Puppy & I by A. A. Milne Included: A brief excerpt from the book and rigorous question set activities promoting higher level-thinking development

Additional Resources

poetry selection Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives Habits of Mind Tier 1 poetry selection Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives Habits of Mind

I met a Man as I went walking: I met some Rabbits as I went walking; We got talking, Man and I. Rabbits and I. “Where are you going to, Man?” I said “Where are you going in your brown fur coats?” (I said to the Man as he went by). “Down to the village, to get some bread. (I said to the Rabbits as they went by). Will you come with me?” “No, not I.” “Down to the village to get some oats. Will you come with us?” “No, not I.” I met a horse as I went walking: I met a Puppy as I went walking; Horse and I. “Where are you going to, horse, today?” Puppy and I. (I said to the Horse as he went by), “Where are you going this nice fine day?” “Down to the village to get some hay. (I said to the Puppy as he went by). Will you come with me?” “No, not I.” “Up to the hills to roll and play.” “I’ll come with you, Puppy,” said I. I met a Woman as I went walking; Woman and I. “Where are you going to, Woman, so early?” “Down to the village to get some barley. Obtain the book from a school library to read the story in its entirety and complete the ladder activities.

Students will be able: Ladder A A1 Sequencing - To list in order of importance specific events or plot summaries A2 Cause and Effect - To identify and predict relationships between character behavior and story events, and their effects upon other characters or events. A3 Consequences and Implications - To predict character actions, story outcomes, and make real-world forecasts. Ladder C C1-Literary Elements - To identify and explain specific story elements such as character, setting, or poetic-device. C2-Inference - To use textual clues to read between the lines and make judgments about specific textual events, ideas, or character analysis. C3-Theme/Concept - To identify a major idea or theme common in the text.

Habits of Mind Working Interdependently Thinking about Thinking (metacognition) Innovating, Creating, Imagining Refer to Jacob’s Ladder Story Table for Ladder A & C Thinking Questions.

(Discussion) High Level Strategies with Ladder A & C Questions Tier 2 Rigor (Discussion) High Level Strategies with Ladder A & C Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, 3-4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames). Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete. A1—Make a table to list who the boy meets, where each is going, and for what purpose. Write, discuss and identify what changes in the poem by consulting your table. A2—What effect does the last stanza have on the rest of the poem? How does it impact your thinking about what the poem means? C1—The author of the poem uses dialogue to tell his story, creating a conversation between the narrator of the poem and the others he encounters. Retell the story without the use of dialogue. Which approach is more effective? Why?

(Discussion) High Level Strategies with Ladder A & C Questions Tier 3 Rigor (Discussion) High Level Strategies with Ladder A & C Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, 3-4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames). Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete. A3—What are the implications of the narrator of the poem going with the puppy rather than the others he encounters? Why does he choose this companion? Would you do the same? C2—What inference do we make about the boy’s desires as a result of the last stanza? C3—Some people might say the poem is about finding the best companion. Other people might say that the poem is about choosing to do something you want to do. With which interpretation do you agree and why? Share your choice with classmates.

Reflections/Relevance Tier 4 Reflections/Relevance

Choose one of the writing ideas to complete.  Be creative.  1. Find another pattern writing (such as I know an old lady who swallowed a fly, going on a bear hunt, etc.) write a story in similar pattern. 2. Illustrate each stanza of the poem. Be detailed and descriptive using the author’s words to help visualize the events during each stanza. Suggested project strategies:  Write a podcast script; create a puppet show; develop a PSA; a PowerPoint presentation; write and be an actor in a skit; write a persuasive speech and give before the class.