"Parting Gifts" Lesson Vera C. Teschow, PDSB 2004
Program Area: Lang., SES, ScienceTime frame: 3 x 40-Minute periods
Grade(s): 2(SES), 1 & 5(Science), 1-8 LA
. / Resources:
¨ BOOK: Varley, Susan, 1984. Badger’s Parting Gifts. London: Picture Lions.
¨ VENN diagram (on back)
Outcomes/Expectations / Enabling Activity/
Instructional Strategies / Assessment/Evaluation
Students will:
Gr. 2 SOCIAL STUDIES
(Heritage & Citizenship)
¨ describe contributions made by individuals and groups to the local community
Gr. 1 SCIENCE (Life Systems)
¨ demonstrate and understanding of changes that occur in dialy and seasonal cycles and of how these changes affect the characteristics, behaviour and location of living things
¨ describe how living things, including humans, adapt to and prepare for changes
5 SCIENCE (Life Systems)
¨ Demonstrate an understanding of factors that contribute to good health
LANGUAGE (Writing)
¨ Communicate ideas and information for a variety of purposes and to specific audiences / Warm-up :
Students Complete a VENN diagram, comparing "Young People" and "Old People"* This may be done in groups, and scribed for students who would benefit from it
Modelled/Guided Read-a-loud:
¨ Teacher reads book to the class, showing pictures, and pausing to relate and reflect as appropriate
¨ At the end of the story, have students recall some of Badger's "parting gifts" (paper chain, helping with skating, knotting a tie, sharing special recipe)
Follow-up:
¨ Students choose someone in the class (maybe pick names randomly out of a hat to avoid favourites), and generate a list of "gifts" this person brings to the class
¨ Students use the list to draw a picture (primary) or write a paragraph (junior/intermediate) about the person
¨ Students share their "gift" with the person they drew or wrote about
¨ This activity could be done for an elderly friend or family member, individually or collaboratively as a class
Extension: Depending on the developmental stage of the learners and the comfort of the teachers, teachers may want to pursue a class discussion about whether only "old" people die / LANGUAGE (Writing)
¨ Use the IDEAS & CONTENT and/or ORGANIZATION strands of the Peel Writing Scales to assess paragraph
Notes: May be preceded by a discussion about grandparents and/or a visit to a nursing home to read with senior buddies.