This story is written and illustrated by janet stevens. Understanding the text helps readers know which words to stress. Read the story tops and bottoms by janet stevens to the class and discuss it. As a warmup, well activate our schema by discussing what plants we eat. It is in the format of jeopardy, but unlike jeopardy, questions should be answered in order, top to bottom. Basically bear is lazy and hare finds a way to use bears land to grow crops. Hare was clever, but sometimes he got into trouble. When it comes time for planting hare lets bear choose if he wants the tops or the bottoms. In the book, bear and hare go through a range of emotions, so part of my new book companion is a set of emotion worksheets. I realllllly like this story and its simple to tell. In this trickster tale, a clever hare outwits the lazy bear while planting and harvesting the tops and bottoms of their vegetable garden. Character map common core standards elaliteracyrl33 describe characters in a story e. Here are some great book activities for kindergarten and first grade. His father had been a hard worker and a smart business bear, and he had given all of his wealth to his son.
When good readers read aloud, they know which words to emphasize to add meaning to the text. Use this qr code or link to parent reading guide for. A story so deep in the ground even the paper is made from gardening pants. Hare and his family were in very bad shape because of a risky bet hare had made with a tortoise. With her sister and coauthor, susan stevens crummel, she created the acclaimed bestsellers the great fuzz frenzy, help me, mr. She is also the illustrator of the epossumondas books, written by renowned storyteller coleen salley.
And although hare and bear learned to live happily as neighbors, they never became business partners again. Apr 30, 2014 tops and bottoms by janet stevens is such a fabulously engaging book, i almost wish we had more time to spend on it i put together a fun little unit that covers some ela, some math, and a bit of science to supplement our plant unit. Clever hare solves his familys problems by tricking bear. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Do you ever feel just a little bit like the grinch around this time of year. One of my favorite books to read is tops and bottoms by janet stevens. When good readers read aloud, they know which words to emphasize to add. Tops and bottoms by janet stevens will capture the heart of young readers. This caldecott honor book is chockfull of goofy animals and fun illustrations. Tops and bottoms is an adaptation combining several folk tales from the past.
Heres the tricky part sometimes tops, bottoms, and middles come in a can or bag or box. Why do you think janet stevens chose a bear for the lazy character instead some other animal. Use the activities below to bring meaning to the story and help students make personal connections. Students love cooking projects, and this one is no exception. Tops and bottoms book companion distance learning unit. Once upon a time there lived a very lazy bear who had lots of money and land. They then match three of the words with definitions. Fun ideas to use with our favorite janet stevens book. With her sister and coauthor, susan stevens crummel, she created the acclaimed bestsellers the great fuzz frenzy,help me, mr. Bold colors, dynamic lines, and expressive animals are hallmarks of stevens. Our collection is growing every day with the help of many teachers. In the spring of 1998 the national center for childrens illustrated literature nccil featured the art of janet stevens in its show tops and bottoms. The bear had money and land, but was lazy and did not appreciate what he had. Bottoms celebrates the trickster tradition of using ones wits to overcome hardship.
I am planning for next weeks lesson plans but do not have this book, thankfully its on here. Welcome to esl printables, the website where english language teachers exchange resources. Tops and bottoms, by janet stevens is the perfect spring read aloud for teaching your students about character traits. Literature units for tops and bottoms can include a variety of activities that will work well for students in grades k3. Tops and bottoms by janet stevens is such a fabulously engaging book, i almost wish we had more time to spend on it i put together a fun little unit that covers some ela, some math, and a bit of science to supplement our plant unit. Here are my pieces for the trickster tale, tops and bottoms. When i first picked up the charming, tops and bottoms picture book by janet stevens, i was initially certain that this was a kind of brer rabbit tale. Just a general comprehension worksheetquiz for the book tops and bottoms by janet stevens. She asked the childrens librarian at her library about what kids like to read, and the librarian suggested this story. The next time you are shopping for food 5 something to think about first, read the book yourself and think about these ideas. Vegetable worksheets for kindergarten sorting tops or bottoms science plant unit using tops and bottoms book.
When it was time for the harvest we can split the profit right down the middle. Please excuse any mistakes in the reading of tops and bottoms. Tops and bottoms book by janet stevens storyboards. Punctuation and italics can also help readers know which words and phrases to stress. Caldecotthonor winning retelling of the classic tale of wily hare tricking lazy bear into giving up half the crops, be it the top, or the bottom. This lesson is important because it will teach the students basic comprehension skills that are essential in understanding literature. Tops and bottoms the montana department of agriculture. The amazing illustrations have earned artist janet stevens a caldecott honor medal. Tops and bottoms character traits bundle tops and bottoms. They especially enjoy being able to share their cooking skills with their families. Animals in clothing tricking one another out of food of one sort or another.
I chose this book because it is a folktale that describes plants that grown above ground, below ground, and in the middle right on the stems. Tops and bottoms adapted and illustrated by janet stevens once upon a time there lived a very lazy bear who had lots of money and lots of land. Vocabulary strategies idioms an idiom is an expression with a special meaning different from the usual meaning of the individual words. Tops and bottoms by janet stevens bear and hare double bubbles. Plant tops and bottoms grade levels k 2 estimated time. Identify the major characters in tops and bottoms and type their names into the different title boxes choose a character from the animals tab to represent each of the literary characters. My own kids know to completely leave me alone on th.
Lesson is based upon childrens book tops and bottoms by janet stevens. The hare family works together to help fight off hunger, while bear gets a lesson on how being lazy and not learning can backfire. Students will identify where fruits and vegetables belong on a myplate diagram and describe the major parts of plants roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits according to if they are produced on the top or bottom of a plant. Most languages have idioms, or special expressions. Next, well read janet stevenss book, tops and bottoms. Nov 27, 2016 please excuse any mistakes in the reading of tops and bottoms. Teaches unit centered around the trustworthiness and taking responsibility. Plantbased foods provide essential nutrients including many vitamins and minerals. Students can identify 3 different parts of the story and the emotions that situation caused. Jul 30, 2016 this story is written and illustrated by janet stevens. Teaches responsibility, accountability and teamwork. Following the story, discuss worksheets from the oklahoma ag in the classroom program from the oklahoma cooperative extension service. These lesson plans and worksheets are made to be a supplement to the book tops and bottoms by janet stevens.
Exemplar texts text samples provided to demonstrate the level of complexity and quality the ccss require appendix b choices serve as guideposts in helping teachers select similar complexity, quality and range for their own classrooms they are not a partial or complete reading list. The student worksheets consist of a story map, character map, verb identification, and writing pages, and muc. Potato plant, spinach or lettuce with roots attached, radishes and carrots with tops attached, and any other food items with the plant parts intact. Your readers place seven words in a word bank correctly into seven fillintheblank sentences. Tops and bottoms adapted and illustrated by janet stevens. Freebie for tops and bottoms i wanted to post this again as a freebie for teachers who love this book as much as i do. Show the examples of the foods you brought in for demonstration, ask students to identify the food sources on each plant, and if it grows on the top, middle, or bottom of the plant. Tops and bottoms classroom freebies, 3rd grade reading. How did janet stevens first get the idea to do a picture book about the tops and bottoms story. Have students complete the page called plant parts we eat to check for understanding. Tops and bottoms is a trickster tale about a bear and hare who agree to become business partners. Find out how a hare teaches a lesson to a bear with the tops and bottoms story and the tops and bottoms common core reading unit. Reading, responding to literature, retelling, center and craft ideas too.
As usual, stevens animal characters, bold and colorful, are delightful. This yesno character traits game is a book companion for tops and bottoms, and it will assist your students to make inferences about the characters is the story. Hare solves his familys problems by tricking rich and lazy bear in this funny, energetic version of an old slave story. These plant foods can be an excellent teaching tool for understanding the external parts of a plant roots, stems, leaves, fruits, and flowers. This product is intended for use with the common core exemplar text tops and bottoms by janet stevens, and contains common core based questions based on five labeled and. This product is intended for use with the common core exemplar text tops and bottoms by janet stevens, and contains. Tops and bottoms, by janet stevens, is a trickster tale that will capture the attention of young readers. This is a great book for your elementary aged students. Hare and bear agree that if hare and his family take care of the planting and tending to the crops they can split the profit. This file includes word wall words and vocabulary words from the text, as well as student worksheets. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.