Overview: This lesson uses two classic Dr. Seuss stories, The Sneetches and The
Lorax, to teach Common Core English Language Arts standards. I have used these
lessons with a regular 6th grade Communication Arts class. It takes approximately a
week to go through all the lessons. An answer key has been provided.
Types of Activities/ Questions asked:
graphic organizer on literary devices (alliteration, repetition, onomatopoeia)
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author’s choice- identifying why words were chosen
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connection and character analysis questions
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defining words using context clues
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Venn diagram
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identifying motif
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explaining author’s purpose
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Other resources/comments
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I found “Your Favorite Seuss,” compiled by Janet Schulman and Cathy
Goldsmith, to be a great book for gaining insight into Dr. Seuss and his stories
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youtube has several versions of the books being read, which my students
enjoyed listening to as we read along in our textbook
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I included a plot diagram as the last page. I did not use it as I did these
lessons, but they certainly would fit in as another activity.
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The lessons were a bit challenging to my 6th grade students. We did a lot of
think/pair/sharing, and sharing out. I feel the lessons could easily be adapted
to the needs of any middle school student.
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It helps if the lines in the book/poem are numbered by fives. The line
reference numbers used in the lessons my vary slightly if a different version is
used.
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The answers in the answer key were compiled by my students, with my input
as well. Many answers are subjective, and that’s perfectly fine in the world of
literature.
Common Core ELA Standards Addressed:
CCR RL. 6.3 Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and
interact over the course of a text.
CCR RL.6.4 Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including
determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how
specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
CCR RL.6.5 Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences,
paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g, a section, chapter, scene, or stanza)
relate to each other and the whole.
CCR RL.6.6 Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a
text.
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CCR RL.6.9 Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in
order to build knowledge or compare the approach the authors take.