Six and seven year olds are just beginning to ask questions about jobs and the Tools We Use series looks at them from a developmentally appropriate and unique angle—how do the workers do their jobs? What tools do they use? Opportunities for good conversations, concept development, and vocabulary enhancement abound.

Comprehension Strategy

Summarizing with the help of a glossary

When reading, it is important to take time to summarize. The active processes of reviewing material, clarifying understanding, and stating conclusions all improve comprehension. These early level books have picture glossaries that support these processes. Direct instruction in using picture glossaries will also transfer to other informational books that have a similar feature.

"I do" (Teacher models strategy)

Teacher: "Wow! Most of the things in the book are here in small pictures. I can use these pictures to SHARPEN MY MEMORY! I remember the backhoe! This picture shows it moving dirt. When they added the new extension to our school, the backhoe reminded me of a robot with a super shovel! THIS PICTURE HELPED ME REMEMBER WHAT I READ! What is next? Here are some bricks. I used bricks to make a path, but they aren’t doing that. I’d better look back at the picture. Now, I remember; bricks are one way to make walls. I remember wood is used too. THIS PICTURE HELPED ME KNOW WHAT I NEEDED TO CHECK AGAIN!"

"We Do" (Teacher and students practice together)

"Are you ready? Let’s do the next one together! What is the next picture? DOES THE PICTURE HELP YOU REMEMBER? DO YOU WANT TO CHECK THE BOOK?"

"You Do" (Children use the strategy)

Continue gradually to release responsibility. Soon you can tell the students, "You do!"

Textual Supports

Two separated sentences on each page
Strong text/photo match

Discussing the photographs before reading the text will allow pertinent vocabulary to be accessed prior to decoding.

Textual Challenges

Concept Vocabulary

Students need opportunities to make the technical vocabulary their own. Book picture walks, prop boxes for the drama center, guest speakers, and demonstrations all will deepen concept development.

ESL Connections

Guest speakers

Invite guests (chefs, EMTs, doctors) and bring in artifacts (artwork, books, photos of buildings) that correspond to the cultures and ethnicities represented by your ESL students.

Language Acquisition

Field trip

Take a field trip to see the various work environments. Have students create posters with one of their caregivers showing the tools they use.

Integration of Literacy and Economics and History

(Economics) Explore jobs. Have students choose a job they think they would like to have when they grow up. Make a bulletin board with their photographed faces dressed in appropriate clothes and using appropriate tools.

(History) Start a "Then and Now" collection highlighting old-fashioned tools and modern ones, such as an electric mixer and a rotary egg beater.

Internet Links

www.moma.org/destination/#

Designed for 5 to 8 year olds, this interactive Web site takes viewers through the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. (Children)

contractor.edu/buildhouselp/welcome.html

A lesson plan for K and first grade teachers including songs, activity sheets, and curricular extensions about construction (Teacher)

http://kidshealth.org/kid/recipes/index.html

Many healthy recipes for children to make; some need adult assistance. (Teacher and Children)

www.spatulatta.com/

This award-winning Web site designed by two school-aged children includes recipes, commentaries, links and videos of the girls preparing food. (Children)

http://kids.nypl.org/

A wealth of information from the New York Public Library system with everything from audio books, to simple games, to Web site links, to references (Teacher and Children)

Word Study Skills

-	Suffix -er can mean "person who...": builder + worker, writer
-	Italicized words are important.

Multiple Intelligence Extensions

-	Bodily-Kinesthetic: Add a wood working center to your classroom (hammers, wood, nails, nuts, bolts and screws).
-	Visual and Logical-Mathematical: Provide an edible building station! Spaghetti and miniature marshmallows can create frames; peanut butter and veggie sticks can mimic bricks and mortar.