The Sunflower Questions by Peter William Depp ELL Reader 1.5.3 Fiction INTRODUCE THE BOOK RESPOND Activate Prior Knowledge/Build Background Read the title, and ask children what they think the boy has in his hands Ask: Have you ever seen a sunflower plant? Have you ever seen sunflower seeds? Tell children this book tells how sunflowers grow Answers to the Reader’s Inside Back Cover: Preview/Use Text Features Preview the reader by talking about the illustrations together and naming the labeled items Preteach Vocabulary Review the highfrequency words that appear in this book: among and another Introduce these key words from the book: sunflower (p.1), questions (p.1), farm (p 2), and leave (p 4) Discuss these words and add them to a Word Wall READ THE BOOK Choose among these options for reading to support children at all English proficiency levels Read Aloud Read the book aloud as children follow along Pause to verify comprehension and to explain unfamiliar concepts Monitored Reading Have children read aloud a few pages at a time Use the following questions to support comprehension: • Pages 2–3 Where David and Emma spend the summer? (They spend the summer at Grandma’s farm.) • Pages 4–5 What color are the sunflowers? (The sunflowers are yellow and brown.) • Pages 6–8 What they see after ten days? (They see tiny stems.) Write About It Children should draw a picture of a sunflower and write about it Possible response: Sunflowers are yellow and brown They are very tall Sunflower seeds make new flowers Support writers at various English proficiency levels Beginning Display this sentence frame: Seeds come from Have children dictate an ending Intermediate Have children use the words first, next, then, and last in their writing Advanced Ask children to include their own experiences with sunflowers and sunflower seeds Extend Language Tall refers to something that is very high A flag pole and a building are examples of things that are tall Answers to page 54: Children should draw 1) seeds being planted, 2) the planted seeds being watered, and 3) small stems growing, thus ending at the mature sunflower again Family Link Read aloud the Family Link activity on page 54 before sending copies of the Study Guide home with children Later, have them tell what their family members’ favorite flowers are and why © Scott Foresman Reread Have children reread the book with a partner, in small groups, or independently Have them complete the Study Guide on page 54 Talk About It They wanted to find out what the seeds are, where sunflower seeds came from, what to with the seeds, where the flowers were, and if the flowers would have seeds (Main Idea) Sunflowers make seeds, and seeds make sunflowers (Sequence) ELL Readers Teaching Guide Unit 5, Week The Sunflower Questions 53 Study Guide The Sunflower Questions Name • Read The Sunflower Questions again • Draw what happens to the sunflower seeds Family Link © Scott Foresman Ask family members to tell what their favorite flower is and why they like it 54 The Sunflower Questions Unit 5, Week ELL Readers Teaching Guide ...Study Guide The Sunflower Questions Name • Read The Sunflower Questions again • Draw what happens to the sunflower seeds Family Link © Scott Foresman Ask family members to tell what their favorite... Foresman Ask family members to tell what their favorite flower is and why they like it 54 The Sunflower Questions Unit 5, Week ELL Readers Teaching Guide