Fin M'Coul the Giant of Knockmany Hill Belonging in Books™ Reading Comprehension Week-Long Unit

Belonging in Books | PreK–2nd Reading Comprehension Curriculum for Close Read and Read-Alouds

If you’re looking for a low-prep, high-impact way to bring purposeful comprehension instruction into your PreK–2 classroom or homeschool, this resource is for you! Part of the Belonging in Books curriculum, this unit supports deep thinking, joyful reading, and inclusive discussion using a powerful anchor text:

Fin M’Coul the Giant of Knockmany Hill by Tomie dePaola

This week, students will read and explore Fin M’Coul the Giant of Knockmany Hill by Tomie dePaola as they follow Fin and Oonagh’s clever plan to outsmart the boastful giant Cucullin. Through discussion, vocabulary, and story analysis, students will identify and describe character traits and examine how characters’ actions reveal who they are on the inside. Learners will build critical thinking skills while exploring themes of cleverness, courage, and how intelligence and teamwork can solve problems. Students will also read Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola as a connected text, comparing the characters’ traits and exploring how different characters use their strengths to overcome challenges.

Each Belonging in Books unit is built around a high-quality read-aloud and carefully designed to:
✔️ Teach comprehension through rich, age-appropriate conversations
✔️ Build vocabulary and language skills in context
✔️ Explore story elements and text structures
✔️ Practice key comprehension strategies
✔️ Support synthesis using a paired companion text
✔️ Center student voices and diverse perspectives

What’s Included:
5-day lesson arc (20–30 minutes/day):

• Day 1: Connect & First Read
• Day 2: Vocabulary Exploration
• Day 3: Story Elements or Text Structure
• Day 4: Comprehension Skill
• Day 5: Paired Text & Synthesis Discussion

+Semi-Scripted daily lesson plans
+Thoughtful discussion questions
+Printable graphic organizers
+Visual Vocabulary and child-friendly definitions
+No Prep student practice sheets
+Anchor chart templates
+CCSS Alignment
+Student “I Can” statements
+Lesson plans for a culminating project or hands-on response
+Companion text suggestion and extension ideas

Each book in Belonging in Books can be a stand alone week of learning, or you can dive into an entire thematic unit of quality mentor texts that connect through themes, character experiences, comprehension strategies, and text structures.

Check out the rest of the Belonging in Books Curriculum!

This unit is part of the Unit 2 Bundle.