1 5 3 the sunflower questions (fiction)

The Sunflower Questions
by Peter William Depp

ELL Reader 1.5.3

Fiction

INTRODUCE THE BOOK

RESPOND

Activate Prior Knowledge/Build
Background Read the title, and ask children
what they think the boy has in his hands. Ask:
Have you ever seen a sunflower plant? Have you
ever seen sunflower seeds? Tell children this book
tells how sunflowers grow.

Answers to the Reader’s Inside Back Cover:

Preview/Use Text Features Preview the
reader by talking about the illustrations together
and naming the labeled items.
Preteach Vocabulary Review the highfrequency words that appear in this book:
among and another. Introduce these key
words from the book: sunflower (p.1),
questions (p.1), farm (p. 2), and leave
(p. 4). Discuss these words and add them to a
Word Wall.

READ THE BOOK

Choose among these options for reading to
support children at all English proficiency levels.
Read Aloud Read the book aloud as children
follow along. Pause to verify comprehension and
to explain unfamiliar concepts.
Monitored Reading Have children read
aloud a few pages at a time. Use the following
questions to support comprehension:
• Pages 2–3 Where do David and Emma
spend the summer? (They spend the summer
at Grandma’s farm.)
• Pages 4–5 What color are the sunflowers?
(The sunflowers are yellow and brown.)
• Pages 6–8 What do they see after ten
days? (They see tiny stems.)

Write About It
3. Children should draw a picture of a sunflower
and write about it. Possible response: Sunflowers
are yellow and brown. They are very tall.
Sunflower seeds make new flowers.
Support writers at various English proficiency
levels.
Beginning Display this sentence frame:
Seeds come from
. Have children dictate an
ending.
Intermediate Have children use the words
first, next, then, and last in their writing.
Advanced Ask children to include their own

experiences with sunflowers and sunflower
seeds.
Extend Language Tall refers to something
that is very high. A flag pole and a building are
examples of things that are tall.
Answers to page 54:
Children should draw 1) seeds being planted,
2) the planted seeds being watered, and 3)
small stems growing, thus ending at the mature
sunflower again.
Family Link Read aloud the Family Link activity
on page 54 before sending copies of the Study
Guide home with children. Later, have them tell
what their family members’ favorite flowers are
and why.

© Scott Foresman 1

Reread Have children reread the book with a
partner, in small groups, or independently. Have
them complete the Study Guide on page 54.

Talk About It
1. They wanted to find out what the seeds are,
where sunflower seeds came from, what to do
with the seeds, where the flowers were, and if
the flowers would have seeds. (Main Idea)
2. Sunflowers make seeds, and seeds make
sunflowers. (Sequence)

ELL Readers Teaching Guide

Unit 5, Week 3 The Sunflower Questions

53


Study Guide

The Sunflower
Questions

Name

• Read The Sunflower Questions again.
• Draw what happens to the sunflower seeds.

Family Link
© Scott Foresman 1

Ask family members to tell what their favorite flower
is and why they like it.

54

The Sunflower Questions Unit 5, Week 3

ELL Readers Teaching Guide