Understanding the concept of the days of the week is difficult for some students because it is so abstract.  Many students start to explore this topic when they start Kindergarten and are exposed to a daily calendar.  A variety of methods and media can be used to help students develop an understanding of the concept.  Using different media formats; Eric Carle and Dr. Jean Feldman both explore the days of the week, each using slightly different variations of a particular text pattern.  In this lesson students will listen to Dr. Jean’s song “Today is Sunday” and Eric Carle’s book Today is Monday.  They will then compare and contrast the song and the book before developing a library book of their own. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Students will listen to the song, “Today is Sunday”, and then identify the items associated with each day of the week.
• Students will listen to the story, Today is Monday, and identify the items the author associated with each day of the week.
• Students will compare and contrast the items found in the song with the items found in the book.
• Students will work together as a class to create a library book titled Today is….

 Motivational Goals:  

• Generate interest in a variety of media formats.
• Develop students’ confidence in their ability to find similarities between two separate works.
• Maintain students’ interest in comparing and contrasting two separate works.
• Promote students enjoyment of literature.
• Encourage students’ ongoing confidence in their ability to express their ideas creatively.
• Promote students’ satisfaction in their accomplishments.

• CD Player
• Dr. Jean & Friends CD
• Overhead Projector
• Blank Overheads
• Graphic organizer (optional)
• Today is Monday by Eric Carle
• Vis-a-vis markers
• Calendar

1. When the students enter the SLMC, the SLMS will have a recording of Dr. Jean’s “Today is Sunday” playing in the background.
2. The SLMS will have the students come in and sit on the carpet where class is regularly held. 
3. The SLMS will activate the students’ prior knowledge by questioning students about what day it is, what yesterday was, and what the next day will be.  The SLMS will then use a calendar review with the class what the days of the week are.
4. Before beginning the lesson, point out to students the use of Zoop instead of Soup in both the song and story.  Discuss why the authors might have chosen to use that term.
5. The SLMS will set the purpose for the lesson by explaining that the students are going to listen to both a song and a story today and will need to pay attention to which items are associated with each day of the week. 
6. After activating students’ prior knowledge and setting the purpose, the SLMS will play the song, “Today is Sunday”, for the students.
7. After the students listen to the song a couple of times, the SLMS will use the graphic organizer, Today is..., and have students supply her with the items associated with each day.  An ‘S’ will be placed next to the row of items to signify that they were from the song.  
8. The students will then listen to the story, Today is Monday.  After listening to the story, students will assist the SLMS with identifying the items associated with each day in the book.  These items will be added to the graphic organizer in a row marked with a ‘B’ to indicate they came from the book.
9. After both rows of items are compiled, students and the SLMS will have a grand conversation about the differences between the book and song.  Students will be invited to share with the class which item they like best, as well as whether they preferred the song or book.
10. Using the overhead projector again, the SLMS and students’ will brainstorm a list of foods that they like to eat.
11. Students will then choose seven of the foods from the list they created to use in their own class book.
12. Using the previous graphic organizer, the SLMS will write down each food item supplied by the students under the weekday the students indicate.  This row will be marked with a ‘C’ for class.
13. The SLMS will review the graphic organizer with students, discussing all three rows of food items.
14. Students and the SLMS will then work together to create the text for a library book similar to Eric Carle’s Today is Monday using the chart they developed.  During this process, the SLMS will invite students to come up and write some words, letters or punctuation.
15. The SLMS and students will reread the library book they developed together making any necessary changes.
16. The SLMS will explain to the students that she is going to type up the pages and the class will be able to illustrate the book the next time they come to the library.

*SLMS = School Media Specialist  

Throughout the lesson the SLMS will informally assess students’ motivation levels, ability to respond and contribute to the discussion, and understanding of the days of the week.  Any concerns or outstanding results will be shared with the classroom teacher.

American Association of School Librarians. Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Chicago: American Library Association, 1998.

Carle, Eric (1993). Today is Monday. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

Feldman, J. (1998). Today is Sunday. On Dr. Jean & Friends [CD]. Florida: Progressive Music.

Feldman, Dr. Jean (2001). Lyrics friends page 1. Retrieved June 26, 2006, from Dr. Jean: songs and activities for young children Web site: http://www.drjean.org/

Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, (2006). 4th edition standards & benchmarks. Retrieved May 29, 2006, from McREL Online Compendium Standards and Benchmarks Web site: http://www.mcrel.com/compendium/browse.asp

Small, R.V. Designing Digital Literacy Programs with IM-PACT. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2005.