The Chalk Doll
CHALLENGING WORDS
clackingclickety
Jamaica
Mango
powdered
scissors
seamstress
shrugged
sprinkled
taffeta
SUMMARY
When Rose is sick in bed with a cold, her mother tells her of life when she was young in Jamaica. She tell her of a special doll that she had. Rose decides that she wants one, too.--- Conversation Questions---
(1) / Name the main characters in this story.(Answer) / Rose and her mother.
(Follow Up) / What was your favorite part of the story?
(2) / Suppose you are Rose. What questions would you ask about her childhood?
(Answer) / Any logical answer.
(Follow Up) / Have you ever asked your parents about their childhood?
(3) / Imagine you are sick like Rose. Why would you want a bear?
(Answer) / Any logical answer.
(Follow Up) / List some things you want when you are sick.
(4) / Remember a time that you were home sick. What did you feel like?
(Answer) / Any logical answer.
(Follow Up) / Do you enjoy having someone around when you are sick?
(5) / Define “taffeta”.
(Answer) / A stiff, smooth fabric.
(Follow Up) / What things can be made of “taffeta”?
(6) / Recall what the Chalk doll means to Rose’s mother.
(Answer) / A doll that is handmade.
(Follow Up) / Do you have any Chalk Dolls?
(7) / Name the country that Rose’s mother came from.
(Answer) / Jamaica.
(Follow Up) / Have you ever visited another country?
(8) / Recall what was another name for a Chalk Doll.
(Answer) / A rag doll.
(Follow Up) / Do you think you could make a rag doll?
(9) / Recall what Rose’s mother was given for her seventh birthday.
(Answer) / Three pennies.
(Follow Up) / Do you ever receive money for a birthday present?
(10) / Remember from our story how long it took Rose’s mom to receive the pink taffeta dress.
(Answer) / One month after her birthday.
(Follow Up) / Have you ever received a birthday gift that was late?
Activities
1. / Draw Rose’s rag doll. Label the parts such as legs, eyes, arms, etc. Give the doll a name.
2. / List all the things Rose’s mom did as a child. Draw a picture of one of them.
3. / Write a paragraph telling all you know about your mother’s childhood.
4. / Pretend that you are older and you have children. Write a few sentences describing your childhood to your children.
Introductions
1. / Show the students an old doll. Ask them if they have ever had a special doll. Where did it come from? Ask them if they think their mother ever had a doll. Let’s read our story today and find out about a mother, her daughter and their dolls.2. / Show the students a stuffed bear. Ask them what they like to sleep with if they are sick. Today in our story, Rose is home sick with a cold. Let’s find out what she likes to hold on to when she feels bad.
3. / Show the students some pictures of your mother. Ask them if their mother has ever told them about her childhood. Today we will read about a mother and her childhood. Let’s read and find out all the things that she did.
Book Title: The Chalk Doll
Author: Charlotte Pomerantz / Illustrator: Fran’e LessacISBN: 0-06-443333-1 / # of Text Pages: 14 AR: 2.7 LEX: NP
Building Oral Vocabulary
6 / Jamaica / 20 / seamstress / 26 / mango
Prediction Questions
6 / What type of doll do you think Rose’s mother had?
16 / What do you think she will do with these items?
28 / What do you think Rose will do with the thread, needle, scissors, and scraps of material?