CHRYSANTHEMUM
by Kevin Henkes, Greenwillow, 1991
Activities ©2003 Nancy
Polette
| ABOUT THE BOOK Chrysanthemum loves her name until she goes to school. The children laughed because her name was so long and she was named after a flower. The teasing continued until they discovered the name of their favorite music teacher!  |
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| VOCABULARY ACTIVITY Find two words that go together and tell why: Chrysanthemum, envelope, Mrs. Chud, desk, precious, fascinating, Parcheesi, wilted, flower, Victoria, Delphinium, bloomed, name, crayon, letters, dinner, dessert |
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PRE READING SENTENCE STARTERS 1. Names are important because... 2. Making fun of someone is.... 3. Some flower names are.... |
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| THINKING SKILLS 1. How many uses can you think of for flowers? 2. What could Chrysanthemum's best friend do to help her to not feel sad about being teased? 3. How is the story of Chrysanthemum like the story of Cinderella? |
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| CHRYSANTHEMUM RIDDLES Brainstorm words that rhyme with mum. (bum, dumb, sum, gum, hum, rum, thumb, yum) Make up a riddle: Example What would you call a lazy chrysanthemum? Answer: A chrysanthebum |
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| WRITING ACTIVITIES 1. Write a class poem about a seed or a flower. Use the "If I Were" Pattern. Name the flower. Tell where it is found. Name two things it can do. Repeat the first line. Example: If I were a flower seed Snug in the ground I would push myself up Lift my face to the sun and bloom If I were a flower seed. 2. Share Allison's Zinnia by Anita Lobel. Study the pattern: "Beryl bought a begonia for Crystal" Each child writes a similar sentence beginning with his or her name. These can be illustrated and placed in a class flower book. 3. Share: The Rose in My Garden by Anita Lobel. Create a new cover with a new title. Think of words that rhyme with rose. Example: prose. New title: The Prose in My Garden. |
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AUTOGRAPH BOOKS
It tickles me, It makes me laugh, To think you want, My autograph.
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