- A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds (book)
- small suitcase
- fruit
- protect
- seed
- suitcase
Literature/RL.PK.MA.1: With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about a story or a poem read aloud.
Literature/RL.PK.MA.4: With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unfamiliar words in a story or poem read aloud.
Literature/RL.PK.MA.10: Listen actively as an individual and as a member of a group to a variety of age-appropriate literature read aloud.
Head Start Outcomes:
Literacy Knowledge/Book Appreciation and Knowledge: Asks and answers questions and makes comments about print materials.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 6: Listen to a wide variety of age appropriate literature read aloud.
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 10: Engage actively in read-aloud activities by asking questions, offering ideas, predicting or retelling important parts of a story or informational book.
Read Together: A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds #1
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
STEM Key Concepts: Many foods that animals, including humans, eat come from plants; We eat certain leaves, roots, fruits, and seeds; Fruits have seeds; Seeds hold what a plant needs to make more of itself
ELA Focus Skills: Active Listening, Concepts of Print, Making Connections, Parts of a Book, Story Comprehension, Vocabulary
Show children the cover of the book. Ask a volunteer to point to the title, then read it aloud with children as you trace the outline of the suitcase. Then hold up the suitcase. Ask children if they have ever seen one or used a suitcase before. Ask, Why do you think people use a suitcase? Let children speculate. Guide them to understand that a suitcase protects, or takes care of, clothes, toys, and other things you take with you when you travel. Ask, Have you ever traveled somewhere and used a suitcase to carry your things with you?
Before You Read
Hold up A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds and point to the apple. Ask children what they think is inside the suitcase. Once children respond, flip the book to show the back cover. Ask children what they think the suitcase is protecting. Set a reading focus for children by having them notice all the “fruit suitcases” so they can discuss the different types (e.g., pit, small seeds, large seeds, seeds on the inside, seeds on the outside).
As You Read
Read slowly and with expression. Turn the book around so children can look at the pages as you read.
- Pause before you read “When you put a seed in the ground . . .” Before you read the words ask children to tell you what happens on the spread.
- Pause before reading “Some seeds travel on the wind” and ask, What do you think is happening to the dandelion seeds?
After You Read
Discuss the book with children. Ask questions, such as,
- Did you like the book? Which part did you like best?
- Why do you think the author thinks the fruit is a suitcase? How do you think animals help seeds travel around?
- Turn to the question-and-answer page at the back of the book. Say, These are questions that some children asked the author about seeds. Let’s read some. Read a few entries, especially the one about seeds in your tummy.