Something+to+Crow+About

Introduction
Have children notice that on the title page there are some eggs with tiny cracks in them. Turn the page to the dedication page where there are two nests with eggs with lager cracks and a bit of yellow fluff and a beak. Have children predict what is happening.

Read the story, pausing at the page that shows Randall imagining himself doing a lot of things better than Cassie. Have children tell what each part of the large bubble over Randall's head means. They can finish the sentence, "Randall wishes he could _. ...scratch better than Cassie. ...strut better than Cassie. ...cheep better than Cassie. ...find worms better than Cassie.

Discuss how Randall wanted to be able to lay an egg, but he couldn't; Casie wanted to "cock-a-doodle-do", but couldn't. Ask the children to tell some things that they wish they could do that a brother, sister or friend can do. Have the children tell somethings they each do well.

Art Story Stretcher: I Wish I Could Drawings [[file:Something to Crow About.doc]]
Turn to the page Randall imagining himself doing a lot of things better than Cassie. Point out how the illustration on the page made a large bubble over Randall's head and smaller pictures in the bubble of the things Randall imagined himself doing. Have children draw a small picture of themselves and then something that they wish they could do in the bubble.

Drama Story Stretcher
After reading the story once, reread and have the children act out the story: all girls will be Cassie and boys will be Randall. They act out the story when you pause and give direction. Establish a hand signal to let the actors know when to stop and listen to the story again.

Read the story and pause for the children to pretend that they are pecking out of the egg. Cassie: children strut, cheep, scratch the ground, looking for worms. Randall (at the scene where he imagines doing things better): strut, cheep, scratch the ground, looking for worms.

Cassie: sit in egg, pretend to lay an egg. Randall: sit on egg, cock-a-doodle-do"

Have Cassies pretend to cock-a-doodle-do but can only "peep".

End by having the Cassies and Randalls face each other and say: "Being Different is Really Something to Crow About"

Note: those who do not want to participate will be the audience. At the end have them tell which parts of the story they liked best.

Retelling the Story: Felt Board
Have parent volunteers photocopy and then color parts from the picture book. Laminate and glue sand paper to the back. Use this to have the children help you retell the story.

Math Story Stretcher
Parent volunteers: Look at the front end papers of the book. Draw a chick pattern, duplicate on yellow paper and cut out.

Ask the children to look at the front end papers and notice how you can tell the two chicks apart by the different bows on their neck.Have the children decorate the bows ion both sides to tell them apart.

Have children look at the end papers and create the same pattern. Make up several random patterns.


 * Source:** Raines, Shirley C., and Robert J. Canady. More Story Stretchers: More Activities to Expand Favorite Books. Maryland: Mt. Rainer, 1991.