Paint Your Picture
Reading to Learn
Rationale: When children learn to become independent readers, it
is important for them to learn how to visualize and comprehend what
they are reading. This lesson will help teach children how to
visualize what they are reading and connect with it.
-poem Breakfast in Bed(http://www.poetry4kids.com/poem-462.html)
-copies of Gentle Ben by: Walt Morey
Did student create a visual image?
Did student write a paragraph on Chapter 1?
Did student show comprehension in Chapter 1?
1. I will begin the lesson by teaching the children the importance of
comprehension when reading a book. Today boys and girls we are going to
learn about comprehension. Can someone tell me what comprehension
is?...(wait for response). Then, explain to the children what
comprehension is. Comprehension is remembering and understanding what
we read. Today, I am going to see who can comprehend my poem that I am
about to read. Try to visualize the detailed pictures so that it will
help you remember them! I am going to give you a sheet of paper, then
read you a poem. I want you to draw a picture, this will be your visual
image of your story. It will help you remember what the story is about.
2. I will then read the poem Breakfast in Bed to the students. I will
pass out paper, pencils, and finger paint to the students. After I read
the poem I will have the students draw a picture of the story. I will
show the students a model of a picture that I painted based on the
poem. Okay boys and girls, now that we have read the poem, I would like
for you to paint a very detailed picture of the story we read. I want
you to remember a lot of details so that you can add this to your
picture. I want to see that you are comprehending the poem. If you look
at my picture, I added lots of details. I added the eggs, grits, and
orange juice. The poem talked about all of these details that I
have drawn. I even drew the bed and what the room might look like. Now,
it is your turn.
3.Next, tell the students what a wonderful job they did of visualizing.
That was a great job of visualizing! I love the pictures. They have
lots of details in them. Now, we are going to read the book Gentle Ben.
When we read chapter one, I want you to try to visualize what is going
on in the story. Gentle Ben is about a very gentle bear. A boy
becomes best friends with the bear and takes him in as his pet. When
the townspeople find out about the bear, the are furious! They want to
destroy Ben the bear. You’ll have to read to find out what
happens to him!
4. For your assignment today, I want you to read chapter one of Gentle
Ben. After you read the story, I want you to write a paragraph of the
story you read. I want to see that you comprehended the story. I
would also like for you to draw a picture that describes the chapter
that you read. When you are finished, turn your paper in on my
What did the boy think about Ben at first?
Why was Ben held in the shed?
The students completed the task that was asked to be completed. They
comprehended the story in a paragraph as well as drew a corresponding
Montgomery, Mogran, Seeing the “Boxcar Children”
Return to projects