Multicultural Lesson Plan - by Lauren Sammon

Purpose:
Todays lesson will reinforce the concepts of making and confirming predictions. Making
and confirming predictions are important tools for students to learn in order to help build
comprehension of texts. This lesson will also introduce several aspects of the Russian
culture. It is important for students to learn about different cultures in order to gain
interest in the world around them while respecting and appreciating the differences of
those cultures from their own lives.
VA SOL - Reading 1.9 The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a
variety of fictional texts.
a) Preview the selection.
b) Set a purpose for reading.
c) Relate previous experiences to what is read.
d) Make and confirm predictions.
e) Ask and answer who, what, when, where, why, and how questions about what
is read.
f) Identify characters, setting, and important events.
g) Retell stories and events, using beginning, middle, and end.
h) Identify the main idea or theme.
i) Read and reread familiar stories, poems, and passages with fluency, accuracy,
and meaningful expression.
-

Visual Art 1.4 The student will create works of art inspired by stories or poems,
ideas, and themes.

Objectives:
Given a sheet of paper and pencil, the student will write a one-sentence prediction he
or she made about the book Rechenkas Eggs, will correctly mark either a
checkmark or an x-mark if his or her prediction came true or not with 100% accuracy.
Given an outline and crayons, the student will color the egg with decorations using at
least two colors.
Procedure:
a. Introduction
- Have the students come to the rug
- Show them a map of the world on the promethean board. Ask if anyone can
point out where we are on the map (they can either point out the United States
or Virginia more specifically) Explain that today they will hear a story set in
Russia. Can anyone show on the map where Russia is? If no one can, point it
out on the map. Model the amount of space in between the United States and
Russia. Explain that Russia is 5,000 miles away! Google earth an image of St.
Basils Cathedral, and explain that this is a real place in Russia, and to look
out for it in the book! (v)
b. Development

Have a graphic organizer set up on the Promethean board with four sections,
each section with a title. The titles are I think the story will be about,
The front of the book makes me think, I think these words will be in the
story, and Words to look out for. Begin by saying the name of the book
Rechenkas Eggs and asking the students what they think the story will be
about. Take about three volunteers, and write their predictions in the first
section box. Next, show the students the cover of the book. Then take three
more volunteers to answer what predictions they have now that theyve seen
the cover of the book. Instruct the students to think about the predictions
theyve made, to make a mental note of those predictions, and remember them
for after weve read the book. Next, ask the students what words they think
they will hear in the story. Take three to four volunteers and write their
answers in that section. Finally, introduce the matryoshka dolls to the students.
Explain to them that they are dolls made in Russia and ask if they have ever
seen this type of doll before. Ask for three volunteers (students who have not
previously volunteered for the other sections). Each doll of the matryoshka set
will contain one of the Words to look out for inside it, written on a slip of
paper. Explain to all of the students that the words to look out for for this
book are difficult words, and not to be discouraged if they cant read them.
They are tough! Explain that three of the words are Russian words. When a
student volunteers, hand them the doll, ask them to open it and read the word
inside out loud. If they cant read the word, tell them they can choose a friend
to help. The words to look out for are babushka, dacha, caribou, and
kulich. When a student draws each word, ask the students to guess what the
word means. Then tell the definition of each, and show an image of each
word.
Babushka name used in Russia as a nick-name for a
grandmother, or older woman
Dacha a small house in the country
Caribou a large animal with brown fur and antlers, resembles a
deer
Kulich traditional Russian bread they have when they celebrate
Easter, it is baked bread with icing on top
When explaining the definition of Babushka, explain that babushkas are
known in Russia for wearing scarves on their heads. Then put a scarf on like
babushkas wear, and keep it on for the read-aloud! (a, v, k)
Read aloud Rechenkas Eggs by Patricia Polacco.
o Pause when each of the Words to look out for is read.
o Pause and ask for a student prediction after the goose is injured and
babushka takes it in.
o Pause after reading the word da and explain that da means yes in
Russian.
o Pause for a student prediction after the goose ruins the eggs.
o Pause for a student prediction before babushka heads to the festival. (a, v)
After reading the book, look back at the three/four words the students
predicted would be in the story. Make a check mark if the word was in the

story, and an x-mark if the word was not in the story. Look back at the 3
predictions on the board and ask the students if the predictions were true or
not. If the prediction was not true, ask the students how they can change the
statement into a true statement. (a, v)
For advanced learners:
- Have the students create sentences using the new vocabulary
words theyve learned
- Ask students to describe an aspect of Russian culture and compare
it with their own: model with this example, Russians have
Matryoshka dolls, Americans have barbies)
For struggling learners:
- Provide thinking stems for the students to help make predictions;
such as I think that, I wonder if, or This part of the story
made me think
- Use questions to prompt students; such as What do the eggs on
the cover make you think about what might be included in the
story?
c. Summary
- The students will have sufficiently practiced comprehension tools after
completing the graphic organizer as a class and listening to the read-aloud,
including making and confirming predictions and listening for vocabulary
words. The students will have been exposed and made connections to the
Russian culture through the real-life, tangible objects (the head scarf and the
matryoshka dolls), through the Google-Earth view of Moscow at the
beginning of the lesson, and through the Russian words spoken and described
throughout the read-aloud. (a, v, k)
Materials:
-

Promethean board, with graphic organizer

Google-Earth
Book Rechenkas Eggs by Patricia Polacco
4 Pictures (printed out and pasted onto cardboard backs)
1) Dacha, 2) Babushka, 3) Caribou, 4) Kulich
Martyoshka Dolls (with slips of paper inside each)
Head Scarf
19 worksheets
Pencils
Crayons, colored pencils, or markers

Evaluation:
a.) Assessment of the lesson
Hand out worksheets to each student (or have the table leaders hand out
the worksheets). Instruct the students to write one of the predictions they
made about the story in the space provided on the worksheet. Instruct them
make a check mark if the prediction came true or an x-mark if the prediction

did not come true in the square underneath their predictions. Model how to
make a check mark and an x-mark on the promethean board and show the
students on the worksheet where to make the mark.
Instruct the students that when they are finished writing their predictions, and
only when they are finished writing their predictions, they can use their
crayons to color in the egg outline on the worksheet how they would if they
were to compete in the egg decorating competition in Russia! Explain that
they need to use at least two colors.
Model to the students what a completed worksheet looks like (have one
completed before the lesson) and instruct the students to turn in the
assignment when they are finished.

Appendix A
Words to look out for Images
1) Babushka
3) Caribou

Retrieved from:
http://rbth.com/articles/2012/03/21/b
uranovskiye_babushki_group_becom
es_famous_15130.html
2) Dacha

Retrieved from:
http://www.dansuich.com/files/image
cache/property_large/small_yellow_
house_in_field.jpg

Retrieved from:
http://nonstopecho.com/wpcontent/uploads/2014/02/CaribouBest-Pic.jpg
4. Kulich

Retrieved from:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/
t88/lnbseattle/Winter%2020092010/Spring
%202010/Easter10012.jpg

Appendix B Rechenkas Eggs Worksheet