Dewberry Rules Slides Second Grade ELA
Unit: Classroom Community
Rule Makers!
Exploring Back to School Rules by Laurie Friedman & writing our own Golden Rules.
Let's build a respectful classroom together!
Slide 1 of 6
Meet Percy Dewberry
Vocabulary Spotlight
WHO IS HE?
Percy is a fun second-grader who has 10 rules to survive the school year.
But watch out! His rules are silly, loud, and focus mostly on what NOT to do.
What makes a rule helpful instead of just silly?
1. Survive (Verb)
To get through a difficult or wild situation safely.
2. Expectation (Noun)
A strong belief about what you should or must do.
3. Respect (Noun/Verb)
Treating others with care and valuing their feelings.
Book Study: Back to School Rules Slide 2 of 6
Let's Read & Think
Comprehension Guide
1
Silly Scenarios
What are some of Percy's wildest rules? Why are they unrealistic for a classroom?
Turn & Talk
2
Golden Rules
Percy has a major turning point at the very end. What is his last rule, and why does it matter?
Reflect Together
3
The Pivot
How can we flip Percy's "Don'ts" into positive, caring classroom rules?
Share Out
Class Discussion stopping points inside! Slide 3 of 6
Comparing Rules
Silly vs. Real-world
Percy's Silly "Don'ts"
1
"Don't spray paint your classmates."
2
"No launchings of spitballs."
3
"Don't do headstands in the back row."
Our Positive "Do's"
Respect Personal Space
Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
Use Materials Safely
Handle school tools with care.
Stay Focused and Engaged
Remain in your seat and listen actively.
Notice how positive rules focus on what we CAN do! Slide 4 of 6
Paragraph Power
Step-by-Step Writing
Our Golden Rule Paragraph Plan
TOPIC
State your rule clearly.
"The most important rule in our second-grade classroom is..."
REASON
Explain why this rule matters.
"This rule is vital because it keeps us safe and lets everyone learn..."
EXAMPLE
Give a real-life example.
"For example, when we raise our hand, we respect our teacher's time."
CLOSE
Conclude with a strong summary statement.
"Ultimately, following this rule helps make our school year successful!"
Second-Grade Checklist
Start with a capital letter.
Use finger spaces between words.
Add correct punctuation (. ! ?).
Write 4 or more complete sentences.
Use your graphic organizer to map your ideas first! Slide 5 of 6
Your Turn to Create!
The Challenge
The Rule Maker Challenge
Step 1
Fill out your Percy vs. Classroom comparison planner.
Step 2
Draft your opinion paragraph detailing your Golden Rule .
Step 3
Create your final draft rule shield craft to display in the school hallway!
Show off your school-year pride! Slide 6 of 6
Rules Read Aloud Guide Teacher Resource Guide
Rule Makers Lesson Plan
Core Companion Guide for Back to School Rules by Laurie Friedman
Grade 2 ELA
Pacing: 60-75 Mins
Objective
Students will identify rules in a text, compare silly rule-breaking to real classroom safety, and collaboratively establish positive expectations for their new classroom.
CCSS Standards
RL.2.1: Key details & questions.SL.2.1: Collaborative discussions.
Materials Needed
• Back to School Rules
The Hook: Silly vs. Serious (10 Mins)
Begin the lesson by asking students: "What if our class had a rule that you had to paint your face blue every Tuesday?" Allow students to laugh and respond. Explain that rules are guidelines that keep us safe and help us learn. Today, they will meet a character named Percy Dewberry who has some of the silliest school rules ever written!
Vocabulary In-Context (10 Mins)
Introduce and model these key terms before or during reading using simple motions:
Survive (v.)
To get through a wild or difficult situation safely.
Expectation (n.)
A positive standard or goal for behavior.
Respect (v./n.)
Treating people and materials with active care.
Shared Reading: Interactive Read-Aloud (20 Mins)
Gather students on the rug or focus them on the screen. Read Back to School Rules aloud, displaying the physical book or using the Slide Deck to point out illustrations. Use the targeted stopping points and script highlights detailed on Page 2 of this guide to prompt active listening and turn-and-talk discussions.
Designed for 2nd Grade Classrooms
Page 1 of 2
Teacher Instruction Blueprint
Read-Aloud Script & Stopping Points
Lesson Phase 2 & 3
Targeted Book Stopping Points
PAGE 8 (Spitballs & Paper Planes) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1
Ask: "Percy says launching spitballs is a way to survive. What would happen if everyone in our class started launching things?"
Expect Response: It would be dangerous, messy, and hard to hear the teacher. Action: Guide students to relate this to the positive class rule of "Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself."
PAGE 18 (Painting & Pranks) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1
Ask: "Percy says 'don't paint your classmate's face.' Why is it important to respect other people's bodies and belongings in our classroom?"
Percy vs Classroom Worksheet Percy vs. Our Classroom
Help Percy turn his silly rules into helpful, positive rules!
Name:
Date:
Part 1: The Silly Rule Flip!
Percy says: "Don't do headstands in the back row!" Write our helpful rule instead:
Our Rule: (Complete the sentence using the starter below!)
We will
Part 2: My Golden Rule Plan
Answer the questions below with quick, simple notes to plan your final draft!
1. My Rule Choice
What is the most important classroom rule?
Rule:
2. Why It Matters
Why does this rule keep us happy and safe?
Because
3. Draw the Rule!
Draw a quick sketch of what this rule looks like in our class.
Friendly second-grade layout
Page 1 of 1
Golden Rule Craft My Golden Rule
Write your beautiful classroom rule and design your rule shield craft!
Name:
Date:
My Best Writing
Use your plan to write 3-4 perfect sentences about your golden classroom rule.
Signed by the Author:
I promise to follow my rule!
Rule Shield Craft
Color and design your official shield badge! Write your main rule value in the banner below.
Official
My Value
Hallway Craft
Color, cut out the shield, and mount it next to your beautiful writing on the wall!
Color, Cut, & Write Activity
Page 1 of 1
Classroom Rules Anchor Chart Classroom Reference Chart
We are Rule Makers!
Flipping Percy Dewberry's Silly Rules into Positive Classroom Goals
Silly "Don'ts"
Silly Spitballs
Launching spitballs or objects across the classroom during lessons.
Hallway Headstands
Running, tumbling, or doing tricks in the middle of class or hallway lines.
Messy Painting
Using art supplies to paint clothes, desks, or classmate's faces.
Late Arrivals
Strolling in late and interrupting other classmates while they learn.
đźš« These rules cause chaos!
Positive "Do's"
Respect Personal Space
Keep your hands, feet, and items to yourself so everyone feels safe.
Active Listening & Focus
Raise your hand to share and stay focused on the classroom leader.
Respect School Materials
Treat school tools, books, and classmates' belongings with active care.
Prompt Attendance
Come prepared and on-time, starting your day with a calm routine.
✨ These rules make us a team!
Percy's Rule Number 10
"The most important school rule is to HAVE FUN!"
We follow rules so that learning is fun for all!
Print this anchor chart as a classroom visual guide.
Page 1 of 1
