Lesson Plan for A Message of Love
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Objective- Students will be able to identify when a character in a story is talking; understand that quotation marks are
used to distinguish talking from the rest of the story; and to apply the use of quotation marks correctly to their own
writing.
Age Level- This lesson can be adapted to work with students in grades kindergarten through third grade.
Time Frame- 1-3 40 minute periods
Materials-
• The book “A Message of Love”
• Sentence strips
• Elbow macaroni
• Chart paper
• Markers
• Glue
• Paper
• Pencil
Before Reading- Explain that in some stories the characters or people in the story talk to each other. To help the
reader know that a character is talking to another character, they use quotation marks. Explain that quotation marks go
around just what the person said. Write an example on the board or on chart paper. Write the quotation marks in a bold
color so that they will stand out. Explain to the students that in this story a young girl and her grandmother talk to each
other. Ask them to listen for the words that they say to each other.
During Reading- As you are reading, use a different voice for each character/
Have the students raise their hand each time a character is talking. Talk about the clues they heard that told them
someone was talking and then show them the quotation marks. Be sure to emphasize that the quotation marks go
before and after what the person said and that they do not go around the part “she said.”
After Reading- (this part of the lesson is good for all students and can be done on the same day as reading or the next
day if needed) Model how to use quotation marks using a shared writing technique. Have the students give sentences
about their favorite part of the book. (ie: I like when Linda found the secret message in the quilt) Record the
sentences on the chart paper being sure to write “said Joe.” For the first few examples, model how to add the quotation
marks. Use a think aloud to allow the students to understand why you are putting the quotation marks in each place. (i.
e.: The first thing Joe said was I, so I will put quotes in front of the word I. The last thing Joe said was quilt, so I will put
quotation marks after the word quilt. Joe did not say Joe said, so I will not put those words inside the quotation marks.
After modeling a few sentences, have the students point out where the quotes should go. Once the students seem to
understand, share the pen and have the students write in the quote for you.
(This part of the lesson is meant for older students and can be done the next day.)
To prepare for this part of the lesson, write sentences from the story that contain quotes, on sentence strips, but leave
the quotes out of this copy. Begin the lesson by reminding students how to use quotes. Be sure to refer back to the
shared writing that was completed yesterday in class. Then break students up into pairs and have them use the elbow
macaroni as quotes. They should glue the macaroni onto the correct place for the quotes in the sentence. Review the
sentence strips with the class. Finally, have the students write sentences that contain quotes in their journals. To make
it even more fun, have the students write the quotes in a fun colored pen or marker.
used to distinguish talking from the rest of the story; and to apply the use of quotation marks correctly to their own
writing.
Age Level- This lesson can be adapted to work with students in grades kindergarten through third grade.
Time Frame- 1-3 40 minute periods
Materials-
• The book “A Message of Love”
• Sentence strips
• Elbow macaroni
• Chart paper
• Markers
• Glue
• Paper
• Pencil
Before Reading- Explain that in some stories the characters or people in the story talk to each other. To help the
reader know that a character is talking to another character, they use quotation marks. Explain that quotation marks go
around just what the person said. Write an example on the board or on chart paper. Write the quotation marks in a bold
color so that they will stand out. Explain to the students that in this story a young girl and her grandmother talk to each
other. Ask them to listen for the words that they say to each other.
During Reading- As you are reading, use a different voice for each character/
Have the students raise their hand each time a character is talking. Talk about the clues they heard that told them
someone was talking and then show them the quotation marks. Be sure to emphasize that the quotation marks go
before and after what the person said and that they do not go around the part “she said.”
After Reading- (this part of the lesson is good for all students and can be done on the same day as reading or the next
day if needed) Model how to use quotation marks using a shared writing technique. Have the students give sentences
about their favorite part of the book. (ie: I like when Linda found the secret message in the quilt) Record the
sentences on the chart paper being sure to write “said Joe.” For the first few examples, model how to add the quotation
marks. Use a think aloud to allow the students to understand why you are putting the quotation marks in each place. (i.
e.: The first thing Joe said was I, so I will put quotes in front of the word I. The last thing Joe said was quilt, so I will put
quotation marks after the word quilt. Joe did not say Joe said, so I will not put those words inside the quotation marks.
After modeling a few sentences, have the students point out where the quotes should go. Once the students seem to
understand, share the pen and have the students write in the quote for you.
(This part of the lesson is meant for older students and can be done the next day.)
To prepare for this part of the lesson, write sentences from the story that contain quotes, on sentence strips, but leave
the quotes out of this copy. Begin the lesson by reminding students how to use quotes. Be sure to refer back to the
shared writing that was completed yesterday in class. Then break students up into pairs and have them use the elbow
macaroni as quotes. They should glue the macaroni onto the correct place for the quotes in the sentence. Review the
sentence strips with the class. Finally, have the students write sentences that contain quotes in their journals. To make
it even more fun, have the students write the quotes in a fun colored pen or marker.
| Prepared by Carolyn Janney, Kindergarten Teacher for www.robinfalls.com |