Subject(s): Multi-Disciplinary, Language Arts, Math Grades(s): Grades PreK-1, Grades 2-3

Amy

Geurkink

Topic: Standard 6 – Number Sense and Numeration

Grade: K – 3

Materials: Book Harriet Goes to the
Circus

Activity:

Introduction:

Read the book aloud with the students

In the book Harriet the elephant wakes up early to go to the
circus because she wants to be first in

line in order to get the best seat. She is the first one there,
and one – by – one her animal friends line

up behind her. But, much to Harriet's dismay, the entrance to the
circus tent is at the other end

of the line. Everyone turns around, and Harriet is now the last
in line. However, it turns out the

chairs are in a circle inside the tent, and everyone gets a front
seat.

Development:

1. One the first page of Harriet Goes to the Circus, Harriet is
waking up. Ask the students what they think she will do first. Second? Third?
What is the last thing she will do before she leaves her house? Ask the children
to make a list of what they do in the morning before they come to school. Then
have them put these activities in the proper sequence.

2. Utilizing ordinal names, ask the children questions about the
story. For example: What is Harriet doing on the fourth page?

3. Give each child a large strip of oaktag with guide lines for
printing. Have each child choose one sentence (there are 29 in the story) to
write on each strip. (If this is too hard for the students to do themselves, you
or an aide can do it beforehand.) Then have the students put the strips in the
story's correct order. Children can worked on this by themselves at other times
as well.

4. Get a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jelly, a loaf of bread,
and a butter knife. Have the children give you directions on how to make a
peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Have them tell you what to do first, second,
and so on. Follow their instructions verbatim.

5. Have the students brainstorm situations in which ordinals are
used:

(in line, in the first paragraph, book pages, birth order,
contests/prizes, directions)

Closure:

Tell the students that when the animals are standing in line
for the circus:

The mouse is next to the duck.

The duck is not first.

Harriet is next to the mouse.

Harriet is first in line.

Then ask, "In what position is the mouse?"

Later the animals discover that the entrance to the tent is
located at the other end of the line,

and everyone turns around.

The owl used to be last or tenth in line;

now the owl is first in line.

The dog used to be eighth in line;

now the dog is third in line.

The monkey used to be fourth in line.

In which position is the monkey now?

Adaptations:

1. Have the children take on the roles of the different
animals and act out the story.

2. Have the children write a pattern book based on the story
Harriet Goes to the Circus.

References:

Math Through Children's Literature