Text Talk Goldilocks Lesson Plan

Text Talk Lesson Plan for Goldilocks and the Three Bears:

• Goldilocks and the Three Bears
• Retold and Illustrated by James Marshall
• Dial Books for Young Readers, 1998.
• ISBN # 0-8037-0542-5

SUMMARY: The story of Goldilocks is as traditional as they come and this particular story followed the traditional story almost perfectly. The story begins with Goldilocks’ mother sending her to get muffins from the next village. Everything would have been fine if Goldilocks would have followed her mother’s instructions and not taken the shortcut. Goldilocks of course disobeys and takes the forbidden path. What to our surprise is at the end of the path? The Three Bears’ House and their porridge, chairs and comfy beds; all of which Goldilocks gets a feel of. Right before Goldilocks arrives the bears take a morning stroll on their bike to let their porridge get just right. When Goldilocks enters the house she manages to taste test all the porridges and devours Baby Bears. After destroying the kitchen with porridge she makes herself at home testing all three bears’ chairs and ends up breaking Baby Bears to pieces. Goldilocks then becomes tired and decides to take a nap in one of the beds and falls asleep in Baby Bears’ bed. Of course while Goldilocks was in the house she did not know that it was the Bears’ home and at one point in the story she finds fur and states that this family must have a cat. Little did she know that after she would fall asleep in Baby Bears’ bed the Bears would return. To the Bears surprise they find their porridge eaten, chairs sat in, beds laid in and of course, Goldilocks sleeping in Baby Bears’ bed. Goldilocks wakes up and literally jumps head first out of the window! The story ends with the Bears curious as to whom that was and commenting that they hope she never returns and the last page states that they never saw her again!

FOCUS: The focus of this story is to get the point across that Goldilocks learned her lesson but she would have benefited greatly if she just had listened to her mother. Another focus would be on brainstorming whether the students think that Goldilocks was a different girl after that.

COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS:

Cover: Show cover and read the title making sure to acknowledge who the author and illustrator is. Ask the students what they know about Goldilocks and if they think this will be a traditional story?

Page 1:

1. Do you think Goldilocks has a good reputation? (No) How do we know that she is full of trouble? (The neighbor told the new neighbor otherwise. Goldilocks is fixing to land in a barrel of water that will splash a group of perfectly relaxed cats right next to the barrel.

Page 2:

1. Before showing the class the pictures ask: Do you think Goldilocks will listen to her Mom’s instruction? (No because of the last statement on the page that naughty girls do exactly as they please)

Page 6:

1. Vocabulary word: Scalding: If Papa Bear hurt his tongue on the hot porridge what do you think scalding means? (If he hurt his tongue on something hot then it burnt him so scalding must mean that something is really hot and dangerous to touch!)

Page 7:

1. What do you think will happen next? (Goldilocks will arrive right after they peddle away)
2. Why are the bears leaving? (To let their porridge cool down and become just the right temperature.)

Page 11:

1. Whose porridge is Goldilocks eating? (Baby Bears’)

Page 12:

1. Vocabulary Word: Satisfied: If Goldilocks was feeling full and satisfied with porridge what do you think satisfied means? (Since she was full with porridge she was happy and content similar to the feeling we have after we eat a meal.)

Page 15:

1. Whose chair did Goldilocks break? (Baby Bears’)

Page 17:

1. Check out Papa Bears’ bunny slippers! He must have some big feet!!

Page 23:

1. Vocabulary Word: Smithereens: If Goldilocks broke the chair to smithereens then what do you think smithereens means? (Broke it to pieces, destroyed it)

Page 27:

1. Who is it in Baby Bears’ bed? (Goldilocks)

Wrap-Up: Ask the class if they think that Goldilocks will ever go through the shortcut again. Brainstorm together wondering if Goldilocks would have went home a changed girl and obedient to what her mother advises! Emphasize that when adults give us strict instruction that it is important for the child to obey.

VOCABULARY:

Scalding

Satisfied

Smithereens

Scalding: In the story when Papa Bear tastes his porridge he yelps that the porridge is scalding! Scalding means, very hot or burning! Say the word scalding!

• I am going to name some objects and I would like for you to clap your hands if you think the object is scalding:
  • A stove or oven
  • A sock
  • The sun
  • Grass
  • Clothes
  • Fire

What’s our word? Scalding

Satisfied: In the story Goldilocks managed to taste Papa and Mama Bears’ porridge and continue to eat all of Baby Bears’. After she ate she was full and satisfied meaning that she was very happy with the way that she felt so satisfied means: pleased, content

• Let’s think about what might make us feel satisfied:
  • Finishing a cone of your favorite ice cream
  • Finished your homework on time
  • Waiting in a long line
  • Having a cold or fever
  • Studying really hard and getting a good great on your test
  • Visiting your favorite vacation spot

What’s our word? Satisfied

Smithereens: in the story when Baby Bear sees his chair broken he states that whoever sat in his chair broke it to smithereens! Smithereens means small pieces.

• What other objects could Goldilocks had broken to smithereens and how?
  • The beds? If so, whose bed?
  • The porridge?
  • The floor?
  • The muffins she was supposed to bring back home?

What’s our word? Smithereens

We talked about three great words: scalding, satisfied and smithereens. Let’s think about them a little bit more.

• What would make you feel more satisfied? A brand new puppy or a new chore given by your parents?
• What is more likely to be scalding? Boiling water or a fork?
• What could be blown to smithereens? A rock or a piece of paper?

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