A Very Ninja Christmas by Rubin PingkLesson Plans

SANTASAMURAI

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SANTASAMURAIOverview

We have designed this close reading lesson plan to be divided into multiple lessons. To begin, students will listen to the text being read aloud in its entirety and answer text dependent questions that focus on key ideas and details. During the following lessons, the teacher will revisit parts of the text and students will answer additional text dependent questions that focus on craft and structure and integration of knowledge of ideas.

We feel speaking and listening should be at the heart of all reading lessons. Therefore, it is incorporated throughout the close reading lesson as students talk about the text in a whole group or with partners. During each lesson, the students will have a different purpose for revisiting and talking about the text. They will then be given an opportunity to complete a response to text activity.

Each of the lessons are centered around the Common Core Reading Literature Standards. Lesson #1 focuses on the Key Ideas and Details Standards 1-3. Lesson #2 targets the Craft and Structure Standards 4-6. Finally, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas Standards 7-9 are addressed in Lesson #3. A writing activity is incorporated throughout the lesson plan, which requires students to synthesize information from the text.

A close reading lesson plan typically takes several days. Keep in mind the lessons can overlap or be extended, depending on the students, the text itself, or the difficulty of the activities.

SANTASAMURAILesson Plans

Lesson 1 • Read aloud “Samurai Santa.”

• Ask the KEY IDEAS AND DETAILS Text Dependent Questions (included in packet). As students are discussing and answering these questions, make sure they use evidence from the text to support their answers. Turn to the pages and revisit the parts that contain the answers so students can use the words and pictures to support their thinking.

SANTASAMURAILesson Plans

Lesson 1 • Use your fingers to model retelling the

story using somebody, wanted, but, so then, with your class. Use one finger to tell each event.

• Have students turn and talk with a partner to retell the story using somebody, wanted, but, so then, with their fingers.

• Model how to complete the Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then page (included in packet).

• Give students time to complete their ownSomebody, Wanted, But, So, Then page(included in packet).

• Students work with a partner to use their Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then page to discuss/retell the story.

SANTASAMURAIText Dependent Questions

Key Idea and Details• Who are the characters in the story?

• Who is the main character?

• What does Yukio want to do?

• What problem does Yukio face?

• How does Yukio solve his problem?

• How does the story begin?

• What happens in the middle of the story?

• How does the story end?

• Where does the story take place?

• What is the moral of the story?

SANTASAMURAIText Dependent Questions-ANSWERS

Main Idea and Details• Who are the characters in the story? Yukio, Santa, Samurai, ninjas

• Who is the main character? Yukio

• What does Yukio want to do? Yukio wants to have an epic snowball fight.

• What problem does Yukio face? All the other ninjas don’t want to have a snowball fight. Yukio thinks it is all Santa’s fault.

• How does Yukio solve his problem? He decides to chase Santa away. When Santa comes to deliver toys to the ninjas, Yukio yells “intruder!” All the ninjas chase Santa away.

• How does the story begin? Yukio goes outside to play in the snow, but finds himself alone. He decides he wants to have an epic snowball fight with the other ninjas.

• What happens in the middle of the story? A samurai with an army of snowmen appears. The ninjas and snowmen have a snowball fight.

• How does the story end? Yukio realizes the other ninjas will not get any presents because he chased Santa away. Then, he is surprised to find out Santa still delivered gifts and that it was Santa who was the samurai in the snowball fight.

• Where does the story take place? In the ninja’s village during winter.

• What is the moral of the story? Don’t be selfish, especially around Christmas time.

SANTASAMURAI_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SomebodyWanted

But

Then

So

_______________________Name ______________

SANTASAMURAILesson Plans

Lesson 2

• Revisit “Samurai Santa.”

• Ask the CRAFT AND STRUCTURE Text Dependent Questions (included in packet). As students are discussing and answering these questions, make sure they use evidence from the text to support their answers. Turn to the pages and revisit the parts that contain the answers so students can use the words and pictures to support their thinking.

SANTASAMURAILesson Plans

Lesson 2 • Discuss Yukio’s character traits.

• Sad/Lonely• Selfish• Guilty • Surprised

• Discuss what evidence from the text proves the character traits are true. Examples:-Yukio is sad/lonely. Evidence: Text says “Yukio felt sad and lonely.”

-Yukio is selfish.Evidence: He didn’t care about presents, or stockings, or lumps of coal. He didn’t care if

others cared either. He just wanted a snowball fight. -Yukio is guilty.Evidence: He realized that his friends would have no presents from Santa, and it was all

his fault. - Yukio is Surprised

Evidence: The text says “But to Yukio’s surprise, the house was full of gifts.”

SANTASAMURAILesson Plans

Lesson 2 • Model how to draw and/or write about

Yukio’s character traits using the Yukiopage (included in packet).

• Ask students to draw and/or write about Yukio’s character traits using the Yukiopage (included in packet). Three differentiated options are included. Option 1 provides the character traits. Option 2 provides the character traits and lines to write evidence. Option 3 provides lines for students to write character traits and lines to write evidence.

• Students can meet with a partner and use their Yukio page to retell the story, including his character traits.

SANTASAMURAIText Dependent Questions

Craft and Structure• What do you know about Yukio?

• How does Yukio feel/act at the beginning of the story?

• How would Yukio say “It’s Santa’s fault nobody will play.”

• Why did the author write “No!” the way he did? (page where the ninja’s tell Yukio no)

• How does Yukio feel/act in the middle of the story? At the end?

• What do you think plotted means? Why do you think that? (page where Yukio wants to run Santa out of the Ninja Village)

• Why did the author write “Santa squeezed, slouched, slithered, and stumbled down the chimney” the way he did? Why would he decide to use words that all begin with a ‘s’?

• Why did the author choose to capitalize and bold words throughout the story?

• How would the samurai say “bonzai!”?

• What do you think clashed means? Why do you think that? (page where the ninjas and snowmen clash)

SANTASAMURAIText Dependent Questions-ANSWERS

Craft and Structure• What do you know about Yukio? He is a ninja who likes snowball fights.

• How does Yukio feel/act at the beginning of the story? He is sad and lonely because the other ninjas won’t play with him.

• How would Yukio say “It’s Santa’s fault nobody will play.” Have students say this phrase aloud like they think the character would say it.

• Why did the author write “No!” the way he did? (page where the ninja’s tell Yukio no) To emphasis that each ninja told Yukio they didn’t want to have a snowball fight. It also tells the readers to read “No!” louder than other words and with expression.

• How does Yukio feel/act in the middle of the story? At the end? He becomes selfish to get what he wants. He chases Santa away despite the consequences. Then he feels guilty once he realizes what the consequences of his actions are. At the end he is surprised because Santa still delivered the gifts to him and the other ninjas.

• What do you think plotted means? Why do you think that? (page where Yukio wants to run Santa out of the Ninja Village) Plotted means to make a secret plan or scheme usually for an evil purpose. Students should use the illustration and background knowledge to help determine the meaning of the word.

• Why did the author write “Santa squeezed, slouched, slithered, and stumbled down the chimney” the way he did? It also suggests a snake-like quality. Writing the words in a down-ward motion is another craft that emphasizes how Santa went down. Why would he decide to use words that all begin with a ‘s’? Alliteration is a good example of author’s craft. The author choose to use words that begin with ‘s’ to emphasize how Santa went down the chimney.

• Why did the author choose to capitalize and bold words throughout the story? The author bolded the words that he wanted to stand out. This is another way to emphasize words throughout the story.

• How would the samurai say “banzai!”? Have students say this phrase aloud like they think the character would say it.

• What do you think Clashed means? Why do you think that? (page where the ninjas and snowmen clash) Clashed means to come together or meet in a violent content . Students should use the illustration and background knowledge to help determine the meaning of the word.

Name ______________________

Sad/Lonely

Selfish

Guilty

Surprised

Yukio

Yukio

Name _________________

Sad/Lonely

Selfish

Guilty

Surprised

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

___________________________

___________________________

Yukio

Name _________________

___________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

___________________________

___________________________

___________

___________

___________

SANTASAMURAILesson Plans

Lesson 3

• Revisit “Samurai Santa.”

• Ask the INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS Text Dependent Questions (included in packet). As students are discussing and answering these questions, make sure they use evidence from the text to support their answers. Turn to the pages and revisit the parts that contain the answers so students can use the words and pictures to support their thinking.

SANTASAMURAILesson PlansLesson 3

• Have a discussion about the similarities and differences between Samurai Santa and the traditional Santa Claus. To support this discussion, it is optional to read another text about Santa Claus.

• Introduce the Compare and Contrast page (included in packet).

• As a class, brainstorm and chart ways Samurai Santa and Santa Claus are similar and different.

• Give students time to complete their own Compare and Contrast page.

• Pair students up to share and discuss their pages. They may add any new information they learn from their partners.

SANTASAMURAIText Dependent Questions

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

• The text says Yukio feels sad and lonely. What do the illustrations show?

• What do the illustrations teach you on the page about Yukio plotting to get rid of Santa that the text doesn’t?

• What can you learn from the illustrations on the page where they can’t find Santa anywhere?

• Who won the battle? How do you know?

• How do you think Yukio felt when he realized it was all his fault his friends wouldn’t get any presents from Santa? What do the illustrations and the text tell you about how he is feeling?

• How do you think Yukio felt when he realized there are gifts from Santa? What do the illustrations and the text tell you about how he is feeling?

• Is it the text or illustrations that let you know Santa was the samurai?

• How is Samurai Santa similar to/different than Santa Claus?

SANTASAMURAIText Dependent Questions-ANSWERS

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas • The text says Yukio feels sad and lonely. What do the illustrations show? The illustrations show a tear falling from Yukio’s

face. He is sad. The illustrations also show Yukio with his fist in the air. He is mad.

• What do the illustrations teach you on the page about Yukio is plotting to get rid of Santa that the text doesn’t? Santa is flying overhead. Yukio is in his room looking vengeful. There is an exclamation point over his head to show that he is plotting to get rid of Santa.

• What can you learn from the illustrations on the page where they can’t find Santa anywhere? Santa is sitting behind the tree making snowballs. Santa looks mad/sad.

• Who won the battle? How do you know? The text never says who won, but the illustrations show the snowmen all in pieces. You can infer that the ninjas won.

• How do you think Yukio felt when he realized it was all his fault his friends wouldn’t get any presents from Santa? What do the illustrations and the text tell you about how he is feeling? The text tells you he realizes it will be all his fault that his friends won’t get any gifts. The illustrations show that he is sad and sorry about it.

• How do you think Yukio felt when he realized there are gifts from Santa? What do the illustrations and the text tell you about how he is feeling? The text tells you he is surprised that there are gifts under the tree. The illustration shows you he is happy and surprised because he is smiling.

• Is it the text or illustration that let you know Santa was the samurai? Reading the letter that Santa left for Yukio lets you know that Santa was actually the samurai and that he planned the whole thing.

• How is Samurai Santa similar to/different than Santa Claus? Answers may vary. Samurai Santa and Santa Claus both deliver presents to children, come down the chimney, wear red and white, and ride in a sleigh with reindeer. Samurai Santa and Santa Claus are different because Samurai Santa is a samurai and Santa Claus is not. Samurai Santa likes snowball fights and Santa Claus likes to eat cookies. Samurai Santa has an army of snowmen and Santa Claus has elves. snowball fights and Santa Claus likes to eat cookies. Samurai Santa has an army of snowmen and Santa Claus has elves.

Santa Claus

SAMURAI SANTA

CompareandCONTRASTName ____________________

SANTASAMURAILesson Plans

Lesson 4• Ask students what they would ask

Samurai Santa to bring them for Christmas.

• Model how to write a letter to “Samurai Santa” (included in packet).

• Give students time to write their own letter to “Samurai Santa” (included in packet).

• Next, we provided an optional “Snowball Fight” activity (included in packet).

• Writing pages make cute bulletin boards. A bulletin board title is included in packet.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SANTA,SAMURAIDear

____________________________________________________________

_________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SANTA,SAMURAIDear

____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear

SANTA,SAMURAI

Materials • Paper from the recycle bin (or white copy paper)Instructions• Students crumple scraps of paper into balls. • Divide students into two teams (samurais and ninjas). • Teams stand on opposite sides of the classroom.• On “Bonzai!” students start throwing the snowballs to the opposite side as fast as possible. As

snowballs come from the other side students pick them up quickly and throw them back to the other side. Teams need to work together to throw the snowballs to the other side as fast as possible.

• On “freeze” all students freeze. Team with the least amount of snowballs on their side wins.• Keep tally of winning teams. Play as many rounds as desired. Rules • If students cross the midline, they are out.• If students throw snowballs at faces, they are out.• If students push or shove other students, they are out.

SNOWBALL FIGHT

Materials • Paper from the recycle bin (or white copy paper)Instructions• Students write their name on a scrap piece of paper and then crumple the paper into a ball. • Students divide up into two teams (samurais and ninjas). • Teams stand on opposite sides of the classroom.• On “Bonzai!” students start throwing the snowballs to the opposite side as fast as possible. As

snowballs come from the other side students pick them up quickly and throw them back to the other side. Teams need to work together to throw the snowballs to the other side as fast as possible.

• On “freeze” all students freeze. The teacher asks a question. Each player grabs the nearest snowball. They go tell the persons whose name is on the snowball the answer to the question.

Possible Questions • What do you want for Christmas?• What is one way you can show kindness to another person this Christmas?• What is your favorite thing to do when it snows?• What is one nice thing you can do you for a friend?• When was a time that you felt guilty about something?

SNOWBALL FIGHT Option 2

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TERMS OF USE

Credits Rubin PingkAuthor/Illustrator Samurai Santa: A Very Ninja Christmas(Simon & Schuster 2015)www.rubinpingk.com

We received special permission to use the graphics included in this pack. Please support new author, Rubin Pingk, by visiting his website and purchasing his first book.