Lesson 1: Meet Franklin 
 
 
 
 
Objectives:
       Children will be able to tell if a story is fiction or non-fiction. They will be able to identify turtles and tell some facts about the way they look. They will be able to complete a venn diagram comparing a turtle to another animal.
 
Materials:
     Book-Franklin's New Friend- by Paulette Bourgeois
     Chart paper
     Large and small venn diagrams
 
Introduction:
       Franklin is a turtle. He has many adventures. In this story, we will find out what happens when Franklin meets a new friend.
 
Procedure:
      Read the story to the class. Discuss how Franklin liked Moose when he first met him. Did he feel the same way later in the story? Why? Did they like to do the same things? How did they get along?
      Make a large venn diagram outline on chart paper. Fill in the diagram with children's responses to the following questions: How was Franklin different than Moose? How was he different from some of the other characters?
      Discuss the difference between fiction (make-believe) and non-fiction (true) stories. Do you think this story is fiction or non-fiction? Why? Ask for examples from the story to prove this.
      Have the children work in pairs or small groups. Explain that they will complete a venn diagram on real animals. Tell them they will compare a real turtle to another real animal of their choice.
 
closure:
       As children share their work with the class, list on chart paper all the facts about turtles that they wrote down. Explain that in the next few weeks they will be learning more information about real turtles. As they find out about turtles they can add and remove things from the chart.
 
enrichment:
        Have children complete their own venn diagrams comparing two animals of their choice or two story characters that act differently. Have children read a story and tell if it is fiction or non-fiction and give examples to show why.
 
Assessment:
        Teacher observation of children's individual work. Children can make pictures of turtles on story paper and write a few sentences about what
    the turtle is doing.
 

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