Another Classic: Dr. Seuss’ The Sneetches

A previous blog (“Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss Lesson,” 2/29/16) focused on the biography about Dr. Seuss. One of his selections mentioned was The Sneetches, published in 1961. Written during the 1960s during the civil rights struggle, this book demonstrates conflict between star-bellied Sneetches and those Sneetches who did not have stars. In a biography, it was stated that Ted Geisel showed through this story how he thought it was silly for people “to hate one another because they looked different” (p. 81, Who Was Dr. Seuss? by Janet Pascal).

Below find The Sneetches outlined using five of the seven SGM Developmental Stages. The SGM is a unique modeling and scaffolding manipulative to be used with students as they progress along the developmental continuum. Each of the five stages builds up to the next. Thus, progression through the first four developmental stages will eventually enable your students to comprehend, tell, and write stories at the Complete Episode stage.

So, as shown below, The Sneetches Complete Episode can be broken into all the other four component stages. Therefore, you can tailor your intervention for each child. What is expected of one student does not have to be expected of another. This is the built-in flexibility that the SGM is known for: all students, regardless of ability level, will be able to participate and progress.

For more lesson ideas, visit our blog page on our website. Two MindWing books that follow the analysis format below that you may be interested in learning more about are East Meets West, Volumes 1 and 2.

Descriptive Sequence

Action Sequence

Reactive Sequence

Abbreviated Episode

Complete Episode