This lesson compliments a language arts unit focusing on adjectives. It is suitable for students in grade 2 who are learning the basic skills of computers. The whole class will be familiar with the software, Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat, prior to the lesson. Students will have interacted with this software, either individually or in pairs, and explored one or both modes of play ("Read to Me" and "Let Me Play") in the program. They will do this for one or several days before this lesson, depending on the availability of computers in the classroom. This software brings alive the characters in the story and their unique personalities. In turn, the program will enhance students’ knowledge of adjectives. Students will already be familiar with the definition and use of an adjective. For this lesson, teachers must have access to one or more computers, an LCD panel, and an overhead projector in the setting they will teach.

Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat is an interactive "Living Book" that uses bright colors, playful characters and silly animation to reinforce early literacy skills. The program tells the story of The Cat in the Hat in two different modes. The students can either be read to as they watch the animation or can choose to interact with the characters and objects as they go through the story. This software is perfect for teaching adjectives, as each character is full of color and life.

 Learning Objectives

 The students will be able to:

 Brainstorm words to describe two characters from the computer program (Thing One and Two).

• Use a variety of adjectives to create descriptions.
• Create a new set of characters (Things Three and Four) by drawing a picture and writing a description using adjectives.

 The teacher will build on prior knowledge by initiating a class discussion about the main events of The Cat in the Hat, asking general questions about the characters.

• The teacher will call on students to come up and launch the program, which will appear on the overhead. Next, a student will come up and click on the Options button and select screen page 5 (with teacher’s help, if needed). Class will listen to the Cat introduce Thing One and Thing Two.
• Teacher will stop and review adjectives with class by asking students to describe the word and give examples.
• View the next few screens together. Teacher will ask class questions:

What are Things One and Thing Two doing?

How are they acting?

What adjectives would describe Thing One and Thing Two?

• Record students' answers on the transparency. Write "Thing One and Two" in the center circle and descriptive adjectives in the surrounding circles. If necessary, view screens again.
• Tell students they are going to pretend they are Dr. Seuss for the day and create their own silly characters called Thing Three and Four. Ask class what two new characters might look like and act like.
• Distribute drawing paper and crayons or markers to students and ask them to draw their own characters. Tell them they can be as silly, wild and imaginative as they wish. Remind students to use as much detail as possible so it is easy to see what the characters' personalities are like.
• When students have completed their drawings, pass out a copy of the transparency to each student. Ask them to come up with a group of adjectives to describe their characters. Leave the complete transparency on the projector so students can model it.
• Once worksheets are complete, students will write a paragraph using the adjectives describing their characters. Allow students to share drawings and descriptive paragraphs with the class.

 Evaluation

Students’ participation throughout the lesson, their drawings, and their descriptive paragraphs will all be used as an assessment of the learning objectives stated above.

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