In the Small, Small Pond/In the Tall, Tall Grass
In the Small, Small Pond
By Denise Fleming, Henry Holt and Company, 1998
Concepts and Themes To Teach
- Action/Sound Vocabulary
- Wiggle/jiggle/wriggle
- Waddle/wade
- Hover/shiver/quiver
- Drowse/doze/close
- Lash/lunge/plunge
- Sweep/swoop/scoop
- Splish/splash/flash
In the Tall, Tall Grass
By Denise Fleming, Henry Holt and Company, 1991
Concepts and Themes
- Crunch/munch
- Dart, dip, sip
- Strum, drum
- Crack, snap, flap
- Pull, tug, lug
- Slip, slide, glide
- Ritch/ratch, scratch
- Skitter, scurry
- Zip, zap, snap
- Hip/hop, flop
- Stop, go, glow
- Lunge, loop, swoop
- Note: in both books, there are actions or characters in the pictures that are not identified in the text. The reader will need to describe or expand on the pictures.
Expanded Core Curriculum Skills and Activities
Compensatory Skills
- The action words should each be explored, modeled, demonstrated, and understood. This could take an entire unit!
Recreation & Leisure
- Sand & water table: place pond animal toys, such as frogs and duck, and plastic water flowers in the water table. Add plastic aquarium grasses. Could also use a small wading pool on the floor, if you are brave!
Visual Efficiency Skills
- Talk about camouflage with the children, and the concept of being hidden by color alone. Take several paper or plastic frogs/toads outside. They should be a variety of colors: beige, brown, green, and a bright color. Place the frogs in various ground coverings like leaves, grass, on wood, etc. See what frog was easiest to find and which frogs were different to find. Have the children decide the best camouflage color for each environment is. Can repeat with a real toad if you are able to find one.
