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DODO Learning
Think Once. In Both Languages.
Lesson 08
Little DODO · Phase 3

Strong Feelings in Toad's Swim

Frog and Toad Are Friends · pp. 41-52 · Format B · Disposition: Observing & Describing · 25 min
Frog and Toad Are Friends
Pages this lesson: 41-52
Grammar · Sentence Types · Punctuation
Children identify and write exclamatory sentences that show strong feelings and end with exclamation marks.
Exclamatory Sentences · Exclamation Marks · Strong Feelings · Sentence Capitalization · Punctuation
Introduce

Vocabulary Exploration· 5 min

Sound focus: exclamation mark (!)
Target words
  1. Please 48: “"Please," cried Frog, "please go away!"”
  2. Help 48: “"Please," cried Frog, "please go away!"”
  3. Wait 48: “They waited for Toad to come out of the water.”
Today we meet sentences with STRONG feelings. When Frog says 'Please go away!' he's not asking nicely — he's begging! Listen for the exclamation mark — it tells us to use our big voices.
Exploration steps
  1. Point to the exclamation mark after 'please go away!' and say it with strong feeling
  2. Students chorus 'Please go away!' with big voices
  3. Find other words characters say with strong feelings on pages 48-51
Expected responses
  • yelling words
  • when you're really excited or scared
Differentiation

Quiet kids: whisper first, then build to big voice. Fast finishers: hunt three exclamations before sharing.

Transition cue

Tap desk twice — Reading Time!

Anticipated pitfalls

Don't let kids shout every sentence — only the ones with exclamation marks get big voices.

Why this matters: Model voice volume first — kids confuse shouting with strong feeling.

Reading in Class· 10 min

Required reading pages: 41-52
Opening move: Point to Toad hiding behind the rocks on page 41 — he's nervous about his bathing suit.
Toad is shy about his bathing suit. But everyone wants to see! Let's read how Frog tries to help. When we get to page 48, you'll chorus Frog's big plea together.
Read-aloud steps
  1. Picture-walk pages 41-52: Toad hides, animals gather, Toad comes out shivering
  2. Read aloud once at storytelling pace, pausing at each exclamation
  3. Read again with students chorusing Frog's 'Please go away!' on page 48
Call-and-response refrains
  1. What does Frog cry? 48: “"Please," cried Frog, "please go away!"”
Expected responses
  • Please go away!
  • Frog is begging them to leave
Differentiation

Struggling readers: point to the exclamation mark each time before chorusing. Fast finishers: count how many animals gather.

Transition cue

Close book gently — Questions Time.

Anticipated pitfalls

Don't skip the picture-walk — kids need to see the animals arriving before the dialogue makes sense.

Why this matters: Chorus protects kids who can't yet read the dialogue tags independently.

Questions Time· 7 min

Comprehension questions
  1. Which sentence on page 48 has an exclamation mark? 48: “"Please," cried Frog, "please go away!"”
  2. Why does Frog use an exclamation mark when he says 'please go away'? 48: “"Please," cried Frog, "please go away!"”
Extension

Write your own exclamation sentence about swimming.

43: “They swam all afternoon.”

What students produce: One sentence with exclamation mark showing strong feeling about water or swimming

Let's hunt for exclamation marks. They're the punctuation that shows STRONG feelings — not calm talking. Find one on page 48, then we'll write our own.
Expected responses
  • the one where Frog says please go away
  • because he really wants them to leave
  • Jump in the pool!
Differentiation

Quiet kids: draw the swimming picture first, then dictate sentence. Fast finishers: write two exclamations — one happy, one scared.

Transition cue

Pencils down, eyes up — Closing Circle.

Anticipated pitfalls

Don't accept statements without exclamation marks — the extension requires strong feeling, not calm description.

Why this matters: Picture prompt prevents grammar from blocking kids who can't yet write independently.

Conclusion· 3 min

Routine: I Noticed · Disposition: Observing & Describing
Student-facing prompts
Recap: I noticed Toad felt...
Take-home: Tonight, find one exclamation mark in a book at home.
Today we noticed how exclamation marks show strong feelings. Toad felt embarrassed, Frog felt worried, the animals felt curious. Let's close by noticing what you saw in the story.
Expected responses
  • embarrassed about his bathing suit
  • the animals all laughing at him
Differentiation

Quiet kids: pair-share before whole group. Fast finishers: name two feelings Toad had.

Anticipated pitfalls

Don't let one loud answerer dominate — count to three before accepting responses.

Why this matters: Same shape every day so kids own the close.