Subject Area: Language Arts

Book Summary
This fun-filled book will both engage and challenge young children as they try to solve the ten rhyming animal riddles.

Objective
Children will be able to hear and discriminate rhyming words and use oral and written language to develop their own rhymes and riddles.

Before Reading
Tell the children that they will listen to a book of riddles. Ask them if they know what a riddle is. Provide them with an easy riddle if they are not familiar with the concept.

Teaching Plan

Create Rhyming Word Wall
Materials

• Sentence strip paper
• Marker

Activity

1. Reread the story to the class. Choose a few riddles to focus on for this activity. After completing an animal riddle ask the children to identify the rhyming words. Record the words on separate sheets of sentence strip paper.
2. Invite the group to help create a rhyming word wall. Place the rhyming words in separate columns.
3. Review the words with the class and invite them to add additional rhyming words to the list. Encourage the children to add words throughout the week.

Create a Riddle Book
Materials

• Rhyming words (from word wall)
• Drawing paper
• Marker and crayons

Activity

1. Explain to the children that they will make an animal riddle book. Ask each child to think of another animal that they would like to create a riddle about. On the top of their paper write "I am." Now ask them to think of words that describe the animal's appearance, behavior, and habits. The descriptive words will follow "I am." After they have composed the riddle have them write "What am I?" (For example: I am furry, playful, I bark when I am hungry, and I like to play fetch. What am I?)
2. Give the class drawing materials and ask them to create a drawing of their animal on the reverse side of the page. Assist them in writing the name of the animal to reveal the answer to their riddle. Can they think of a few words that rhyme with the name of the animal like dog, hog, and log or bird and word? Invite them to try and think of a funny rhyme to include along with their drawing.
3. Have them create a cover and think of a title for their book. Bind the pages together. Celebrate their published book with a special reading time. Invite family members or another class to listen to the story and solve the riddles.

Other Rhyming Animal Books
I Went Walking
by Sue Williams
Beautiful illustrations and simple rhyming and repetitive text will encourage young readers to join in reading aloud and guessing which animal will appear on the following page.

Time for Bed
by Mem Fox
A heartwarming tale to read before naptime or bedtime about mother animals putting their babies to sleep.

Is Your Mama a Llama?
by Deborah Guarino
An inquisitive young llama asks all of his friends if their mamas are also llamas.

Other Books by Iza Trapani
How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?
My Jack
Mary Had a Little Lamb

Teaching plan written by Risa Young