Rooster's Off to See the World

Author-Illustrator: Eric Carle

Recommended Grade Level: Pre-Kindergarten - 1st Grade

CCSSM:  CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.A.1

Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.1

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.A.2Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.B.3
Apply properties of operations as strategies to add and subtract.2 Examples: If 8 + 3 = 11 is known, then 3 + 8 = 11 is also known. (Commutative property of addition.) To add 2 + 6 + 4, the second two numbers can be added to make a ten, so 2 + 6 + 4 = 2 + 10 = 12. (Associative property of addition.)

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.B.4
Understand subtraction as an unknown-addend problem. For example, subtract 10 - 8 by finding the number that makes 10 when added to 8.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.C.5
Relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2).

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.C.6
Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 - 4 = 13 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 - 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13).

Summary: One fine morning, a rooster sets off to see the world.  Soon he is joined by two cats, then three frogs, then four turtles, then five fish.  But one group by one, his new friends decide to head home, leaving the rooster alone again and ready to return to his own comfortable home as well. Bold, colorful collage illustrations, a beguiling story, and simple introduction to number sets, addition, and subtraction.

Rating:

Classroom ideas/Lesson Plans:

1. Explain to the children that today we are going to read Rooster’s Off to See the World and on Rooster’s journey, he meets many animals.  Ask the children to predict what type of animals Rooster will meet.

1. Write down the various animals on the piece of graph paper.  Make sure that the suggestions are organized in a way that resembles a graph and that there is room to keep tallies of the animals that Rooster encounters in the book.  When reading the book, pause and make not when one of the predicted animals is mentioned.

1. Invite the children to listen to the book.  “Now we will read about Rooster’s journey.  Raise your hand when you notice an animal.  Let’s keep track of all the animals Rooster meets and how many animals he meets.

1. Notice that on each page of the book, in the top right hand corner, there is a way to keep track of the number and type of animals that Rooster meets along the way. 

• Book reads  “Just then, he met two cats.  The Rooster said ‘Come along with me to see the world.’  ‘We would love to,’ they purred and set off down the road with Rooster.”

• Say: “Notice in the corner of the book that the book is keeping track of how many animals are joining Rooster on his trip.  There was Rooster and now 2 cats have joined.  How many animals are now on Rooster’s journey?”  (Three) “That’s right.  Let’s keep reading to see how many more animals join Rooster.”

1. Continue reading and making note of the animals that join the journey.  You will then get to a page in the middle of the book that has no note of the animals in the corner and shows all the animals gathered together and fire flies up overhead.

• Book reads “After a few minutes of silence, the fish suddenly decided that it might be best if they headed for home.  They wished the others a happy trip and swam away.”

• Ask: “What’s happening now with the group of animals?”  (They are leaving)  “How many animals were there?” (15).  Check your chart paper if the children are uncertain) “And now the fish have left. How many animals are there now?”  (10) “What do you think is going to happen next?”

1. Continue reading and making note of the animals that go home.

1. After finishing the book, check the predictions that the children made earlier.  Add the animals that weren’t listed and eliminate the animals that weren’t in the book. Ask the children to recall the number of each animal in the book.  “Ok, there were turtles.  How many turtles?” (4)  Do this for all the animals so the children will have a reference when doing their activity.