Billy's Bucket - Week 1 Teaching Slides

Week 1 of the English unit invites students to delve into the world of "Billy's Bucket" through a series of engaging tasks that encourage them to make predictions and inferences. The journey begins with an examination of the book's cover, prompting discussions about the potential storyline and the main character, Billy. Students are encouraged to share their thoughts on why Billy might be so keen on receiving a bucket for his birthday, a wish that may seem unusual to many. This opens up a conversation about personal desires for birthday gifts and contrasts them with the suggestions made by Billy's parents, exploring the differing perspectives on what makes an appropriate or desirable present.

The teaching slides guide students to explore the first double page of "Billy's Bucket," where they gather insights into Billy's family dynamics from both the illustrations and text. By interpreting visual and textual cues, students form opinions about the characters' personalities and the reasons behind the parents' reluctance to fulfil Billy's unique birthday request. The activities are designed to foster critical thinking and empathy, as students relate their own experiences with receiving memorable birthday presents to Billy's situation. They are asked to recall and describe the emotions associated with their best birthday surprise, thereby connecting their personal narratives with Billy's story in the classroom.