Lessons & Units :: Classify and Categorize Kindergarten Unit

Lesson 1: Adding to Sorted Groups

Lesson Plan

My Big Animal Book

My Big Animal Book
Learning Goal
Classify items into existing categories.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: My Big Animal Book by Roger Priddy, chart paper, markers

  • Teacher Modeling

    will explain that we put things that are the same into groups or categories. I will give examples of categories such as school supplies. Everything in this category is used in school: a pencil, an eraser, and crayons. I will read aloud the first two headings (“Baby Animals” and “Pets”) in My Big Animal Book by Roger Priddy. I will notice how the animals are sorted into the categories. I will think aloud about animals that I could add to the two groups. I will read aloud the next heading (“On the Farm”) without showing the pictures.

  • Think Check

    Ask: "What was I thinking about when I added more animals to the groups 'Baby Animals' and 'Pets'?" Students should respond that you were choosing animals that are like the other animals in the group.

  • Guided Practice

    will chart animals that could be in the group, “On the Farm.” We will look at the pictures on the page, “On the Farm,” and notice which animals fit into this group. We will repeat this activity with the next two headings, “Birds” and “At the Zoo”.

  • Independent Practice

    will think about all the animals that were in the book. You will draw and label four pictures of animals that would fit into the category, “Animals with Four Legs.” (Independent Practice Worksheet is provided.) Note: When charting for Kindergartners, use pictures and/or drawings when possible.

    TIP: Allow students to look at the book for the Independent Practice so that they can get ideas of animals that have four legs.

Build Student Vocabulary squeaky

Tier 2 Word: squeaky
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story A cat’s favorite toy is a squeaky mouse.
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) Squeaky means making a high-pitched noise. When the toy mouse made the squeaky sound, it was noisy and high-pitched.
Students repeat the word Say the word squeaky with me: squeaky.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts Whenever I watch a basketball game, I hear many squeaky sounds from sneakers on the court. The mice in Cinderella have squeaky voices. When children jump up and down on a bed or couch, the springs make squeaky noises.
Students provide examples What can you think of that makes a squeaky sound? Start by saying, “______________ makes a squeaky sound.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? squeaky
Additional Vocabulary Words stroke, carry

Build Student Background Knowledge

After reading My Big Animal Book, explain that there is one important and familiar animal that was not included—humans. Humans are animals, just like the ones we read about. A baby human might be classified or grouped on the baby animals page, but humans would not be grouped on the pages about pets. Why? Humans own pets and are not pets.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

(To see all of the ReadWorks lessons aligned to your standards, click here.)

User Comments

AWESOME. THANK YOU

Submitted by lbeckwith_2241412 on 9/23/16

Love this

Submitted by rhonda.cruce-dowdy_1856219 on 4/30/16

Wow this really helps teachers and children

Submitted by Chelsea on 2/29/16

This is a great lesson plan for classification. I will definitely use it again!!. Thank you for sharing. =)

Submitted by sielvis_1667997 on 2/11/16

Thank you so much for sharing. It is going to be very helpful! Its a lesson plan I plan to reuse as long as I need it. :-)

Submitted by Lorrein Rosas on 9/19/15

One of my colleagues use it side for her lessons plans and I love it . From now and on I will use it. Thank you so much.
Lucelly Lorenzana

Submitted by lucelly.lorenzana_1243248 on 2/12/15