Practice using a Table of Contents

in an expository book with first graders:

From Caterpillar to Moth by Jan Kottke

Display on an overhead projector and / or provide students with the page text.

Read aloud together the table of contents chapter titles.

Discuss what facts or information might be found in each chapter.

Establish the meaning of the numbers that precede and follow chapter titles.

Next, read a page aloud from a chapter, asking in which chapter students think that page may be found. Also ask their reasons for their conclusions.

1. Read page 12 aloud.

· Which chapter?…( Making a Cocoon ) Why do you think it’s in the chapter called Making a Cocoon ?

2. Read page 6 aloud.

· Which chapter?… (Moth Eggs) Why do you think it’s in the chapter called Moth Eggs?

3. Read page 16 aloud.

· Which chapter?… (A Grown-Up Moth) Why do you think it’s in the chapter (A Grown-Up Moth)?

Continue with various chapters, later change the focus to chapter numbers, page numbers, index or new words.

4. Read page 10 aloud. (Moth Eggs)

· Which chapter number?… (Moth Eggs) Why do you think it’s in chapter 2 ? What clues did you hear?

5. Read page 18 aloud. ( 3 A Grown- Up Moth)

· Which chapter number?…( 3 A Grown- Up Moth) Why do you think it’s in chapter 3 ? What clues did you hear?

Follow up or precede these activities with a visit to the Internet site video about butterflies found at brainpop (school district membership and password may be required:

http://www.brainpop.com/science/plantsandanimals/insects/index.weml