Title: Diary of a Worm
Author: Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Harry Bliss
Date of Publication: 2003
Number of Pages: 32
Genre/Category: Picture book/ Picture storybook
Recommended Grade Level: K-3, but I used it for 4th grade
Estimated Time Needed: 1 hour
Reader Response Activity: Diary of an animal of students’ choice (writing) and a drawing of the animal described in the story.
o Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, pictures by Harry Bliss
o Diary of an Animal page
o Colored pencils, crayons, markers, etc.
o Students will answer comprehension and discussion questions from the book
(Strand 1: Reading Process, Concept 6: Comprehension Strategies, PO 3 and
o Write a diary of any animal that follows the book format
(Strand 1: Writing Process, Concept 1: Prewriting, PO 1 and
o Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation
(Strand 1: Writing Process, Concept 4: Editing, PO 1, PO 2, and
o Create an illustration to accompany the diary event
(Visual Arts, Standard 1: Creating Art, 1AV-E1, PO 1, and 1AV-E2,
o Book information (Title, author, illustrator, graphics on front cover)
o Tell me anything that comes to mind when you hear the word “worms.”
o Read Diary of a Worm
§ During the reading questions:
· April 10th: Why did the worm family spend their day on the sidewalk?
· July 28th: Can you think of other things that might be bad about being a worm?
· July 29th: Can you think of other things that might be good about being a worm?
§ After the reading:
· What do you think was meant by "the earth never forgets we're here?"
· This discussion will assist in assessing the students’ understanding of the story.
· The target concept of this book is that the earth needs worms and worms need the earth—they are codependent.
o Students will create their own diary of an animal page
1. Brainstorm animals on the white board/out loud
2. Student are to choose ONE animal to write about
3. You have to include AT LEAST 3 events that went on in the day of that animal
4. You can do more than 3 and you can enter more days after you have your one day with 3 events.
5. Create a diary entry of a day in the life of your animal
6. Revise your spelling, grammar, and punctuation
7. On the back draw a picture of the animal in one of the events that you described in your animal diary.
8. If time permits, you may color your picture
o I will show the model that I created, A Diary of a Frog
o I will read my example out loud
o I will show the picture I drew on the back
o I plan to walk around to monitor their work and answer questions
o I anticipate they will need help in deciding on what animal to pick
o I will look over their shoulders to help and offer suggestions for more detail and events that happened with that animal
o I will suggest using a dictionary for help on deciding on an animal and with word choices
o I will give students a time limit on their work
o I will give the students a 10 minute times up warning
o I will give the students a 1 minute times up warning
o I will ask for a raise of hands of students who want to present their diary in front of the class.
o I will choose students who were on task through the whole assignment and activity.
o I will pick students according to the time that is permitted (5-10 students sharing)
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