Lesson Plan

Hat Lesson Plan

  • Grades: PreK–K, 1–2

About this book

Grade Level Equivalent: 2.2
Lexile Measure: 440L
Guided Reading Level: J
Age: Age 3, Age 6, Age 4, Age 7, Age 5
Genre: Animal Stories, Comedy and Humor
Subject: Animals, Farm and Ranch Life, Friends and Friendship

Overview

Jan Brett is a favorite author in my classroom, so we read The Hat for our author study. The students like the funny ending to the story. They also love the illustrations and being able to predict what will happen next.

Objective

Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Materials

  • The Hat by Jan Brett

Set Up and Prepare
View Jan Brett talking about how she decided to write The Hat: www.janbrett.com/ramfiles/jan_brett_the_hat.ram. Use a computer connected to a projector to view the short video about Jan Brett writing The Hat.Allow the students time to share the funniest thing they have ever seen an animal do.

Directions

Take time to look at the details in the illustrations on each page. Also notice the pictures on the sides and top of each of pages. After the students look at the illustration on a page, can they predict what will happen on the following page?

Print out The Hat animal masks from Jan Brett's website. Use these to act out the story. Jan Brett provides ideas on her website: www.janbrett.com/the_hat_play.htm

 

Lesson Extensions

The students could write a different ending for the story.

The students can compare and contrast The Hat with The Mitten, also by Jan Brett.

The students could learn more about Denmark, the setting for The Hat. Use www.yahooligans.com to search for Denmark.

The students could create a song or poem about each of the animals.

Related Resources
www.janbrett.com
The Hat - http://www.janbrett.com/hat_book.htm
The Hat animal masks - http://www.janbrett.com/hat_animal_masks_main.htm

  • Part of Collection:
    Jan Brett Author Study
  • Subjects:
    Literature, Literature Appreciation, Writing, Communication and the Internet, Computers, Educational Technology, Teaching with Technology
  • Skills:
    Compare and Contrast, Writing
  • Duration:
    2 Class Periods
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