written by: A. G.

Chambers

Drawing Your Own Horizons: Teaching Problem

Solving
with "Harold and the Purple Crayon"
Kindergarten Lesson Plan
MN English Language Arts Standards Addressed

0.1.1.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
0.1.4.4. Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
0.1.7.7 With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and
the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts)

Learning Goals
Students will...

define the concept of imagination.

identify solutions to problems by using their imagination skills.
build an understanding of event-sequencing in stories.
identify vocabulary words in text and demonstrate understanding of their meanings.
practice empathy.

Before Reading
Prior Knowledge:

Discuss Imagination

written by: A. G. Chambers

Introduce imagination as a vocabulary word. Show the word. Ask students to say it out
loud.
Give examples of imagination.
Ask students to close their eyes and imagine a flower. Discuss the flowers they pictured
and emphasize how they all saw something different.
Inform students that they will read a story about imagination.

Introduce the cover:

"Who do you think the story is about?"

"What's your favorite color crayon?"
"Can you point to anything that's purple?"
"What other things are purple?"
"Do you have anything at home that's purple?"

During Reading
Read aloud to class and ask:
(Dragon) "What do you think Harold is feeling?", "How would you feel?"
Get Moving: Student's can act-out being frightened

(Harold falls in the water) "What can Harold draw to save himself?", "How can he use his
imagination to solve this problem?"
Get Moving: Students can act-out swimming

(Picnic) "Which animals would you invite to share your picnic?"

(Harold falling) "Do you think Harold is frightened?", "What can Harold draw to save
himself?" "How can Harold use his imagination to solve this problem?"
Get Moving: Student's can act-out climbing in place.

(City)"Why is Harold drawing windows? How do you think Harold will get home?"

After Reading/ Assessments

Assessment Questions:

"What was your favorite part of the story?"

"What is the title of the book?", " Who is the main character?"
"What problems did Harold solve with his magic purple crayon?" Prompt with, "How did
Harold save himself from the ocean?", "How did Harold save himself from falling off a
cliff?"

Problem Solving Class Activity:

PowerPoint

Slide #1: "What could Harold draw to get the kite out of the tree?"
Slide #2: "It's raining, what can Harold draw that can help him stay dry?"

Tier II Vocabulary Words:

PowerPoint: Read the word and definition. Ask students to say the word aloud. Prompt them
with examples.

Slide #2, 3, 4: Moonlight

written by: A. G. Chambers

Slide #6, 7, 8: Frightening

Slide #9, 10, 11: Deserving

Imagination Activity:

Give students purple crayons and a large white sheets of paper with title "(blank for
student's name) and the Purple Crayon".
Ask students what they would draw if they had a magic purple crayon.
When students have finished their drawings (aim for 20 minutes), ask them individually
what they drew, and record their answer on the drawing. While one student is dictating to
the instructor, other students may share their drawings with each other.

Extension

Send vocabulary sheet and imagination story home with students. Ask them to share their
imagination drawings and teach their vocabulary words to an adult.

Materials Needed

Purple Crayons
12"x18" White Paper w/Heading "__________ and the Purple Crayon"
HPC PowerPoint- Projector/Smart board
Harold and the Purple Crayon picture book by Crockett Johnson