Subject Area: Language Arts

Book Summary
This Rhyme Time Reader, celebrating the joys of eating ice cream, will appeal to children while reinforcing essential literacy skills that lead to reading success. A note to parents from an education specialist gives specific examples of how to use the book with children to support literacy development.

Objective
Children will engage in activities to hear and identify rhyming words, read familiar words on their own, relate personal experiences to the text, and develop creative-thinking and writing skills.

Before Reading
Show the children the book Ice Cream Everywhere. First ask your students if they like ice cream. Do they have a favorite flavor? Next, ask them to describe their favorite ice cream treat (E.g., ice cream cone, sandwich, sundae, banana split, etc.). Record their comments on chart paper. Review the list with them. Can they think of any more ice cream treats to add to the list? Tell them that they will read the book and compare their favorite ways to eat ice cream with those depicted in the story.

Booktalk
Ask the children to share their favorite part of the story. Did the story remind them of an experience they have had? Compare their ice cream list with the book to see if their favorite ice cream treats were depicted.
 

Activities

Time to Chime!

1. Reread the story several times so the children become familiar with the text. Read with expression to emphasize the rhythm, rhyme, and joyous mood of the story. As you reread the book encourage the class to chime in. Leave off the last rhyming word of each rhyming-word set so they can complete the sentence. Encourage them to read familiar words like I, you, and, we, all, in, and the.
2. Now invite the children to read the story together without a teacher. Encourage them to read with expression. They can even add hand movements to dramatize the different ways to eat ice cream as they pretend to slurp a float, make ice cream soup, or lick ice cream on a stick.

Rhyming Words for Writing Words
Materials:

• Index cards
• Small basket or index card holder
• Pencils
• Lined writing paper

1. Ask the children to identify the rhyming-word sets in the book. Have them take turns reading each page. Then ask the child who just read to identify the two rhyming words. Write both rhyming words on an index card. Leave space so additional rhyming words can be added later.
2. After they have recorded all of the rhyming words, ask them to notice which words have similar spellings and which words are very different. Invite them to discuss the differences and similarities.
3. Divide the cards among the children during small-group time. Ask each group to think of additional words that rhyme with the words listed on the cards and add them to the list.
4. Place the rhyming-word cards in a container in the writing area. Include additional index cards with high-frequency words. Invite the children to use the word cards to compose their own stories. Encourage them to try and develop sentences that use rhyming words. Provide time for them to share their stories with their classmates.

Ice Cream Dream Treat
Materials:

• Construction paper, drawing paper, and lined paper
• Glue sticks
• Child safety scissors
• Pencils, crayons, and markers

1. Provide the children with a variety of art materials and ask them to design an ice cream dream treat. It can be a drawing or collage of a dream ice cream cone, sundae, or something very imaginative such as a bathtub filled with ice cream. Encourage creativity and individuality.
2. After they have completed their art project, provide them with writing materials to create a story about their ice cream dream treat. Schedule a day for children to share their work with classmates. Celebrate their accomplishments with an ice cream party.

Other Books About Ice Cream 

Ice Cream Bear by Jez Alborough
This bear loves ice cream so much that he dreams it is snowing ice cream.

From Cow to Ice Cream by Bertram T. Knight
Nonfiction photographic book shows the process of how milk is made into ice cream.

Simply Delicious by Margaret Mahy
This rhythmic story, using repetition and onomatopoetic language, describes the humorous adventure of Mr. Minky, who brings home a double-dip-chocolate-chip-and-cherry ice cream cone for his little boy.

Teaching plan written by Risa Young