LESSON PLAN

JMU Elementary Education Program

I. TITLE OF LESSON Read Aloud on I Dont Want to be A Frog By: Dev Petty
II. CONTEXT OF LESSON
The purpose of this lesson plan is to introduce the students to a new book for a read-aloud lesson.
Read-alouds help students be able to listen to the book and discuss the book in the beginning,
between, and after the book has been read. The teacher has the attention of each child and has the
opportunity to make reading interesting and engaging to the students. I will read the book I Dont
Want to be A Frog. This is a great book for students to understand that it is important to be yourself
and not others. I want the students to understand that they should love themselves just the way they
are.
III. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Understand: The students will understand to except themselves for who they are. That they should
love who they are and not want to be anything other than themselves.
Know: The students will know that a frog cant be anything other than a frog because he is a frog
not a pig, owl, cat, or rabbit. The students will know the differences in the animals in the book
because of our discussions throughout the book. They will know that at the end the frog wanted to
be a frog because thats who he was and he was happy to be himself, correlating to the students
wanting to be themselves.
Do: They will listen to the book being read by me, discuss with me during the book, and then assess
them on what they learned.
IV. COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENT DATA
The children and I will have discussions throughout the book and I will have my
cooperating teacher write their answers to the discussion questions for assessment. The
students discussion questions will consist of what I want their learning objectives and how I
want them to tell my why they love themselves. Afterwards I will have the students use their
imagination and critical thinking skills on a fun assignment.
They will then have a fun assignment, asking them if they could be any animal in the world,
what would they be?
They will then draw their animal and share with the class.
V. RELATED VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING (K & 1)
Reading
K.5

The student will understand how print is organized and read.

b.) Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book.
c.) Distinguishing between print and pictures.

K.6

The students will demonstrate an understanding that print conveys meaning.

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c.) Read and explain own writing and drawings

K.9

The students will demonstrate comprehension of fictional texts.

a.) Identify what an author does and what an illustrator does.
b.) Relate previous experiences to what is read.
c.) Use pictures to make predictions.
d.) Begin to ask and answer questions about what is read.
e.) Use story language in discussions and retelling.
g.) Discuss characters, setting, and events.

K.10

The student will demonstrate comprehension of nonfiction texts.

a.) Use pictures to identify topic and made predictions.
b.) Identify text features specific to the topic, such as titles, headings, and pictures.

VI. MATERIALS NEEDED

I Dont Want to be A Frog by: Dev Petty and Illustrated by Mike Boldt
Assessment paper for each student
Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
Pencil
VII. PROCEDURE
A. PREPARATION OF THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
I will begin with each student sitting on their assigned spot on the rug, crisscross applesauce, with
their hands on their lap, and ready to listen to book that will be read aloud.
I will have all necessary materials laid out on their desks for after the read aloud. This way they can
immediately get started on their fun activity after the discussions.
B. INTRODUCTION AND ORGANIZATION
I will begin the lesson by letting the students know that I am going to be reading the book I Dont
Want to be A Frog, By: Dev Petty and Illustrated by: Mike Boldt.
I will ask the students what the Arthur and illustrator are and what their job consist of. My
cooperating teacher does this for the students so that they are aware of the credentials of the
book.
I will ask the students what they think the book will be about after looking at the front cover.
I will then flip the page and ask the students what characters they think this book will be
about based on the animals on the page.
Listed below is the book itself and the questions that I will ask during the read aloud.
Key Characters

I Frog
Dont Want to be A Frog.

Questions to ask during read aloud.

Frogs Father
Wolf to be a cat.
I want
The students answers
My questions

Why do you think that the frog cant be cat?

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You cant be a cat.

Why not?

Because youre a frog.

I dont like being a frog. Its too wet.
Well, you cant be a cat.
I want to be a rabbit.
You cant be a rabbit.
Why not? Look, I can hop!

Sure, but where are your long ears?

Besides, whats wrong with being a frog?
I dont like being a frog. Its too slimy.
That may be. But you cant be a rabbit.

The frog doesnt have a tail like a cat.

A cat is a pet, a frog isnt.

Can rabbits hop?

Yes
Can frogs hop?
Yes
Can a frog be a rabbit?
No, because a frog is green.
No, because a frog is a frog not a
rabbit.
No, because the frog has long ears.
So what does a rabbit have that a frog doesnt
have?
A rabbit has ears.
A rabbit has is fuzzy and has a cotton
tail.

I want to be a pig.
You cant be a pig.
Why not?
Most of all because youre a frog. But also
because you dont have curly tail or eat
garbage.
I can eat garbage.
Everyone says that until they eat garbage.
Sorry, you cant be a pig.

So what does a pig do that a frog doesnt?

They eat garbage
They have a curly tail
They roll around in mud
Can a frog be a pig?
No, because a frog doesnt have a tail.
No, because a frog is not big like a
pig.
No, because a frog doesnt oink.

I want to be an owl.
Of course you want to be an owl! Being an
owl is the greatest thing ever.
Boy, would you love being an owl.
So can I be an owl, then?
No, of course not!
Why not?

What do you think the frogs dad is going to

say about him wanting to be an owl?
No, because he is a frog, not an owl.

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You dont have wings.

You dont look wise.
You cant turn your head all the way
around.
You are a frog.

Tell your partner what an owl does that a frog

cant do
The students discussed among their
neighbors about how an owl can fly
and has feathers, a frog doesnt. They
engaged in each others answers and
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Whats wrong with being a frog anyway?

Too much bug eating.
I see.
But still, No being an owl for you.
Why so glum?
I dont want to be a frog.
What do you want to be, then?
Not a frog. I want to be a cat or a rabbit or a
pig or an owl. Something cute and warm.
Im going to let you in on a little secret

had great conversations about how an

owl and frog are different.

Does anyone know what this animal may be?

A wolf
A dog
Does anyone know what a secret is?
Something that you tell a friend.
Something that you dont tell
anyone.
A quiet story.
How do you think the frog feels right now?
Scared

I love eating cats, I love eating rabbits and

pigs and owls too. And I am pretty hungry. I
might just go gobble some up right now.
Thats terrible!
Its who I am. But guess that one thing I never
eat.
Badgers?
Would you eat a frog?
Nooo, I eat badgers, lots of badgers.
No, thats gross.
Frogs?
How do you think the frog feels after hearing
Bingo.
that?
Why dont you eat frogs?
Happy because he wont be eaten by
Because they are too wet and slimy and full
the wolf.
of bugs.

Relief
Oh. So its good to be a frog?
Finally happy that he is a frog.
Yup.
What do you think the frog learned during
I guess you cant fight nature. We are what we this book?
are.
He is a frog, not an owl or pig.
You are a fierce hunter.
He is a frog and should want to be a
And you are a wet, slimy, bug-eating, very
frog.
lucky frog.
He should be happy with being a
You should just be happy youre not a fly.
frog.
Why do you think that the wolf told the frog
that he should be lucky hes not a fly?
Because frogs eat flies.
Whats wrong with being a fly?
How do you think the frog felt at the end of
the book?
Happy to be a frog.
Happy to eat the fly.
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C. IMPLEMENTATION
After the read aloud lesson, we will discuss what they learned and I will let them ask questions.
After the discussion, each student will go to their desk and start their assignment. Each student will
be given color utensils, their piece of paper with the assignment, and a pencil. The students will
have some time to write their response and draw their picture. Afterwards, I will let the students
work on their creative assignment. Their assignment will ask them, if they could be any animal in
the world, what would they be?
D. CLOSURE
They will work quietly among the other students and then after their assignment has been
completed, they will show their drawings to the rest of their classmates and explain why they
choose the animal that they choose.
E. CLEAN-UP
The students will need to put away their coloring utensils and clean up their tables. If they marked
on their desks, then they will need to use a wipe to clean it up. I will have all scrap paper thrown
away and they will hand me their assignments after they have completed and shared them with the
class. I will go around the room and make sure that everything has been put up or thrown away, if it
hasnt, then I will be sure to pick the materials up and put them where they need to go.
VIII. DIFFERENTIATION
When it comes to differentiation in the class, I have to consider a student that is consider on
of the students, who is considered to be permanently blind. When I read the book, I will
make sure that this student is front and center so that I will be able to let the child see the
book closely. If the student needs more time or would like me to read the book after I have
read it to the class, then I will do so. I will be sure to accommodate his needs.
I also I have one student that cant speak English but my cooperating teacher wants us to use
English in front of him. Because of this, I will be sure to sit down with this child and point
out each word and slowly pronounce it in English. I will also let him be aware that the word
that I am pointing to goes with the picture that I point to.
IX. WHAT COULD GO WRONG WITH THIS LESSON AND WHAT WILL YOU DO
ABOUT IT?
Opening of the Lesson:
My lesson will be in the morning and they have been having a lot of fire drills. Lets say that the
children might be a little wild because its morning, then I will be sure to use their teachers
classroom management techniques to calm them done. If they are being loud, then I will use the
silent signal and let them know that they have a very interesting book that they are going to love,
with a fun assignment afterwards. If there is a fire drill, then we will do what is instructed and then
return to the lesson.
Lesson:
For all of the questions that I ask, I should be prepared to answer any of their questions and
maintain the time that I have available.
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Closing of the Lesson:

Students may need help cleaning up and sharing their drawings. I will be sure to be available for
them in any way that they need help. I will be happy to help clean up and help them explain their
art.
Behavior:
This is an important factor. If the students are misbehaving and not listening to my instructions
then I will make them aware of the rules and how it is important to listen to the book so that they
can learn and enjoy the assignment. Students need to raise their hands if they have questions and
use their inside voices during their drawing assignment.

X. REFLECTION
I really enjoyed reading I Dont Want to be A Frog to the students. I think that the students
did a wonderful job with answering the questions that I asked them and they enjoyed discussing the
questions with me and their neighbors. Every question that I asked the students, they were happy to
answer and were very interested in why the frog wanted to be a different animal. During the read
aloud, I let the students make animal noises from the story. For example, the students oinked like a
pig. Along with answering my discussion questions throughout the book, the students were able to
tell me what they thought the book was about. The students were able to take away how important it
is to love yourself and how to be happy with who you are. This assignment reflects the course
content because read alouds are a great way to get students involved in discussion, develop a love
for reading, knowledge on something new, introduce new literacy skills, and also enhances their
ability to comprehend reading. This course focuses on the importance of reading and writing at
early childhood and read alouds are a great way to enhance students love for reading and expand
their knowledge through a book.
During the fun activity that I gave them, I walked around the room and asked them what
they loved about themselves. It was nice to listen to their answers and explain to me what they
loved about themselves. I also asked them why they choose the animal they choose for the
assignment. Most of students choose a cheetah because it is the fastest animal. The students were
able to share their pictures to the class and explained why they choose their animal and they also
told the class one thing they loved about themselves. I thought the activity was a great way for the
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students to use their imagination and creativity. This was a great critical thinking assignment that
the students and I enjoyed. Overall, the process for this lesson was easy and simple. The students
always present their drawings to the class and draw on what they learned from the book that was
read aloud to them. Therefore, this read aloud lesson was familiar for them and a lot of fun creating
it for them.
My cooperating teacher videotaped my lesson plan so that I could watch it and critique
myself. When I asked her about her critique, she told me that I did a wonderful job and did a good
job keeping the students engaged. After I watched the video, I thought that I did a good job. My
own critique, would be that I need to read a little slower and make sure the students stay on topic of
the book and not tell different stories relating to the book. Since my read aloud lesson, my
cooperating teacher has allowed me to read more of her read aloud books to the students. This
assignment was exciting and has made me even more eager to become a teacher and read to my
own class daily.

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