACT. New York: NealSchuman.
IM-PACT Lesson Planning Guide
Instructional Goals:
 Students will be able to recognize works done by Author Doreen Cronin.
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Students will be able to indicate what an author does and what an illustrator does.
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Students will understand the relevance of writing as a form of communication.
Learning Objectives:
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With a partner, students will use laptop computers to access the buILder lesson called
"Cows That Type!" to learn about Doreen Cronin, the books that she writes and to read
an on-line version of the book "Click, Clack Moo, Cows That Type".

Students will see and hear "Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type" multiple times and in
multiple formats to develop confidence in their reading ability.
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Students will write a letter from their pet to demonstrate their ability of persuasive letter
writing.
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Students answer questions about Doreen Cronin and the function of authors and
illustrators.
Motivational Goals:

Students' confidence in their ability to read will increase.
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Students' enjoyment of reading will increase.
IM-PACT Lesson Planning Guide
Grade Level(s): __2nd grade__
Number of Students: _20-25_
Relevant Characteristics: _Students at this age level are very conducive to books where the
story and text are simple and the characters are animals that exhibit human qualities. The
reading ability at this age is also quite varied so this must be taken into account during the
lesson.
Motivational Profile (Incoming Motivation Levels):
Attention:
Low
Medium
High
Comments: These students love to have a stories read to them especially if it is funny. Student's
are also very attentive when books are presented using props. ___________________________
Relevance:
Low
Medium
High
Comments: _Most students are just starting to become comfortable in reading and writing by
themselves. At this stage, understanding how these skills are relevant to their lives is still a new
concept.
Confidence:
Low
Medium
High
Comments: _Students at this age range have various levels of reading abilities so their
confidence is at medium level._____________________________________________
Satisfaction Potential:
Low
Medium
High
Comments: _Students will be amused and excited to be a part of this lesson. The silly animals
and funny stories by Doreen Cronin are sure to be smash hit.
IM-PACT Lesson Planning Guide
Procedures
(methods, media, materials)
Day One: (40 minutes)
1. (Introduction) Start lesson by reading: "Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type" by Doreen Cronin to
the class. Use storytelling props (Barn door, stuffed cow, stuffed duck, typewriter, typed sheets of
notes contained in the book). As each new note is revealed in the story, tack the matching note
on the barn door. Ask a different student to read the note aloud to the class. Make sure you
show your enthusiasm as you read!
2. (Body) Discuss the story with the students focusing on the concepts related to the letter writing
that took place between the farmer and the animals.
3. (Body) Assess student understanding of what the purpose of the letters were by asking them
questions related to the story such as "What did the cows want?", "How did they ask for it?",
"Why should Farmer Brown give them what they want?" "Did the cows give anything in return?"
4. (Body) Show the students an example of a letter that my dog wrote to me where he asks for
something.
5. (Body) Discuss the parts of the letter. Ask the students about the functions of each portion of the
letter. "Who is this letter to?" "How do we know?" "What does my dog want?", "Why does he
want it?", "What will he give in return?"
6. (Body)As an assessment activity, have students go to tables and create their own letter from their
pet's point of view as an assessment
7. (Close) Close the lesson with a short video of "Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type" to reinforce
their curiosity and excitement about the book.
Day Two (40 minutes):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
(Introduction) Open the lesson by reading the sequel to Click Clack Moo titled "Giggle, giggle,
quack" by Doreen Cronin.
(Body) Introduce the ideas of what an author does and what an illustrator does.
(Body) Discuss how Doreen Cronin is an author that works with multiple illustrators and how the
books and their characters look different.
(Body) Set up students up with buILder lesson titled "Cows that type!". This buILder lesson will
expose the children to Doreen Cronin and her works. It will also let them read "Click Clack Moo"
on-line.
(Body) Explain how "Click clack moo, cows that type" is a Caldecott Honor Book from 2001 and
discuss what this means.
(Body) Make sure all Doreen Cronin books are available for students to look through and
depending on the number, to check out.
(Body) Do a group exercise to assess the student's knowledge about the different illustrator
styles. Show examples of all Doreen Cronin's book covers with the illustrator names covered up
8.
and see if they can categorize the books by drawing style. Ask questions about Doreen Cronin
such as: "Where does she live", "What does she do?" "Has she won any awards?", etc.
(Close) Close the lesson with a short video of "Diary of a Worm" to expose the student's to
another work by the author.
Materials Needed:
Day One:
1. Doreen Cronin Books:
"Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type"
"Giggle, Giggle Quack"
"Diary of a Spider"
"Diary of a Worm"
"Diary of a Fly"
"Wiggle"
"Duck for President"
"Click Clack Quackity Quack"
"Click Clack Splish Splash"
2. Storytelling props:
 Barn Door
 Copy of "notes" from the book on larger paper.
 Cow and duck stuffed animals.
 Typewriter
3. Letter from Mrs. Brown's dog hunter example.
4. "Letter from Pet" writing activity worksheet.
5. Video "Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type" from Scholastic Video Collection
Day Two:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Class set of laptop computers
Doreen Cronin Books
Set of modified Doreen Cronin book covers with illustrator removed.
Video "Diary of a Worm" from Scholastic Video Collection.
Learning Assessment Method(s):
Day One:
1. Assess students' ability to understand persuasive writing through "Letter" from
your pet letter writing exercise and answers to questions regarding the purpose of
the letters in the story.
2. Assess students' enjoyment of "Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type" via
observation.
Day Two:
1. Assess students' ability to read "Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type" via
observation.
2. Assess students' ability to classify the Doreen Cronin's books by illustrator.