Here's a book about an eccentric inventor who relentlessly wills his idea of a mechanical fish into existence. He learns from each failed attempt and makes improvements inspired by the feedback provided by his children. What great aspects of a growth mindset process to reflect on! This book lends itself as a great tool to begin a conversation on the roles that failure and feedback play in success.
AND!
While you're at it, use this book as a mentor text to teach your students onomatopoeia. Your students will love it, especially if you're good at making sound effect noises. :) You can also examine how the author "hooks" the reader at the opening of the story and how she closes it as well.
Papa's Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming
Guided Reading Level: K
Lexile: AD480L
Theme: Perseverance, Growth Mindset
Questions to consider after reading:
What does Papa do after each botched attempt?
What's unique about the way his children help him?
Is there anything you're working on to succeed at currently?
What are some moments where you feel you failed at something?
How did you feel and react?
What or who could have helped you to persist?
Without looking, who can spell onomatopoeia?
Narrative Devices to focus on during your writing block: Onomatopoeia, Repetition, Full Circle Ending.
Opening: Fleming uses onomatopoeia such as, "Clink! Clankety-bang! Thump-whirrrr!" to hook readers and make them wonder what in the world Papa is doing.
Throughout: You will fine a variety of fun onomatopoeia throughout the book.
Make an anchor chart listing all the ways Fleming makes sounds come to life through the book.
Ask your students to add to your list.
Create a story together using your onomatopoeia chart.
Release your students to write their own short story, individually or even paired up.
Have them share out in an official author's chair during closure!
Fleming also uses repetition as a literary tool to illustrate the repetitive nature of the habits of success.
Ask your students, "Why do you think the author uses repetition the way she did? What was she trying to emphasize?"
Write down words, phrases, and actions that are repeated. For example, after every failed attempt his daughter encouragingly says, "Almost." Then, after each time, Papa's children ask him questions that make him think and come up with new ideas to try.
Help your students clarify and generalize this process as you reflect on the book together. You'll likely end up with something like-- Step 1: Get an idea. Step 2: Fail. Step 3. Think about it. Step 4. Get Feedback. Step 5. Try again with new ideas. Repeat.
Closing: Fleming humorously closes the book by bringing the book Full Circle! The book ends just as it began, with his daughter asking, "Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a bird?" Then he bounds off into the sunset back to his garage. Your students will know how that story goes! In fact, a great extended writing activity would be to have them write the sequel to Papa's Mechanical Fish!
Aligned CCSS for your lesson plans:
Grade 1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.5 With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed.
Grade 2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3 Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.5 Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.5 With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and editing.
Grade 3
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.7 Explain how specific aspects of a text's illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting)
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3a Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3d Provide a sense of closure.
Grade 4
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.2: Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.3: Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3a Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3d Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
Grade 5
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.2: Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.3: Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3a Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3e Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
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