We love just about every book Kevin Henkes has ever written and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse is right up there with the best of them.
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse is a popular children’s book written by Kevin Henkes. It tells the story of Lilly, a little mouse who loves her purple plastic purse.
Here is an overview of the book:
She loves school, she loves dressing up, and she even grows to love her stinky baby brother, Julius. Lilly loves everything! But when Lilly brings her purple purse to school and can’t wait until circle time to show off the purse and her new movie star sunglasses, her teacher, Mr. Slinger, has to take away her prized possessions.
Lilly’s fury leads her to draw a mean note and a mean picture of her favorite teacher. It isn’t until Mr. Slinger gives her belongings back to her at the end of the day with a kind note and snacks that Lilly realizes she owes Mr. Slinger an apology.
I’m excited to share some of my favorite engaging activities inspired by the book. From reading comprehension to crafts, Your students will love getting to know this fun character.
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse is a great book for kindergarteners or first graders. This picture book allows you to reinforce classroom expectations and classroom rules while falling in love with Lilly. This main character is also in his storybook companions in other Kevin Henke Books, like Chester’s Way and Julius, Baby of the World.
With our reading comprehension lesson plans, we visit and revisit a text for the entire week. Each day, our young learners respond to the text through partner discussions. Then, we ask students to make their thinking visible through student response activities. We know time is limited, so many teachers opt to have students respond in writing just a few times a week.
However, the key… the juice… the point of an interactive read-aloud is the discussions that take place as students orally respond to literature prompts.
Let’s take a minute to pause and appreciate the invented spelling. It is through these approximations that students grow as a writer. Do we have times of the day when we teach spelling patterns, phonics, and the skills of encoding and decoding words? Yes! Absolutely! You can see explicit sentence writing instruction during our Science of Reading block.
With each of our lesson plans, we focus on different comprehension strategies. We also introduce new vocabulary and deepen our comprehension with discussion topics. One of the activities we do with each book is focusing on the text details. Often times this means retelling the story in order.
After students sort the story picture cards, then they practice retelling the story to their partners. This is a fantastic way to reinforce oral language skills. At the beginning of the school year, teachers may need to support students during this partner-sharing time. But as the year progresses, lesson support is needed.
We love these images of the young mouse, Lilly! She is so excited about her new purple plastic purse.
Once students have had the chance to practice retelling the story with the picture sequencing cards, you can add them to a literacy center bin. Include the book, and your students will love it.
Students also have the opportunity to discuss the characters in our story and how they may change over time. This anchor chart is a great way to enhance our classroom discussions.
In this activity, we discuss how Lilly was at the beginning of the story, towards the middle of the story, and at the end of the book. We also talk about any lessons Lilly may have learned in the book.
We love a good craft or two! This is a very simple construction paper craft. Then attach a piece of yarn to the back of the purse. Students will add their own retelling pieces to the purse.
You can download this free purse template by clicking:
All of the retelling pieces are free as well. You will find them at the end of this blog post.
We try to include engaging crafts in our lesson plans because they are the hook! You can also add the sentence study that is included in the printable version to the craft. This sweet Lilly is a keeper and her new sunglasses are poppin’!
Each week we look at a mentor sentence that is related to the story. As this is the beginning of the school year, we just focus on putting the words in order and noticing the capital letter and punctuation. As the year progresses, student will use these weekly sentences to discuss grammar and parts of speech.
Throughout the week, you will be reading from the book. Each day you will discuss the comprehension focus in the lesson plans. You really can not conduct and interactive read aloud without the book. You may have this book already in your classroom collection or you can check it out from the school or local library.
However, it is nice to offer another voice and fluency model. So a video such as this one is perfect!
You can download this free file at the bottom of this blog post. If you are looking for a year long set of reading comprehension plans like these, you will find them in these links.
You can find these activities in our Engaging Readers Series.
Click on the buttons below to shop these Engaging Readers Units.
Check out these other blog posts about other Kevin Henkes books:
Would you like to learn more about Interactive Read Aloud Lesson plans?
Here are a few pictures from the first week of math workshop! Remember, the worksheet is not the important thing. Hands-on math is a must!
You can download this free template and edit it to make it your own! On the PDF version, each resource is linked so you can find it quickly.
Click on the image above to start the download.
Do you need help in editing these visual lesson plans? Click: Tech Support for Teachers
To see additional Lesson Plan Posts like this, click
We are so certain you will love how easy your lesson planning will become with our reading units that we give away a free week’s worth of lessons. Try them out for yourself and join thousands of kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade teachers who have made the switch to these researched-based literacy lessons.
The best part of these lessons is they are a print and teach sort of activity. You can feel confident that you are providing quality lessons without the hours and hours of planning.
Just add your email to the box below and you can try the Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse Engaging Readers Lesson Plans for free!
My teaching career allowed me to experience teaching in different classroom environments and grades. My heart belongs to early childhood education. My job is to make teaching FUN, ENGAGING, and EASIER. Welcome!
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61 Responses
I can’t find where you can actually download the free unit?
If you scroll to the bottom of the blog post, the instructions are there for you. You just need to fill out the box.
I’ve been going in circles looking for it too. ???
If you read down to the bottom of the blog post, it will show you where to add your name and the download will be coming your way. 😉
Love your unit….download please!
Hi there!
You can download it by entering your information in the box at the end of the blog post 🙂
Do I need to enter my email EVERY TIME there is a free file that I would like to download?
Hi there, I am sorry… that is how my document/email server is set up. Rest assured, when you sign up, you will only be on my email list once. So you won’t get 25 duplicate emails from me (because nobody likes that for SURE).
Sadly, I have had free files taken from me and posted without my permission, so this aids my site security.
Hi, I am interested in receiving your free unit on Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse! It looks awesome!
Thank you!
Leah
Hi Leah!
I just pushed it out to you. You should see an email in your inbox that you will need to click on 🙂
Any tips on teaching Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse with these resources to higher 1st graders and 2nd graders? Thank you!!!
Hi there!!! and YES! We have so many first grade teachers who use our resources. The questioning and comprehension strategies remain the same throughout students who read. For example: predicting, connecting, inferring, and opinion writing. So how do you make these resources reach beyond first grade? The product you receive from the students will be different. In kindergarten, we get most of the response in pictures and conversations. As students move into 1st grade, students will still continue to have conversations, but they will be able to express themselves more deeply. When these students provide a response, we will anticipate multiple sentences. We have also provided an interactive notebook prompt option for students who are ready to write paragraphs!! 🙂
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply! This makes perfect sense and I used these resources today with the book, and it went over VERY WELL!!! So excited about the results and writing students were able to produce after digging deep. Your tips got my mind in the right place and helped tremendously. Thank you again! I’m going to check out your entire sets.
You are welcome!!!
Will you please send me the unit plans for Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse? Thank you !
Hi Julie, You just need to enter an email at the end of the blog post. If your school email is not working, try another one. Many schools block email distribution via sign up lists like the one found on blogs.
I would like the Lillys Purple Plastic Purse free download , but the box at the end of your blog where you enter your email is for The Big Curriculum Guide and Free Resources download.
Thanks!
Hi there! Yes! The Lilly files are in that big download. 🙂
Looking for download for LIly’s Purple Purse for Kindergarten
Great! Just add your email to the box at the bottom of this blog post and it will be sent your way. If you are using a school email address, your email server might block it. So if you are not getting the download, please try another email. 🙂
I would like the lessons for lily and her purple purse. Chrysanthemum and I was so mad. Thank you!
Cindy, You can download the free Lilly lesson at the bottom of this blog post. Just follow the directions in the post.
Chrysanthemum and I Was So Mad is available for purchase. The links are in this blog posts, but here they are again for you:
Engaging Readers Comprehension units
I would love to use your free unit of Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse if it is still available.
Great Tammy! Yes, you just need to enter your email at the bottom of the blog post. It will be sent to your email inbox. Thank you
Hey, I would also like the free unit of Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse. I did receive a free sample from you, it was a Snowman pattern, not the Lily’s Purple Purse. Is it no longer available?
Thanks
Hi there! I checked the free file link and it is linked correctly. Can you try to enter your email address again on the form at the end of the blog post. If you still don’t receive the correct file, can you email me? deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
I never received the Lily Purple Plastic Purse. I entered my information several times and nothing came.
Hi Sonya,
I just checked on my end. My email server shows the email was opened, but if you did not get it, it might be in your junk folder or it could have been blocked by your school email filter because it is a huge file. It is in the Curriculum Guide download. If you don’t find it, email me and I will try to get it to you that way.
deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
I would like the Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse activities, can’t wait to share them with my class! thank you!
Perfect! Just add your email to the bottom of this blog post and it will be sent to your email inbox.
I would like the free download please.
You bet, just put your email in at the bottom of this blog post and it will be sent to you.
I would love to have this unit as I plan my reading and writing lessons on character feelings and actions.
Thank you,
Lynne Harling
First Grade Teacher
Warrenville Elementary
Aiken County Public School District
Perfect! Simply follow the directions at the end of the blog post and it will be sent to your email inbox. 🙂
I would love the free lesson plan for Lillie’s Plastic Purple Purse.
Hi there!
The free curriculum guide includes the reading lesson plans and many other great resources. If you add your email to the box at the end of the blog post, the free download will be emailed to you.
I entered my name and email address but it says an error occurred. I checked it several times and don’t see an error in what I typed. 🙁
^ I was trying to download the lesson plan for Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse. (Above post)
Hi Anne,
After you enter your email address, did you click enter on your keyboard? If you are still receiving an error, you can email me so I can help you further! deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
Always love all of your resources! Thank you for inspiring us to keep getting better in our teaching!
DENISE!!! Thank you for your kind words!!! xoxo
I am looking for lilly’s purple plastic purse
The lesson plans for Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse are in the free curriculum guide at the end of the post. Simply add your name and email address and the file will be sent to your inbox.
I’d love a copy of lesson plans for Lilly’s Purple Plastic purse. Thank you.
Simply add your name and email to the box at the end of the post and you will receive an email with our curriculum guide that includes the reading lesson plans and a TON of other resources!
I entered my information and received emails, but I can’t seem to download freebies for Lilly’s Purple…. Thank you!
Lilly’s purple purse act.
Hi Linda!
If you add your name and email to the box at the end of the blog post, the file including Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse activities will be sent to your inbox.
Thank you!
You’re welcome!
the file including Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse activities please
Hi there! If you add your name and email address to the box at the end of the blog post, you will receive the file including lessons for Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.
Lilly’s purple plastic purse lesson plans
I want this
Hi Rebecca,
If you add your name and email address to the opt-in box at the end of the blog post, an email will be sent to you with a link to download the free lesson plans for Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.
Hi there for some reason I entered my email, I saw the weekly plan with small images but I cant click on the student worksheets and retelling cards. Can you help
The student response sheets and retelling cards are in the zipped folder that gets sent to your inbox when you add your email. If you are still unable to find those, can you please email me? deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
Love your blog post!
Thank you so much!
Hi!
Please send materials for “Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse.”
Thanks so much in advance!
Lori Bricks
Hi Lori!
If you enter your name and email address to the box at the end of the post, you will be sent an email with the free file.