Activity Overview
Cooperation is when people work together to achieve a common goal. It is a give and take that balances our own needs with the needs of other people. When we cooperate with others to accomplish a task, we listen, compromise, share, and take turns. Cooperation is a crucial skill for children to learn at a young age.
For this activity, the teacher will begin by reading The Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel aloud to the class. This story is about a little red pen who needs help grading all of the student papers, but her helpers stapler, scissors, pencil, highlighter, pushpin, and eraser do not want to pitch in. When Little Red Pen falls off of the table into the trash can out of exhaustion, the others realize that they need to get her out and all help to get the papers graded. With the help of a lazy hamster and a lot of cooperation, Little Red Pen is rescued, and the grading gets done together.
After a discussion about the book and how the friends all worked together, students will create a cell describing and illustrating their favorite part of the story. Depending on age and ability level, teachers may choose to include writing or just have students use pictures.
Other Picture Books for Teaching Cooperation
- Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper
- My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann
- A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
- Crayon by Simon Rickerty
- Goal! by Mina Javaherbin
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a cell that illustrates and describes your favorite part of the story.
Student Instructions
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- Create an illustration that represents your favorite part of The Little Red Pen using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of the scene in the space below the illustration.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 7 Points | Emerging 4 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen is clear and at least two sentences. | The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen can be understood but it is somewhat unclear. | The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen is unclear and is not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustration represents the scene or explanation using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustration relates to the scene or explanation, but is difficult to understand. | The illustration does not clearly relate to the scene or the explanation. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
Activity Overview
Cooperation is when people work together to achieve a common goal. It is a give and take that balances our own needs with the needs of other people. When we cooperate with others to accomplish a task, we listen, compromise, share, and take turns. Cooperation is a crucial skill for children to learn at a young age.
For this activity, the teacher will begin by reading The Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel aloud to the class. This story is about a little red pen who needs help grading all of the student papers, but her helpers stapler, scissors, pencil, highlighter, pushpin, and eraser do not want to pitch in. When Little Red Pen falls off of the table into the trash can out of exhaustion, the others realize that they need to get her out and all help to get the papers graded. With the help of a lazy hamster and a lot of cooperation, Little Red Pen is rescued, and the grading gets done together.
After a discussion about the book and how the friends all worked together, students will create a cell describing and illustrating their favorite part of the story. Depending on age and ability level, teachers may choose to include writing or just have students use pictures.
Other Picture Books for Teaching Cooperation
- Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper
- My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann
- A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
- Crayon by Simon Rickerty
- Goal! by Mina Javaherbin
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a cell that illustrates and describes your favorite part of the story.
Student Instructions
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- Create an illustration that represents your favorite part of The Little Red Pen using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of the scene in the space below the illustration.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 7 Points | Emerging 4 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen is clear and at least two sentences. | The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen can be understood but it is somewhat unclear. | The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen is unclear and is not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustration represents the scene or explanation using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustration relates to the scene or explanation, but is difficult to understand. | The illustration does not clearly relate to the scene or the explanation. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
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