Text Talk: "Julius, the Baby of the World"
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=25
A lesson plan for grades 1–2 English Language Arts
This lesson from ReadWritethink helps young readers interact with and interpret text using Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes. The text talk strategy provides students with open-ended questions, which allow them to interpret the language, plot, and characters of the story.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 1
- Goal 2: The learner will develop and apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
- Objective 2.03: Read and comprehend both fiction and nonfiction text appropriate for grade one using:
- prior knowledge.
- summary.
- questions.
- graphic organizers.
- Objective 2.07: Respond and elaborate in answering what, when, where, and how questions.
- Objective 2.08: Discuss and explain response to how, why, and what if questions in sharing narrative and expository texts.
- Objective 2.03: Read and comprehend both fiction and nonfiction text appropriate for grade one using:
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.03: Discuss unfamiliar oral and/or written vocabulary after listening to or reading texts.
Grade 2
- Goal 2: The learner will develop and apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
- Objective 2.01: Read and comprehend both narrative and expository text appropriate for grade two by:
- determining purpose (reader's and author's).
- making predictions.
- asking questions.
- locating information for specific reasons/purposes.
- recognizing and applying text structure.
- comprehending and evaluating author's decisions and word choice.
- determining fact and opinion.
- recognizing and comprehending figurative language.
- making inferences and drawing conclusions.
- Objective 2.01: Read and comprehend both narrative and expository text appropriate for grade two by:
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.04: Increase oral and written vocabulary by listening, discussing, and composing texts when responding to literature that is read and heard. (e.g., read aloud by teacher, literature circles, interest groups, book clubs).


