Scaredy Squirrel
at the Beach
By
Mélanie Watt
Available only from
Junior Library Guild
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Plain City, OH 43026
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Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
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Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach
By
Mélanie Watt
Table of Contents
Book Summary/About the Author .............................................................. 3
Prereading Activities ................................................................................ 4
Concepts about Print/Library Applications...............................................5-6
Phonemic Awareness ................................................................................. 7
Decoding and Word Recognition ................................................................. 8
Vocabulary and Concept Development ........................................................ 9
Reading Comprehension ............................................................................ 10
Literary Response and Analysis................................................................. 11
Reproducible: At the Beach...................................................................... 12
Reproducible: Make a Book Cover.............................................................. 13
Reproducible: “Sounds Like” Card Game ..................................................... 14
Reproducible: Where Does It Belong?........................................................ 15
Reproducible: Write All About It.............................................................. 16
Correlation to National Standards............................................................. 17
Answer Key ............................................................................................ 18
A school may reproduce copies of the pages in this book for use in its classrooms or
library. Any other reproduction is strictly prohibited.
Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be transmitted, stored, or recorded in any form without written permission from the
publisher. For permissions questions, contact Junior Library Guild.
-2Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Book Summary
Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach is Mélanie Watt’s third book about
a squirrel that is afraid of all kinds of things. It begins simply
enough: Scaredy Squirrel tells us that he never goes to the beach.
Never ever. He explains that he doesn’t want to be surrounded by
a crowd, especially by a crowd of things like jellyfish, sea
monsters, pirates, or lobsters. To avoid these crowds, Scaredy
decides to build his own private beach. Only one thing is
missing—the sound of the ocean. Scaredy plans a very careful—very
careful—trip to the beach to get a seashell. He is so cautious that
he forgets about the biggest crowd of all: PEOPLE! At first
Scaredy Squirrel panics. Then, he joins the people to build
sandcastles, swim, take pictures, and more. He brings back
more than a seashell to his private beach. He brings his
very own safe kind of crowd.
About the Author/Illustrator
Whether her characters are chameleons, cats, or squirrels,
Mélanie Watt clearly enjoys using graphics to tell part of her
stories. Her training as a graphic designer launched her writing
career. She decided to do a book about colors and used a
chameleon as the device. The result was Leon the Chameleon,
published by Kids Can Press in 2001. Some of the picture books
she has written and illustrated include Augustine, Chester, and
two previous Scaredy Squirrel books: Scaredy Squirrel and
Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend. Mélanie Watt lives in
Montreal, Quebec.
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Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
(NOTE: All page numbers referring to the picture book itself begin with the
WARNING! page as page 1.)
Prereading Activities
Fun at the Beach
Make copies of the At the Beach activity sheet at the back of this guide
(page 12) to give to each student. Students can color the page. Then have
them draw a line from the word on the word list to the correct image on the
page.
Ask students to tell you what in the picture doesn’t belong on a beach.
When the students tell you that a squirrel doesn’t belong, tell them you have
a book that is all about a squirrel at a beach—and introduce the book,
Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach.
Bulletin Board Extension: In addition, you can have students bring in
pictures of things they might find at a beach. Create labels for the objects.
Using Prior Knowledge
Before reading the book to the children, allow them to share some prior
knowledge they have gained from their own experiences. Ask them:
What do you know about . . .
. . . squirrels?
. . . the beach?
. . . being afraid?
-4Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Concepts about Print
Parts of a Book
Identifying and Analyzing Visual Arts
1. Show the students the book cover, front and back. Ask:
•
What is on the front cover?
•
What is on the back cover?
•
Where is the title of the book?
•
What kinds of animals are on the front cover?
•
Is this a real bird or something else? What?
•
Why do you think the front cover is yellow?
•
What is on Scaredy Squirrel’s shirt?
•
What animals are on the back cover? Describe them.
•
Read aloud the title and ask: Does Scaredy Squirrel look scared?
2. Read aloud the WARNING! page. Ask: What is funny about this warning?
3. Show the students the title page. Ask:
•
What is this page called?
•
What is happening on this page?
Library Applications: Make a Book Cover
Give each student a blank book cover, front and back.
You may use the sample provided on page 13 at the back of
this guide. Have them make up a cover that features Scaredy
Squirrel at the _____________. Some ideas might include:
Park, School, Movies, Store, Ballgame, Zoo, Farm, North Pole,
Pet Shop, etc.
-5Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Concepts about Print
Print and Alphabetic Awareness
As you read aloud the book, ask students to look for items that have
letters or words on them. Some of the items will include:
signs
labels
charts
a passport
a map
a schedule or timeline
a warning label
a box
a bag of litter
a T-shirt
Alphabetic Awareness
Write the following words in two columns on the board as shown. Ask
the students to draw a line matching the word pairs that begin with the
same uppercase letters.
Scaredy
Wave
Careful
And
Boat
Float
Beach
Castle
Flock
Water
Ahoy
Squirrel
Write the following words in two columns on the board as shown. Ask
the students to draw a line matching the word pairs that begin with the
same lowercase letters.
help
map
sand
pack
join
bird
plan
box
jellyfish
hat
mob
sea
-6Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Phonemic Awareness
“Sounds Like” Card Game #1
Use the handout on page 14 at the back of this guide to play a “Sounds
Like” game. Have students say the name of each image. Then ask them to
find another name that has the same beginning sound—and match the cards!
“Sounds Like” Card Game #2
Use the cards to help students match the letters that stand for the
beginning sound of each image. Have students say the name of each image and
the repeat the beginning sound. Write the following letter pairs on the
board. Ask students to choose which letter stands for the beginning sound of
the picture on each card.
Bb
Dd
Ff
Ss
Say aloud the following words from the book title. Ask students to tell
you which letters stand for the beginning sound of each: Scaredy, Squirrel,
Beach, Flamingo.
-7Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Decoding and Word Recognition
Word-Picture Matchup
Copy this page so that students can match the objects on the left with the
correct word on the right. Have them draw a line to connect the picture to the
word.
bird
pail
crab
box
nut
shells
tree
-8Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Vocabulary and Concept Development
Where Does It Belong?
Hand out to each student a copy of page 15 at the back of this guide for
them to color as you lead a discussion about each place: a beach, a farm, and
a city.
Read aloud each of the words below. Ask students to think about where
the object most likely belongs: on a beach, on a farm, or in the city. After
you say each word, have the students raise the correct card to show where
each object belongs. In some cases, there may be more than one correct
answer.
barn
sidewalk
swimmer
bus
lobster
skyscraper
tractor
sandcastle
traffic light
squirrel
shell
taxi
cow
hay
sand
Talk about It
Start a discussion about different environments. Ask students to describe
the following:
•
Desert
•
Forest
•
City
•
Farm
•
Seashore
Ask the students what Scaredy Squirrel might be afraid of in each of
those environments. Students could also choose one of the environments and
illustrate what they know about it.
-9Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Reading Comprehension
Scared Silly
Show students the chart on pages 6–7 of the book, showing the crowds of
things that Scaredy does not want to be caught in the middle of. Ask students
to name the six crowds. Then discuss with the students why Scaredy might be
afraid of them.
Ask if there are things the students are afraid of being caught in the
middle of. (Some responses might include: bugs, such as bees, spiders, or
mosquitoes; dogs; birds; people; etc.)
After reading the book aloud, ask the students if Scaredy
Squirrel ever had to deal with the things he was afraid of.
Ask them to come up with some silly things that
sometimes scare people. You could begin by naming one of
your own silly fears. Have students draw a chart like the one
on pages 6–7 to show some of the silly things they come up
with.
Scaredy Squirrel Has a Plan
Read aloud and discuss how Scaredy makes his own beach.
Then ask: What is missing? (the sound of the ocean)
Make Predictions: Have students think about what Scaredy might do next.
Tell them to think about that as you read about Scaredy’s plan.
Answer Questions: Ask students to tell you what Scaredy’s plan is. (to go to
a real beach to get a seashell)
Make Predictions: Ask students to think about what might happen when
Scaredy goes to a real beach. Then read aloud about how Scaredy prepares
to go to the beach. Ask students to predict what kind of crowd Scaredy will
find there.
Answer Questions: Ask students how Scaredy reacts when he sees the crowd.
(He panics and plays dead.)
-10-
Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Literary Response and Analysis
with Writing Strategies
Real or Make-Believe?
Distinguishing fantasy from realistic text
Explain that the story has some things that could be real and some things
that would be make-believe. Name each thing below and ask the students to
choose if it is “real” or “make-believe.” Ask them to give a reason for their
choice.
•
•
•
•
•
•
A
A
A
A
A
A
squirrel
squirrel
squirrel
squirrel
squirrel
squirrel
is afraid of things.
lives in a tree.
builds his own beach.
has a passport.
plays dead.
decides to build a sandcastle.
Write All About It
Have students think about a time when they had to go somewhere they
didn’t want to go but ended up having a good time. Use the form below, found
on page 16, to help them write about their experience. If there is time, have
students illustrate the event.
I did not want to go to
I did not want to go there because
But then I had a good time because
-11Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
-12Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Scaredy Squirrel at the
-13Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
-14Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Where Does It Belong?
Beach
Farm
City
-15Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
My Name ___________________________
Write All About It
I did not want to go to
I did not want to go there because
But then I had a good time because
-16Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Correlations to National Standards
For Grades K–4
Content Area
Standard
Number
Standard Objective
Fine Arts: Visual Arts
NA.VA.K-4.3
Languages Arts: English
NL-ENG.K–12.1
Choosing and Evaluating a Range of
Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas
Reading for Perspective
Languages Arts: English
NL-ENG.K–12.2
Reading for Understanding
Languages Arts: English
NL-ENG.K–12.3
Evaluation Strategies
Languages Arts: English
NL-ENG.K–12.4
Communication Skills
Languages Arts: English
NL-ENG.K–12.5
Communication Strategies
Languages Arts: English
NL-ENG.K–12.6
Applying Knowledge
Languages Arts: English
NL-ENG.K–12.12
Applying Language Skills
-17Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Answer Key
(NOTE: All page numbers referring to the picture book itself begin with the
WARNING! page as page 1.)
Page 4: Fun at the Beach
Page 4: Using Prior Knowledge: Answers will vary.
Page 5: Parts of a Book:
1. About the book cover:
What is on the front cover? A: a squirrel, a flamingo, the title, the author
What is on the back cover? A: lobsters, publisher, price, bar code
Where is the title of the book? A: on the front cover, on the title page
What kinds of animals are on the front cover? A: a squirrel and a flamingo
Is this a real bird or something else? A: It is not real; it is a plastic yard
bird.
Why do you think the color is yellow? A: Answers may include: It is a good
color for a cover. It is the color of the sun. It is a summer color. Etc.
What is on Scaredy Squirrel’s shirt? A: palm trees.
What animals are on the back cover? Describe them. A: lobsters. Theyare
orange/red. They look mean/mad. They have pinchers.
Does Scaredy Squirrel look scared? A: No, he looks happy.
2. About the WARNING! page:
What is funny about this warning? A: It’s funny that Scaredy Squirrel
wants the reader to put on sunscreen. It’s funny that it’s No. 65
sunscreen.
3. About the title page:
What is this page called? A: the title page
What is happening on this page? A: Coconuts are falling on Scaredy
Squirrel.
Page 5: Library Applications: Make a Book Cover. Covers will vary.
-18Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Page 6: Print and Alphabetic Awareness. A: signs appear on pp. 5, 12, 15, 19,
27, 28, 30, 32; charts on pp. 6-7, 14, 18; a map on pp. 16-17; a warning label
on p. 1; a bag of litter on p. 10; labels on pp. 1, 20; a passport on p. 15; a
schedule or timeline on pp. 10-11, 19, 24; a box on p. 20; a T-shirt on p. 26.
Page 6: Alphabetic Awareness. A: Scaredy/Squirrel; Wave/Water;
Careful/Castle; And/Ahoy; Boat/Beach; Float/Flock; help/hat; map/mob;
sand/sea; pack/plan; join/jellyfish; bird/box.
Page 7: Phonemic Awareness. A:
Scaredy sounds like /s/;
Squirrel sounds like /s/;
Beach sounds like /b/;
Flamingo sounds like /f/.
Page 8: Decoding and Word
Recognition. A:
Page 9: Where Does It Belong?
A: A beach: simmer, lobster, snadcastle, shell, sand
A farm: barn, tractor, squirrel, cow, hay
A city: sidewalk, bus, skyscraper, traffic light, taxi, squirrel
Page 9: Talk about It. A: Answers will vary.
-19Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc
Page 10: Scared Silly. A: Answers will vary.
Page 10: Scaredy Squirrel Has a Plan. What is missing? A: the sound of the
ocean. Make Predictions: Answers will vary. Answer Questions: to go to a real
beach to get a seashell. Make Predictions: Answers will vary. Answer
Questions: He panics and plays dead.
Page 11: Real or Make Believe? A squirrel . . . A: is afraid of things (real);
lives in a tree (real); builds his own beach (make-believe); has a passport
(make-believe); plays dead (either); decides to build a sandcastle (makebelieve). Reasons for answers will vary.
Page 11: Write All About It. A: Answers will vary.
-20Copyright © 2009 by Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc