Growing Artist Lesson Plan
Kindergarten Knowledge Read-Aloud
Growing an Artist: Teacher Questioning Guide
Book by John Parra • Focus: Art, Landscaping, and Hard Work • Duration: 40–50 min
Core Knowledge Domain
Stories of Art & Nature
Essential Questions
- What does a landscaper do, and how do they create art outdoors?
- How does watching real life help someone become an artist?
- How do Juanito and his father show care and pride in their work?
Kindergarten "I Can" Goals
- Comprehension: I can tell who the characters are and what job Papi does with plants and stones.
- Vocabulary: I can use words like landscape, sketch, and design.
- Application: I can draw my own landscape design like John.
Core Vocabulary Routine (Say It • Define It • Gesture) Bilingual Cognates Highlighted
Landscape paisaje
Outdoor land with plants, grass, and trees.
Gesture: Spread arms wide.
Landscaper jardinero
A worker who designs and cares for yards.
Gesture: Mimic digging & planting.
Sketch boceto
A quick drawing made to capture an idea.
Gesture: Scribble fast on palm.
Design diseño
A plan showing how items fit together.
Gesture: Trace shapes in air.
Phase 1: Before-Reading Routine (Launch & Hook • 8 Minutes)
Includes Differentiated Entry Points
Step 1: Real-World Hook (The Mystery Sketchbook & Plant) Multi-Sensory
Pass around real leaves, smooth stones, or a small plant trowel. Ask: "Can someone who works with dirt and flowers be an artist?" Children touch the soil/leaves and mimic an artist holding a pencil.
Step 2: Cover Walk & Bilingual Author Spotlight Visual Scaffold
Point to Juanito and Papi in the truck. Explain that author John Parra wrote about his own Mexican-American family: "Juanito helps his Papi. Papi speaks English and Spanish, and they turn bare dirt into living art."
Step 3: Setting the Listening Focus Purposeful Listening
"Listen to find two kinds of artists: who makes art on paper, and who makes art in the garden!"
Differentiation & Multi-Tiered Scaffolds (UDL Matrix) Universal Support for All Learners
Emerging Support
For fine motor & expressive speech:
- Pre-teaching: Preview book pictures 1-on-1 before circle time.
- Physical Prop: Provide thick triangular pencils or chunky crayons.
- Response Mode: Accept pointing, gestures, or oral dictation instead of writing full words.
Multilingual Learners (MLL)
English / Spanish language bridge:
- Cognate Reinforcement: Pair artista/artist, diseño/design, paisaje/landscape.
- Visual Sentence Frames: "Papi has a ___." / "Juanito draws a ___."
- Partner Talk: Allow partner discussion in home language before sharing out.
Extension & Challenge
For advanced thinkers & artists:
- Garden Map Legend: Add a map key to their sketch (e.g., T = Tree, R = Rock).
- Phonetic Labeling: Label drawn plants using initial and ending sounds (e.g., "TR" for tree).
- Deep Thinking: "Why did Papi need to measure before digging?"
Prep Checklist: Copy of Growing an Artist, tactile garden realia, Landscape Sketch sheets, crayons.
Page 1 of 2
Phase 2: Page-by-Page Interactive Read-Aloud Roadmap
Exact Questions for Kindergarten
1 Morning Departure • Early Awakening (Pages 1–5) Setting & Character
Teacher Question:
"Why is Juanito waking up early when it is still dark? What special tool does he pack in his pocket?"
Expected Response & Scaffold:
To work with Papi! He packs his sketchbook. Scaffold: Point to the alarm clock and pencil in the picture.
2 At the Worksite • Tools & Landscaping (Pages 8–13) Domain Knowledge
Teacher Question:
"Look at all these tools! What are Papi and Javier using? How do tools change the yard into a landscape?"
Expected Response & Scaffold:
Shovel, wheelbarrow, rake! They dig and plant. Kinesthetic: Have all students pretend to push a heavy wheelbarrow.
3 Observing Nature • Sketching What You See (Pages 14–19) Vocabulary • Sketch
Teacher Question:
"Juanito sits down to sketch. What things in the yard does he notice? How does looking closely help an artist?"
Expected Response & Scaffold:
Birds, leaves, tree shapes, bugs. Visual cue: Make "binocular" hands with fingers to focus on nature details.
4 The Classmate & Papi’s Proud Words (Pages 20–25) Empathy • Pride
Teacher Question:
"When Juanito sees a boy from school, how does he feel at first? What does Papi tell him about their hard work?"
Expected Response & Scaffold:
Shy or nervous. Papi says hard work creates beauty and pride. Emotion check: Give a thumbs up for feeling proud!
5 Designing Together • Two Kinds of Artists (Pages 26–32) Synthesis • Big Idea
Teacher Question:
"At the end, Papi asks Juanito to help draw a plan for a new yard. How are Papi and Juanito both artists?"
Expected Response & Scaffold:
Papi makes art with plants and trees. Juanito makes art with paper and pencils. Stem: "Papi creates with ___."
Phase 3: Post-Reading Synthesis
Turn & Talk Prompt: "Knee-to-knee with your partner: What was your favorite thing Juanito or Papi grew or drew in the book?"
Big Takeaway: Anyone can be an artist by looking closely at nature and practicing drawing every day!
Phase 4: Little Artist Activity
Students sketch in their Landscape Activity Sheet.
- Support: Provide cut-out plant shapes or teacher scribe for sentence line.
- Core: Draw 2+ natural elements and complete the guided sentence.
- Extension: Add phonetic labels and design pathways with colors.
Growing an Artist • Knowledge Read-Aloud Lesson Page 2 of 2
Growing Artist Discussion Slides
Kindergarten Knowledge Read-Aloud • Art & Nature
John Parra
Growing an Artist
The Story of a Landscaper Son
Our Wonder Question:
How can someone make art using plants, dirt, and stones?
Get your eagle eyes and listening ears ready! Slide 1 of 5
Story Words to Know
Words We Will Hear Today
Say It • Gesture It
1. Landscape
paisaje
An outdoor space full of grass, trees, flowers, and sky.
Action: Spread both arms wide open!
2. Landscaper
jardinero
A worker who cares for nature and creates beautiful yards.
Action: Pretend to dig and plant seeds!
3. Sketch
boceto
A quick pencil drawing to save an idea before it slips away.
Action: Scribble quickly on your palm!
4. Design
diseño
A careful plan made before planting flowers or building paths.
Action: Draw shapes in the air with two fingers!
Listen for these words during the read-aloud! Slide 2 of 5
Knee-to-Knee Turn & Talk Reading Check-In • Stop 2 & 3
Two Kinds of Artists at Work
Papi's Art:
What tools does Papi use? How does he make yards beautiful?
Juanito's Art:
What does Juanito carry? What does he look closely at?
Sentence Starter: "Papi makes art with... but Juanito makes art with..."
Share with your partner. Partner 1 talks, Partner 2 listens! Slide 3 of 5
Big Idea Discussion Story Climax • Stop 4 & 5
"Working hard with your hands is something to be proud of."
?
How did Juanito feel when he saw the boy from school? What wise words did his dad share?
?
How did helping his father help Juanito grow into a real artist?
Both Papi and Juanito are creative dreamers! ♥ Family • Pride • Art
Raise your quiet hand to share your idea with the class. Slide 4 of 5
Student Activity Time
You Are the Landscape Artist!
Sketch & Create
1. Sketch
Draw outdoor nature like trees, flowers, rocks, and a garden path!
2. Color
Use colors from the earth: sunny yellows, rich greens, and sky blues!
3. Share
Tell a classmate what you designed in your dream landscape!
Open your landscape sketchbook sheet and begin! Slide 5 of 5
