Puppy & Iby A. A. Milne

Included: A brief excerpt from the book and rigorous question set activities

promoting higher level-thinking development

Additional Resources

Tier 1

poetry selection

Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives

Habits of Mind

Obtain the book from a school library to read the story in its entirety and complete the ladder activities.

Students will be able:Ladder AA1 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 CC1-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.

Tier 2Rigor

(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?

Tier 3Rigor

(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.

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.