Delphine Evidence Teacher Script
Grade 1 Focus Scaffolds • Read-Aloud Protocol
Delphine Evidence Teacher Script
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia • Chapter 1, Page 1 Focus
Target Skill: RL.1.1 & RL.1.3
Character Clues: Motherly & Responsible
Instructional Goal:
Students will identify specific actions Delphine takes on page 1 that prove she acts like a mother and is responsible for her younger sisters, speaking in complete sentences using framed evidence stems.
Anchor Text Clip:
"Good thing I had the money pinned inside my sweater pocket..." / Watching over Vonetta & Fern on the plane.
1
Word Warm-Up: Kid-Friendly Definitions & Gestures (3 Mins)
Motherly (Adjective) Gesture: Hug Arms
Definition: Caring, comforting, and protecting someone just like a loving parent.
Responsible (Adjective) Gesture: Thumbs on Chest
Definition: Doing what you are supposed to do and taking care of important jobs safely.
2
Model: Teacher Think-Aloud & Chalk-Talk (Page 1 Excerpt) (7 Mins)
TEACHER READ-ALOUD & THINK-ALOUD SCRIPT:
[Teacher reads aloud with finger tracking]: "Good thing I had the money pinned inside my sweater pocket. Good thing I was eleven and had common sense..."
[Touch temple with index finger]: "Readers, let me stop right there and do a think-aloud. Delphine is only eleven years old, but her Big Ma and Pa trusted her with the plane tickets and money pinned safely in her sweater. If you lose the money, you cannot buy food or get home safely."
[Turn to chart paper]: "Delphine is keeping the money safe so her little sisters have what they need. That proves she is responsible!"
TEACHER CHALK-TALK BOARD ACTION Write & Underline Live
1. Underline on Board: "money pinned inside my sweater pocket"
2. Draw Arrow to Word: RESPONSIBLE (Safe Keeping)
3. Say to Class: "Echo after me: Delphine is responsible because she keeps the money safe."
Page 1 of 2 • Direct Instruction & Modeling Turn page for Guided Practice, Partner Frames & Formative Check →
Delphine Evidence: Guided Practice & Oral Scaffolds
Chapter 1, Page 1: Watching Over Vonetta & Fern
Step 3 & 4: Student Application
3
Guided Practice: Partner Turn & Talk (Motherly Trait) (8 Mins)
Teacher Prompt:
"Let's look at the next lines on page 1. Delphine makes sure Vonetta sits between her and Fern. She makes sure Fern holds Miss Patty Cake safely and doesn't get scared when the plane rumbles. Why is Delphine acting like a mother?"
CHALK-TALK BOARD CLUE 2:
Underline: "Watching over Vonetta and Fern on the plane"
→ Trait: MOTHERLY (Cares & Protects)
PARTNER CHAT PROTOCOL:
Partner A: Reads sentence starter.
Partner B: Tells the action Delphine did.
4
Sentence Frame Bank (Tiered for Grade 1 Level)
Level 1: Starter Frame (Heavy Support) Choral / Echo
• Delphine is responsible because she keeps the money safe.
• Delphine is motherly because she watches over her sisters.
Level 2: Target Frame with Direct Text Clue Partner Turn & Talk
• "On page 1, Delphine shows she is [motherly / responsible] when she [pins the money / protects Fern]."
Level 3: Evidence + Reasoning Frame (Challenge) Independent Voice
• "I know Delphine acts like a mother because even though she is only eleven, she [takes care of Vonetta and Fern on the trip]."
1-Minute Exit Check
Ask students to show with fingers: 1 for Motherly or 2 for Responsible.
• "She makes sure little Fern feels safe." → 1 (Motherly)
• "She pins the money inside her sweater." → 2 (Responsible)
Teacher Watch-Out:
Common Misconception: Grade 1 students may think Delphine is the adult mother because she takes care of the kids.
Clarification Line: "Delphine is the big sister, but she steps up to act like a mother because their mother isn't there."
Delphine Evidence Script • One Crazy Summer Chapter 1 Lenny's Classroom Instructional Series
