Image of a Pikachu made out of leaves
HIROTAKA HAMASAKI
Mini Read,

This Art Is UnbeLEAFable

By Meg Richardson
From the September 2024 Issue

Children understand how to get information from text and images.

Lexile® measure: 390L
Featured Skill: Key Details,
Topic: Social Studies,
Common Core Standards
  • RI.2.1 Key details RI.2.2 Main idea RI.2.4 Vocabulary RI.2.5 Nonfiction text features RI.2.8 Text evidence RI.2.10 Read grade-2-appropriate informational text SL.2 Participate in conversations about grade-2 texts
TEKS Standards
  • Science
    (8) Earth and space. The student knows that there are recognizable patterns in the natural world and among objects in the sky. The student is expected to: (B) identify the importance of weather and seasonal information to make choices in clothing, activities, and transportation
  • Social Studies
    (4) Geography. The student understands the location of places in their community, state, country, and the world. The student is expected to: (A) identify major landforms and bodies of water, including each of the seven continents and each of the oceans, on maps and globes

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Imagine coming to school and seeing this leaf art! A teacher makes this art. He lives in Japan. He teaches art at a high school. 

HIROTAKA HAMASAKI

Pikachu

He wants his students to be happy to come to school. So he makes art outside the school for them.

In the fall, he uses leaves. In the spring, he uses flower petals. He has made Pikachu, Winnie the Pooh, Kirby, and other characters. 

HIROTAKA HAMASAKI

Kirby (top) and Winnie the Pooh (bottom)

What character would you want him to make?

video (1)
Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Activities (3) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

More About the Article

Science Focus

Autumn leaves

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Implementation

  • Small group; whole group; independent reading

Before-Reading Resources

  • Text Preview Bookmarks 

(10 minutes) Kids can cut out the nonfiction bookmark and use it to preview the text.

Suggested Reading Focus

Nonfiction text features (30 minutes)

  • Take a close look at the photos. Ask students to share what they notice about them. Explain that we get information from pictures.

After-Reading Skills Practice

(15 minutes for each activity)

  • Quiz: Comprehension check 
  • Nosey’s Fact File: Key details

Students can fill in key details on this page. Send photos of their pages or emails of their facts to [email protected]. She will write back!

After-Reading Video

  • Watch the video, “Leaves Through the Seasons.”

Text-to-Speech