My Lucky Day
by Keiko Kasza

Meet the Author/Illustrator

Respond to this book on the Powers Ferry blog

Curriculum Connections
 

What are the characteristics of a fox?
What are the characteristics of a pig?
What is the relationship between a fox and a pig?
What would make your day lucky?

The following topics can be taught from Chrysanthemum.  Examples are often contained in the text. Readers and Writers topics can often be taught in either workshop.

Readers Workshop

Predictions
Dialogue
Reading intonation
Fact/fiction
Personification

Comprehension:  Whose lucky day is it?
When is the pig’s luck going to run out?
Is it luck if it is planned?

Inference:  What does the fox think of himself? What are the characteristics of a fox in literature?

Writers Workshop

Write the next chapter:  What happens with the bear?

Reflective comment
Persuasive writing
Using humor

Language Use/Conventions

Verbs (tenses, word choice)
Root words

Math

Science

Life cycles
Worms
Plants
Parts of a flower
Ecology

Social Studies

Families
Communities
Classroom rules

Health

Bullying
Nutrition (favorite dinner/desert)


 

Character Ed./Guidance

Friendships
Empathy
Positive/negative peer pressure
Feelings
How to ask for help (She never asked the teacher)
Positive parent support
Self-esteem
Tolerance of differences
Coping mechanisms (eats when she is sad)

Activities Integrating Technology
 

Digital Camera/Photo Story - Pictures can be taken, printed and used in the classroom.  You may also use them to make slideshows or movies.

• Take pictures of students, then have students match pictures to names.

• Take pictures of flowers then have students use netTrekker research flowers and try to identify them.

• Take pictures of family members at Open House.  Then have students try to match the family to the student.

• Take pictures of your journey to school.

• Take pictures of students making good choices

• Take pictures of students roleplay how to positively react to a situation.

• Take pictures from the book to use for retelling.

• Create a life cycle "movie" using pictures from the internet and PhotoStory.

Graph Club

• Create a graph of favorite foods.

• Create a graph of favorite flowers.

• Create a class graph based on the number of letters in your name.

• Create a feelings graph for how you feel when someone makes fun of your name.

Kidspiration/Inspiration

• Word Webs

Create a word web for flowers.
Cause/Effect - Create cause and effect diagrams for story events
 

• Super Grouper
  
  Title the page Plants and then make two groups:  Flowers and Not Flowers
   

• Reading/Writing Templates
  
  Character - Create a web for Chrysanthemum
  Initial Me - Great for Kindergarten.  Find pictures that begin with the same letter as your first and last initial.
  Comparison - Compare Chrysanthemum and  Victoria.  Also use to compare books/videos.  See unitedstreaming list.
  Vocabulary Word and New Word - Use with the Words and Phrases to Explore.
  Thinking About Stories - A Story Map
  My Story Starter - Use as a guide to retell the story.
   

• Social Studies Templates
  
  Rules Rule - Create rules for different situations.  Replace the pictures and create your own.  Great first day activity.
   

• Science Templates
  
  Food Pyramid - Explore the food groups.
   

• More Templates
  
  Here Kitty - Give each of the kittens a name.
   

Neighborhood Map Machine

• Make a map of Chrysanthemum's neighborhood.  Use it to show her way to school.

• Make a map of your own neighborhood and give directions from your home to school.  Use Google Earth to view the area first.

PowerPoint - Download directions for making bookmarks and little books.

• Bookmarks
  
  Name bookmarks - write an acrostic poem for your name
  List other books by Kevin Henkes
  Make a bookmark with information about your school
  Flower bookmarks - Make an informational bookmark with facts about flowers.
  Mice bookmarks - Make an informational bookmark with facts about mice.
   

• Little Books
  
  Name book - Many variations of this could be done.  Have students a letter from their name on each page and pictures that start with that letter.  You could also have a picture of each student per page and have them type "My name is ...".  Older students might add adjectives that describe them.
  
  My First Day of School - Have students write a story about their first day of school.  Emphasize sequence, or use beginning , middle, and end.
  
  Class Rules - Have students write and illustrate a class rule on each page.  This could also be done for school rules.
  
  Conflict/Resolution - Students could write stories about a conflict and how is was positively resolved.  This could also be done to retell the story.

Readinga-z books - Listed below are titles that are available at www.readinga-z.com.  The level is parenthesis is the Fountas & Pinnell guided reading level. 

• My Family (A)

• The School (A)

• The Classroom (A)

• Maria Goes To School (A)

• It is School Time (B)

• Maria and Her Teacher (B)

• How Many? (C)

• Feelings (C)

• Busy At School (C)

• We Count (C)

• I Need An Eraser (D)

• Where Plants Grow (D)

• Getting Ready For School (E)

• Josh Gets Glasses (F)

• Gordon Finds His Way (G)

• A Seed Grows (G)

• Families (I)

• Mike's Good Bad Day (I)

• Strange Plants (J)

• Insect Life Cycle (K)

• Turtle Tom (O)

• An Apple A Day (O)

• What's in a Name? (O)

• Harold The Dummy (O)

• Sally Jakayama's Worst Day Ever (Q)

• First Day of School (R)

• What Makes You, You (T)

• Talking to Each Other (V)

• Historic Peacemakers (V)

Timeliner

• Look at the pictures of Chrysanthemum growing up.  Create personal timelines.

• Create a timeline that shows the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

• Create a timeline that shows Chrysanthemum's feelings throughout the book.

United Streaming Videos - Listed below are titles that are available at www.unitedstreaming.com.  Click on the link, log in, and you will go right to the video.  Please preview any videos before using them with students.  You may also want to import the video into PowerPoint and then create questions to use with Beyond Question.

• Reading
  Chrysanthemum
  Tikki Tikki Tembo (T-T connection)
  Ashok by any other name (T-T connection, meaning of name)
  Crow Boy (T-T comparison)
  Discovering Language Arts: Reading (variety of reading skills: grades 3-5)
  Pendomonium: The Italian Job (roots/ prefixes and suffixes)
   

• English/Language Arts
  Sharp Wits Episode 107: Quotation Marks
  Rules of Punctuation (quotation marks)
  Moving the Mail (letter writing)
   

• Science
  Plants: A First Look
  Worm Farm
   

• Guidance/Character Ed.
  Stop Teasing Me
  Don’t Call Me Names
  Cool to be Me (self-esteem)
  Focus on Friendship
  How to Conduct Yourself at School
  You Can Solve a Problem (real-life)
  What’s it Like to Be Different
  Learning to Care
  Respect: Give It and Get It

Webquests

What’s In a Name? – A primary webquest in which students learn more about their name and their family.

Every Mouse Needs Cheese:  A Kevin Henkes Webquest – Read and learn more about several of Kevin Henkes books

Related Websites
 

Linking technology and Literacy – Primary Kid Pix lesson

Name Bingo – A getting to know you activity that is related to the book.

The Name Game – A first grade lesson plan for teaching syllables.

Letter to Parents – This letter asks parents to tell how the child’s name was chosen and why it is perfect for them.

Chrysanthemum Guided Reading lessons – Has a poem good for shared reading.  It also has discussion questions.

Kevin Henkes author study – Includes Chrysanthemum and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.

How Much is Your Name Worth? – Fifth grade lesson plan utilizing computation skills to determine the value of a name.

My Name is Yoon – Related book and name activities.

Letters In My Name  –  Activity for K–1.

Name Patterns – printable activity

Bullying: What Parents Can Do About It – A guide for parents that includes a list of related literature

What’s in a Name? – Use Chrysanthemum as an introduction to this set of lessons that explore graphing and data.

Name Meanings – Quickly gives meaning of name.  WARNING!  If you click on print certificate if wants you to buy this service.  Tell students not to click the link.  Make your own certificates with Publisher.

Teachers.net:  Chrysanthemum – A compilation of ideas.

Chrysanthemum – Summary and 6 supporting activities

Extension Activities – Questions and extension activities from Reading Is Fundamental.

Fourteen More Activities for the First Days of School – Includes an activity for Chrysanthemum.

Phonics Generalizations – Lesson plan for ow, ew, aw.

Words That Heal – Using Chrysanthemum to address bullying.

Related Literature

Bullies Found In Children’s Literature

 Books by Kevin Henkes

Updated On:  August 1, 2007