On Hand: Love the Baby by Stephen L. Layne (2007) or any other book that shows, through actions, a character's emotions.

Mini-Lesson: Read text from the book that demonstrates how a character is feeling through action. For example, from Love the Baby you might read: "So I built a tower for Baby . . . and then I knocked it down!" Ask, "How is this big brother feeling in this moment?" After students have provided responses, point out that the author did not use words such as mad, angry, frustrated, or jealous. But we, the readers, know that this is how the brother is feeling because of his actions. The details the author selected show us how the character is feeling.

            Next, ask students to imagine they have just learned that they won the school art contest. Say, "Your picture will be framed and hung in the front hall. It will be the first piece of art seen as we come into the building. How do you react?"

            Invite volunteers to come up and demonstrate a reaction. Invite others to provide the words that show through actions how the student is feeling. Remind them to stay away from words that tell, such as happy, excited, and thrilled:

            Teacher: Kara just learned that she won the school art contest.

Student response: She jumped into the air and shouted, "Yes!"

            You might want students to act out several scenarios. Here are other suggestions:

·         Your babysitter has just accused you of doing something you didn't do. You say, "But . . ." She interrupts you and tells you to go to your room. How do you exit?

·         A hurricane blows over a favorite tree-one that you've climbed countless times, the one where you built your tree fort. How do you react?

            Suggest students provide details to show how they or their main characters are feeling through actions.