The Tiny Seedby Eric Carle

Included: A brief excerpt from the book and rigorous question set activities

promoting higher level-thinking development

Additional Resources

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=286046 http://www.schooltube.com/video/0fdf81a0bacd6a1299ea/The-Tiny-Seed http://www.schooltube.com/video/19449682487a7b3c3a47/The-Tiny-Seed

Tier 1

Excerpt from book

Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives

Habits of Mind

Excerpt

After a strong autumn wind blows flower seeds into the air, one tiny young seed survives the many dangers it faces and persists through the harsh winter. It then sprouts and becomes a beautiful flower itself and, although facing further peril, eventually makes it through the summer

and into the fall, when it releases its own seeds to blossom.

Obtain the book from a school library to read the story in its entirety and complete the ladder activities.

Students will be able:

Ladder AA1 Sequencing - To list in order of importance specific events or plot summaries A2 Cause and Effect - To identify and predict relationships between character behavior and story events, and their effects upon other characters or events.A3 Consequences and Implications - To predict character actions, story outcomes, and make real-world forecasts.

Ladder BB1 Details - To list specific details or recall facts related to the text or generate a list about a specific topic or character.B2 Classifications - To categorize different aspects of the text or identify categories from a list of topics or details.B3 Generalizations - To make general statements about the reading or an idea in the reading and use data to support statements.

Ladder DD1 Paraphrasing - Students will be able to restate lines read using their own words.D2 Summarizing - Students will be able to provide a synopsis of text sections.D3 Creative Synthesis - Students will create something new using what they have learned from reading and their synopses.

Habits of Mind

Working Interdependently

Thinking about Thinking (metacognition)

Innovating, Creating, Imagining

Refer to Jacob’s Ladder Story Table for Ladder A, B, & D Thinking Questions.

Tier 2Rigor

(Discussion)

High Level Strategies with

Ladder A, B & D Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, 3-4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames).

Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete.

A1—Write the most important events in the story in order.

A2—What effect did the seasons have on the seed? Do seasons have the same effects on real seeds? How can you find out?

B1—What details does the author use in the story to show and tell what happened to the tiny seed? Show by illustrating the seed as described by the author.

B2—The author categorizes the life of the seed by season. Write a letter to the seed about the seasonal changes it goes through.

D1—Find nonfiction books and information about plants and seeds. Find out what really happens to seeds. In your own words, tell or draw what happens. Be sure to label or explain the parts of the seed/plant.

Tier 3Rigor

(Discussion)

High Level Strategies with

Ladder A, B & D Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, 3-4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames).Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete.

A3—What were the long-term advantages of the seed being tiny and slow growing?B3—What can you generalize about the life of a seed based on this story? How does this compare to what happens with real seeds? Use a graphic organizer to show your comparisons.D2—Use a venn diagram to compare and contrast what happens to seeds in real life and what the tiny seed went through in the book. D3—Create an investigation to test one of the following questions or a question of your own approved by the teacher. Share your findings!

•What happens to a seed if the seed coat is removed?•Do all seeds have seed coats?•Do larger seeds produce taller or larger plants?

Tier 4

Reflections/Relevance

Choose one of the writing ideas to complete.  Be creative. 

1. Write a sequence writing of a plant, flower, animal in the style of the author. Be descriptive so a reader can visualize the changes.

2. Write from the seeds point of view what has been happening to it through out the story.

Suggested project strategies:  Write a podcast script; create a puppet show; develop a PSA; a PowerPoint presentation; write and be an actor in a skit; write a persuasive speech and give before the class.