Chicken Sunday

Objective: To learn about eastern European culture and how it mixes with the other cultures in the United States, determine a theme for a story, and discuss spring traditions of the various cultures in the world. Time required: 1 hour (or more depending on time available and how engrossed in the eggs the children are) Rationale: This particular lesson deals with the story Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco. It is a nice story about being kind and doing things for others. The story also includes the creation of pysanky eggs which are traditionally made in Eastern Europe. This lesson allows the students to do several things: identify the theme of the story, learn about a new tradition from another country, and connect it to their own spring traditions. It also includes a video, which allows the students to see how a pysanky egg is made and pictures of finished eggs so students can see the idea that the eggs are patterned. The students are using sharpie for this project, but by allowing them to tell the teacher the rules for using the sharpie, they are taking ownership of the privilege and deciding what they think are good rules when using permanent markers. The students did an excellent job with this particular assignment, and really enjoyed making the pysanky eggs (they asked to make them again later). I think this also helped them make a connection with the story they read. They learned that the eggs were a tradition for spring, they discussed

their own spring traditions, and then made their own version of a pysanky egg, connecting back to the story. Standards: English SOL 1.1 The student will continue to demonstrate growth in the use of oral language. English SOL 1.2 The student will expand understanding and use of word meanings. English SOL 1.9 The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of fictional texts. Social Studies SOL 1.10 a. e The student will apply the traits of a good citizen by focusing on helping others, and treating others with respect and valuing honesty and truthfulness in oneself and others. Procedure: o Have students sit on the carpet quietly in their spots. o Show the students Chicken Sunday. Have students make predictions; tell what type of story they think it is, etc. o Tell students that they will be looking for the theme of the story. Refer to the theme chart and discuss what they need to look for. o Read Chicken Sunday, pausing to ask questions and make predictions. o Discuss the story with students, get ideas of other spring traditions that their families might do, are any like those of the children in the story? o Discuss the theme (giving, kindness) of the story o Have students get water and return to their seats o Explain more about pysanky eggs and show pictures on SMARTboard.

o Watch brief video of how pysanky eggs are made, pausing to make predictions and discuss the process o Discuss pysanky eggs (patterns, hard or easy, etc.) o Explain that students will be working on making their own paper pysanky eggs using sharpie and crayon. o Explain that students may use a picture on the screen and a book on the table to help them with their designs. o Have students give good rules for using the sharpies (dont write on the table, dont press too hard, put the lid on it when you arent using it, etc.) o Allow students to work on their eggs Assessment: o Informally and orally assess students on their understanding of theme (in general) in discussions before reading and the theme of the story after reading o Additional Assessment/Enrichment: Have students get a piece of paper and write down five adjectives about their pysanky eggs