Natsumi 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:

Natsumi by Susan Lendroth
This week, students will read and explore Natsumi! by Susan Lendroth as they follow Natsumi’s journey of trying to participate in family traditions and discovering that what makes her different is also what makes her special. Through discussion, vocabulary, and story analysis, students will make predictions using picture and text clues, identify the multiple problems Natsumi faces, and explain how those problems are ultimately solved. Learners will build confidence and self-awareness while exploring themes of identity, belonging, and embracing their unique strengths. Students will also read Spork by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault as a connected text, comparing how both characters struggle to fit in and learn to embrace what makes them uniquely themselves.

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 1 BUNDLE.