Timothy+Cox+Lesson+Plan

Lesson Title: Timothy Cox Grade Level: 2nd - 3rd Grade Time: 40 Minute Lesson

** 1. Pre-Instructional Planning ** This is a forty minute lesson planned for the 2nd grade that focuses on one of the Habits of Mind and literature appreciation. a. Planning Team: This lesson was designed by Nora Neumann. Student Group: As stated this is a 2nd grade lesson that focuses on one of the Habits of Mind ‘stick to it’ and literature appreciation. b. The class contains 23 students. One student requires learning support and has a one on one aid. c. Lesson Title: Timothy Cox d. PA K-12 Academic Standards – Reading, Writing and Interpreting Literature 1.3.3 Speaking & Listening 1.6 e. AASL 21st Century Reading/Information Literacy Standards - Inquire, Think Critically, and Gain Knowledge Skills 1.1.2, 1.1.3 Pursue personal and aesthetic growth – 4.1.1

** 2. Objectives: ** As a result of today’s lesson 3rd grade students will respond verbally and nonverbally to preselected questions (Should, What if, Why) by participating in a book discussion related to the theme "Stick to it" (Persistence) and as a group be able to conclude the discussion by forming at least one generalization about the book's theme.

3. **Materials:** //Timothy Cox Will Not Change His Socks// by Robert Kinerk, White board, sock cut out, crayons, scissors

4. **Lesson Activities**: a. **Introduction:** Librarian greets students at the door. “Hello 2nd grade. Walk with me to the story carpet”. ** b. Developmental Activities: ** 1. “Hello. How is your day going? Today we’re going to read a very fun book about a boy named Timothy Cox. But first I’d like to ask if any of you have ever heard of the Habits of Mind? Habits of Mind are good ways of thinking about things that can help you and me in our everyday lives. One of the habits of mind is persistence or what you may know as sticking to it. What does sticking to it mean”? 2. In our story Timothy Cox is a boy who decides to wear the same pair of socks for an entire month. Timothy sticks to his decision. As I’m reading I want you to think about Timothy’s decision to ‘stick to it’. Did he make a wise decision? Or should he have changed his mind and made a different decision”? Think about this while I read but think to yourself. Thinking is quiet”. 3. “This book is not only a great book but it has some fun secrets. One of the secrets is that as the month goes on and Timothy doesn’t change his socks the green around his socks grows bigger and bigger. The green represents the fact that Timothy’s socks are getting stinkier”. 4. “Also on each page where Timothy’s says how many days have gone by since he last changed his socks there is a number. If you notice these things enjoy them. It’s a fun aspect of the book but we’re not going to discuss it as I read. If you don’t notice them don’t worry you can look at the book after our discussion”. 5. “Several times throughout the story the people in Timothy’s neighborhood say to him ‘Timothy, Timothy, Timothy Cox won’t you consider please changing your socks’? You can say that too. When I give you the signal (show students the signal) you will say these words (point to words that are written on the White board). Model for students. Practice together once. 6. “Our book today is called //Timothy Cox Will Not Change His Socks//. It was written by Robert Kinerk. Show me your ready and we’ll begin”. 7. Read story. 8. Stop at designated place in story. “Do you think that ‘sticking to it’ is a good thing? Do you have something in your life that you’ve made a decision about and you’re trying to stick to it? Share with your neighbor”. Timothy Cox is really sticking to it isn’t he? He made a decision and he’s not changing his mind. All the people in his neighborhood want him to change his socks. His Mom and Dad have even asked him to move out of the house because his socks smell so bad. He’s bothering other people and upsetting them. What do you think about that? Do you think that Timothy’s decision to keep the same socks on for a whole month was a good one? Discuss. 9. “Do you have something in your life that you stick to? Share with your neighbor”. Discuss. 10. “Now let’s finish our story and see if Timothy really wears his socks for an entire month”. 11. Read the rest of the story. 12. “In the end of the story Timothy says, ‘Though it’s right and it’s good that you follow things through, resist the temptation to waste your ambition on some sort of silly or trivial mission’. That tells me that Timothy didn’t think he make a good decision to stick to it. Is it okay to have a plan and as you carry it out maybe put the brakes on and say this isn’t working. Is that an okay thing to do? Have you ever done that”? Discuss.

** c. Closure ** 13. “We talked about one of the Habits of Mind today. We specifically talked about sticking to it and what that means. Timothy Cox was a boy who ‘stuck to it’. Sometimes it’s a good thing to stick to it and sometimes it’s not especially if what you’re doing bothers others”. 14. “I have a sock cut out for you to do. It’s the perfect size for a bookmarker. The cut outs are on the back table. You may color them and then cut them out”. Model for students. “But before you do the sock cutout I want you to pick out your books to take home. Books first, cutout second. Off you go”. ** d. Students Assessment Activities ** – Assessment is ongoing throughout the lesson as I see who responds to questions and who participates in chant.

Bibliography Kinerk, Robert. //Timothy Cox Will Not Change His Socks//. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005.