Discussion Guide for Pirate Nap: A Book of Colors

PIRATE NAP: A Book of Colors

Written by Danna Smith and Illustrated by Valeria Petrone

Teacher’s Guide created by Cassandra Reigel Whetstone

Story Summary

Two boys turn everyday items into colorful treasure before sailing off to nap time.

Danna Smith writes from her home in Northern California where she lives with her husband and two children. Learn more about her at http://www.dannasmithbooks.com.

Valeria Petrone lives and illustrates from her home in Italy. You can learn more about her at www.valeriapetrone.com. 

Discussion Questions: Before, During, and After Reading

1.     Do these boys look like they are ready to take a nap? What do you predict this story will be about? (before reading)

2.     What sorts of things do these pirates do for fun? What does “Pirates plunder” mean? (pages 4-5)

3.     What might they find under their couch? What do you think they would find if they searched under your couch?  (pages 8-9)

4.     What kind of treasure will they discover in the trunk? (page 18-19)

5.     What sorts of dreams do you think the kids are having? What about the puppy? (after reading)

Shared Reading (Color Cards)

Materials: One square of construction paper per student, using white, yellow, red, green, brown, orange, purple, black, and blue, (e.g. if there are 27 students in the class three will get white, three yellow, etc.)

Directions: Preschool After reading PIRATE NAP, pass out one square of construction paper to each student. Tell students that when you reach their color in the book they should stand, hold up their color square, and call out its name. Read through the book a second time with students joining in the name the colors. K-2 Students Follow the activity for preschool students but have them spell out the color words when they stand up.

Response to Story: Color Scavenger Hunt (Colors, Writing)

Preschool-Grade 2

Materials: Board or Chart Paper; blank paper for each student; crayons in white, yellow, red, green, brown, orange, purple, black, and blue.

Directions:

1.     Say, “We are going to go on a scavenger hunt for colorful treasures.” Ask students to help you remember the name of the colors used in PIRATE NAP and record the names of the colors on the board or chart paper.

2.     Give each student a piece of paper and set of crayons.

3.     Tell students that they need to find one item in the classroom for each color. Preschoolers-and early kindergarteners should draw a picture of the object using the matching crayon. Students who are ready for writing in kindergarten, and students in grades 1-2 should write the name of the colored object, using the matching crayon.

4.     Ask students to walk around the classroom searching for objects of each color. Have students return to their seats to record each object found. Note: If students have a hard time finding any colors invite them to look through picture books for the missing colors.

Closure: Invite volunteers to read their lists to the class.

Color Survey (Graphing, Feelings)

Materials: Chart Paper; markers; pieces of construction paper or color cards in yellow, red, green, orange, purple and blue; board or overhead projector

Preparation: Create a chart with six columns. Label each column with one of the colors from above.

Directions:

1.     Tell students that colors can affect our feelings. Say, “Sometimes colors can make us feel calm or happy and sometimes they might make us feel angry or sad.”

2.     Tell students that you are going to show them different colors. Ask them not to use any words but to think about how they feel when they look at the color. Remind students that there is no right or wrong way to feel about a color and that each person gets to have their own feelings about each color.

3.     Show students the colors one at a time.

4.     Draw a happy face, sad face, and a straight face on the board. Ask students to come up to the chart record the feeling/face that reflects their feelings about each color under its column on the chart.

Closure: Have students state or write summary statements about the graph. Ask, “Which colors made the most people feel happy? What about sad? Were there any colors that  didn’t make people feel either happy or sad?”

Finding Treasure (Art)

Materials: One paper plate or piece of cardboard per student; tempura paints; glue; permanent marker; a variety of recycled materials such as paper tubes, lids, cartons, fruit baskets, buttons, egg cartons, etc.; glitter glue (optional)

Directions:

1.     Tell students that they are going to create a pirate treasure. Give students a paper plate or piece of cardboard. Have them label it on the bottom with their name.

2.     Put out recycled materials on a table, (or put at a center.)

3.     Ask students to use at least four different items and glue to construct a pirate treasure.

4.     When treasure is dry, have them use one color of tempura paint to paint their treasure. Invite students to use glitter glue if available.

5.     Ask students to name their treasure and write it on their object with the permanent marker.

Closure: Display the treasures around the room. Preschool and kindergarten teachers might consider using the treasures carefully in small or large group color sorting activities.