Here you’ll find a variety of lesson plans, with one for each age group. Feel free to mix and match the activities that work best for your students. There’s also an alternative lesson plan at the end for even more flexibility.
Note the Optional Q&A won't be available until after the live interview with the author.
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Pre-K Lesson Plan (Ages 3-4)
Learning Objectives
Identify large animals like elephants and the sounds they make.
Practice gross motor skills by mimicking animal movements.
Demonstrate listening skills during storytime.
Materials
Book and/or Read Along Video
Procedure (30 minutes)
(5 mins) Circle Time Introduction: Ask students if they have ever been to the beach and what animals they might see there. Introduce the idea of seeing an elephant at the beach.
(10 mins) Storytime: Gather the students on the rug to watch the read-along video of the book together.
(10 mins) Elephant Yoga: Have students stand up. Use the blue fabric to simulate waves on the floor. Ask students to stomp like elephants, spray water with their 'trunks' (arms), and jump over the 'waves'.
(5 mins) Cool Down: Have students lie down on their 'beach towels' (carpet squares) and practice deep breathing, pretending to rest after a day of fun.
Kindergarten Lesson Plan - Age 5
Learning Objectives
Identify and name different emotions (annoyed, curious, happy).
Understand that feelings can change throughout a story.
Participate in a group discussion about making new friends.
Materials
Procedure (35 minutes + 20 minutes Optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Emotion Check-in: Show faces representing 'annoyed' and 'happy'. Ask students to show those faces with their own expressions.
(10 mins) Read-Along: Watch the read-along video. Pause halfway to ask how the girl feels (annoyed), and then at the end to ask how she feels (happy).
(15 mins) Craft Activity: Have students create two-sided stick puppets using paper plates. One side draws a 'Grumpy' face (like the girl at the start) and the other a 'Happy/Playful' face (like the girl at the end).
(5 mins) Retelling: Ask students to hold up the correct side of their puppet as you recap moments from the story.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author.
1st Grade Lesson Plan - Age 6
Learning Objectives
Define flexibility and adaptability in social situations.
Write a sentence about a time plans changed.
Illustrate a scene depicting friendship.
Materials
Procedure (35 minutes + 20 minutes Optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Hook: Ask students if they have ever planned to do something quiet, but it got noisy. Discuss how they reacted.
(10 mins) Story Viewing: Watch the read-along video or read the book. Focus the viewing on how the girl's reaction changed from the beginning to the end.
(10 mins) Class Discussion: Discuss the word 'Flexibility'. How was the girl flexible? Did joining the elephants make her day better or worse?
(15 mins) Writing & Art: Students write one sentence: 'I can be a friend by...' and draw a picture of themselves playing with the elephants or the girl on the beach.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author.
2nd Grade Lesson Plan - Age 7
Learning Objectives
Analyze character traits and how they influence the plot.
Identify the conflict and resolution in the story.
Compare personal experiences to the story events.
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Introduction: specific literary terms: Conflict (Problem) and Resolution (Solution).
(10 mins) Watch Video: Watch the read-along video. Instruct students to look specifically for the moment the problem starts and the moment it is solved.
(15 mins) Story Mapping: Create a large 'Story Wave' on the board. Use sticky notes to map the 'Beginning' (Wanting peace), 'Middle/Conflict' (Elephants interrupting), and 'End/Resolution' (Joining the fun).
(10 mins) Think-Pair-Share: Toss the beach ball. Whoever catches it shares a character trait of the girl (e.g., grumpy, open-minded, fun) or the elephants (e.g., playful, loud, friendly). Discuss how these traits moved the story forward.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author.
Alternative Lesson Plan - Ages 3 - 7
Learning Objectives
Engage in tactile sensory play.
Practice turn-taking in a shared space.
Explore cause and effect through material manipulation.
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes)
(5 mins) Sensory Intro: Introduce the texture of sand (rough/grainy) and water (wet/cool) to the students.
(10 mins) Visual Story: Watch the read-along video or read the book. Point out the elephants and the water on the screen.
(20 mins) Sensory Stations: Set up two stations. Station 1: Kinetic Sand with plastic elephants to hide and find. Station 2: Water bin/beads to 'surf' the elephants. Allow free exploration and guide hands-on interaction.
(5 mins) Clean Up & Calm: Transition from high-energy sensory play to a quiet moment, just like the reading time in the book.