STORY BOOKS LEVEL 16

Running words: 349

Linking with other PM books

Jordans soccer ball A friend for Max Max and Jake The jump rope PM PM PM PM Plus, Plus, Plus, Plus, Level Level Level Level 12 12 12 14

Jordan at the Big Game

About the story
Jordan hopes that he will lead a team out onto the field at the big game. Imagine his disappointment when a friends name is selected instead! Children who have gone to a large stadium to watch their favorite team play will understand how he felt.

For the English language learner

Ask children what sports they play or watch. Children can use athletic equipment to respond to TPR commands: "Walk with the ball." "Throw it." Have children be a TV sports announcer retelling the story.

Creating the atmosphere

Reread Jordans soccer ball. Revisit the characters and their relationships.

Going beyond the story

Discuss childrens favorite teams. Have them paint pictures of themselves dressed in their teams colors. Invite children to add captions explaining how they support their team. List occasions when children have cheered, e.g., at a parade, talent contest, a play, etc. Ask them to write about and draw these occasions. List the names of different team sports. Ask children to write about those sports they know well.

Focusing on the story

Cover Read the title and discuss the cover illustration. Invite children who have attended big games to talk about their experiences. Pages 23 Study the illustration. Read the notice together and discuss the probability of Jordan winning. Admire Jordans hopeful attitude. Point out the official standing near the table and explain his role. Pages 47 Notice that people are wearing team colors. Point out Jordans facial expression and his obvious disappointment when his name was not selected. Write maybe on a chart and discuss its meaning. Pages 811 Predict why another name might be required. Observe Jordans excitement when his name is called. Pages 1216 Applaud Jordans caring attitude towards his friend. Discuss the practice of having children lead teams onto the field. It is important that children understand that Jordans excitement supercedes any feeling of nervousness in front of a large crowd.

Recall Jordans kindness when he helped Liam overcome his fear. Have children write about times when they have helped a friend. Encourage children to retell the story from either Jordans, Liams, or Nickys point of view. A common beginning could be written by everyone, e.g., Last weekend I went to the big game ... Invite them to read their stories aloud so that other children can identify whos point of view it is.

Developing specific skills

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Using the blackline master

Review contractions within the meaningful context of the story. Demonstrate how to write contractions in full. Discuss ideas that children might write about. Record some key words on the board.

Review digraphs: cheered, children. Discuss root words: win, winner. Discuss contractions: didnt, hes, thats, cant, its. Gives names to and discuss meanings: periods, commas, exclamation marks.
Rigby PM Plus Teachers Guide: Orange Level

Name __________________________ Date __________________

Liams name was picked. Hes my friend, said Jordan. H Hes means: He is. . Jordan didnt get picked. d id nt means: ______________ ______________. I cant see Liam, said Jordan. c a nt means: ______________ ______________. Its time for the game to start, said Dad. Its means: ______________ ______________.
Write about a time when you have been too scared to do something by yourself.

Blackline Master 19 Jordan at the Big Game Rigby, 2001. This page may be photocopied for educational use within the purchasing institution.

Rigby PM Plus Teachers Guide: Orange Level

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