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Reading Detective Dive

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Lesson Plan

Reading Detective Dive

Students will learn to identify “Aha Moments” in a shared text using the Notice and Note strategy and demonstrate understanding by marking examples and explaining their significance.

Teaching students to spot pivotal moments in text builds close-reading habits, deepens comprehension, and fosters critical thinking from an early age.

Audience

2nd Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Model–Practice–Reflect

Materials

Notice and Note Anchor Chart Poster, Shared Reading Text: The Kind Frog, Notice and Note Signal Cards, Teaching Pal Question Set, Student MyBook Writing Journal, Classroom Chart Paper and Markers, and Visual Timer

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Connect and Teach

7 minutes

  • Gather students in a whole-group area and display the Notice and Note Anchor Chart Poster
  • Introduce the focus skill: Aha Moment (“When a character suddenly realizes something important”)
  • Read a brief example aloud and think aloud to model identifying an Aha Moment
  • Highlight cue words that signal the moment (e.g., “then I realized,” “I suddenly knew”)
  • Invite students to turn and talk: “What words helped you notice the Aha Moment?”

Step 2

Apply to Text

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Shared Reading Text: The Kind Frog
  • Read the first two paragraphs aloud; pause at a potential Aha Moment
  • Ask: “Did you notice an Aha Moment? Show your Signal Card”
  • Use the Teaching Pal Question Set to prompt deeper thinking:
    • “What did the character realize?”
    • “How do you know it was an Aha Moment?”
  • Students place sticky notes on the text where they spot Aha Moments and share with a partner

Step 3

Engage and Respond

8 minutes

  • Students return to seats with their MyBook Writing Journal
  • Prompt writing:
    • “Write about one Aha Moment from ‘The Kind Frog’ and explain why it was important.”
  • Provide sentence starters:
    • “I noticed an Aha Moment when…”
    • “This was important because…”
  • Allow students to illustrate their response
  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to share their journal entries with the class
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Slide Deck

Reading Detective Dive

Close Reading Strategy: Aha Moments
Grade 2 | 30 Minutes | Tier 1 Lesson

Welcome everyone! Introduce today’s lesson and our detective reading strategy. Explain that we’ll dive into the story and look for special moments when a character suddenly realizes something important.

Learning Objective

We will learn to identify “Aha Moments” in a shared text using the Notice and Note strategy and explain why they matter.

Read the objective aloud. Emphasize what “Aha Moment” means and how students will practice it today.

Step 1: Connect & Teach

• Introduce “Aha Moment”: when a character suddenly realizes something important
• Highlight cue words: “then I realized,” “I suddenly knew,” etc.
• Model with a brief example
• Turn and talk: Which words helped you notice the Aha Moment?

Display the Notice and Note Anchor Chart Poster on chart paper or projector. Model thinking aloud: “I see ‘then I realized’—that signals an Aha Moment!” Invite a quick turn-and-talk.

Step 2: Apply to Text

• Read aloud first two paragraphs of “The Kind Frog”
• Pause at a possible Aha Moment
• Students show their signal card when they notice one
• Place sticky notes on text where you see an Aha Moment

Hand out the Notice and Note Signal Cards and Shared Reading Text: The Kind Frog. Explain signaling process and encourage active listening.

The Kind Frog: Excerpt

“Lila crept through the misty marsh, her heart pounding. Suddenly, she spotted a frog perched on a lily pad, humming a soft tune. Then she realized—it wasn’t a frog at all, but her missing friend in disguise!”

Project or hand out the excerpt. Read it slowly, pausing at the end of each paragraph. Emphasize tone and facial expression to help students track clues.

Discussion Questions

  1. What did the character realize?
  2. How do you know it was an Aha Moment?
  3. Which words or details gave you the clue?

Use the Teaching Pal Question Set to prompt deeper thinking. Encourage full-sentence responses and partner sharing.

Step 3: Engage & Respond

• Write about one Aha Moment from “The Kind Frog” and explain why it was important.
• Use your MyBook Writing Journal.
• Sentence starters:
– “I noticed an Aha Moment when…”
– “This was important because…”

Explain the writing activity. Show examples of sentence starters on the board. Circulate and support students as they write and illustrate in their journals.

Share & Reflect

• Volunteer readers share their Aha Moment responses
• Class reflects: How did identifying Aha Moments help us understand the story?

Invite 2–3 volunteers to share their journal entries. Praise their thinking and link back to our objective. Remind students to look for Aha Moments whenever they read.

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Reading Detective Dive • Lenny Learning