Too Hot to Play! Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Students will discover how kids at one school tested a solution for keeping their playground cool.

 


Social and Life Skills:

health and safety, summer safety

 


Science Focus:

heat absorption and reflection, scientific process

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing, create visuals

 

Page 4 Skill:

double bar graph

 

Vocabulary:

asphalt, absorb, reflect, compared

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify main topic; RI.2.3 describe steps in a procedure; W.2.8 writing; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations

 

Lexile level: 

530L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on summer safety.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “Beat the Heat.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following questions:

  • What is one way animals stay cool? What is one way you can stay cool and safe in the summer?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Do students have any ideas about how the kids can keep their playground cool?
  • Next read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about how the kids proved the paint worked.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

 

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

 

Review vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are asphalt, absorb, reflect, and compared.

Assessment: Reading Quiz

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

Louie’s Together Playground by Dr. Nicole Julia (20 min.)

The “coolest” playgrounds are ones where everyone can play. This book tells the story of some thoughtful animal friends who create an inclusive playground, which means ALL can play, no matter their ability or age!

The “Summer Search and Find” game is a great way to build vocabulary while celebrating summer fun and safety! Students search a busy scene to find bikes, scooters, helmets, sunscreen, a lifeguard, and more.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here's how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work skill sheet to deepen students’ understanding of the words asphalt, absorb, reflect, and compared.

Editor’s Pick: Writing, Create Visuals 15 min.)

  • Students design their own dream playground using a provided word bank, sentence starters, and their own imagination. After writing about their ideas, they will illustrate and label their creative space with the My Dream Playground! skill sheet.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Students can practice decoding and identifying key words from the issue with the Summer Word Search skill sheet.

Here is a past issue you can use to extend your lesson on summer safety:

  • “Summer Survival Guide,” May/June 2024. Students will examine three strategies for staying safe in the summer.
  • “Do Pigs Use Sunscreen?,” May/ June 2022. This issue explores ways that animals and people stay safe.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher Lexile level: 620L
  • Lower Lexile level: 460L