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Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon Activities + Lesson Plans

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Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon Lesson Plans : A Whole Week of Kindergarten Fun

Looking for Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon activities that fill a whole week of kindergarten? You’re in the right place. This sweet, funny book about confidence, kindness, and being yourself is a back-to-school favorite, and it works beautifully any time of year.

In this post you’ll find the complete week of activities I use around Molly Lou Melon: reading comprehension and discussion, close reading, writing, math, STEM, and literacy centers, plus a free fluency poem. Everything is ready to teach, so you’re not piecing together book companion activities from a dozen different places.

Whether you teach kindergarten or first grade, these ideas help you slow down, linger with a great story, and build confident, curious readers. 

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

What Is Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon About?

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell is a picture book about a small girl with buck teeth and a squeaky voice who is teased by a classmate. Using her grandmother’s advice, Molly Lou responds with confidence and creativity, teaching kids to value what makes them different.

Book Summary

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon was written by author Patty Lovell, and it’s one of those perfect back-to-school read aloud books. Molly Lou Melon is small, has buck teeth, a squeaky voice, and isn’t the most coordinated—but she’s proud of exactly who she is. Encouraged by her grandmother’s advice, she faces a new school and a classmate, Ronald Durkin, who tries to tease her. Molly Lou responds with quick thinking, creativity, and confidence, turning each remark into a chance to show her strengths.

Themes: Confidence, Kindness, and Individuality

The story highlights self-assurance, problem-solving, and valuing what makes each person different—which is exactly why it’s such a powerful anchor text for the first weeks of school. It opens the door to talking about confidence, kindness, and being yourself, and those conversations set the tone for your whole classroom community.

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon Activities for the Whole Week

Here’s the heart of the unit, a full week of connected activities across reading, writing, math, STEM, and centers. Each one ties back to the story so kids see how it all fits together.

Visualization (Day One: Picture It in Your Mind).

On the first day, I have students close their eyes and create the story in their minds. Then, I have my students turn to their partner to discuss what what they visualize.

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

I also ask my students to draw a picture of what they see in their heads.

Visualization drawing example for Molly Lou Melon
Visualization drawing example for Molly Lou Melon

Sequencing with Text Detail Cards.

One of my favorite follow-up activities uses text detail cards. Students sort them into “in the story” or “not in the story,” which gets them paying attention to the little things and looking for proof in the text. It’s simple, but it really helps them separate what’s actually in the book from what they think might be there.

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

When you combine activities like visualizing, talking through ideas, and sorting out important details, students are doing so much more than just reading a book. They’re learning how to think deeply about what they read and growing into confident, curious readers along the way.

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

Self-Portrait Craft

Such a cute self-portrait activity that ties right into the “be proud of who you are” theme. Students celebrate what makes them special, just like Molly Lou.

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.
Such a cute self portrait activity!

How Do You Teach Close Reading with a Picture Book? 

Close reading isn’t about racing to the end of a book, then tossing out endless comprehension questions like their is a prize to be won—it’s about slowing down and really lingering with the story for a while. Our reading curriculum gives us the perfect excuse to do just that, spending several days with one text so students can notice new details and make deeper connections.

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon is one of those stories that just gets better the more you revisit it. Between the quirky, heartfelt storyline and those hilarious illustrations (please tell me you’ve noticed the frog’s face—so good), kids can’t help but get pulled in. The art alone sparks giggles, questions, and plenty of “Wait, can we look at that page again?” moments.

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

Day-by-Day Lesson Plan Overview

Here is a closer look at what our daily reading comprehension focus and lessons look like for Molly Lou Melon.

Day
Reading Comprehension & Writing Response
Monday
Visualization
Tuesday
Noticing Text Details & Retelling
Wednesday
Inferring
Thursday
Making Connections
Friday
Opinion Writing
Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

You can find all of these lesson plans with student response pages for this great book, plus five others by  clicking:

But why stop at reading and watching? This story is full of jumping-off points for STEM fun. One favorite project is to have students design something inspired by a challenge or theme from the book, then reflect on their work. It’s amazing to see their problem-solving skills in action. (Ms. Lopez’s kindergarten class shared the sweetest photo of their team designs—it’s all smiles and collaboration.)

Youtube video

Bringing It Into Literacy and Math Centers

Your literacy centers can easily tie into the book, too. Try a phonemic awareness station where students sort pictures by beginning sounds—it’s hands-on, engaging, and sneaks in that important early reading practice. For math centers, you can set up two versions to fit different skill levels. One might focus on counting coins and recording totals for your kinders, while older students could tackle more challenging combinations. Connecting these activities back to the story helps kids see how reading, math, and creative thinking can all work together.

By mixing videos, STEM projects, and center work, Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon becomes more than just a book—it’s the heart of a week’s worth of meaningful, connected learning.

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.
Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

You can find the book companion math and literacy centers plus STEM activities by clicking:

Exploring Other Important Centers That Support Early Learners

Not every center has to connect directly to the book to be meaningful. Sometimes, it’s the everyday activities that help students feel most at home in your classroom. One of my favorites involves colors.  

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.
Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

Writing Centers with a Purpose

Your writing center can also give students a safe space to explore their voices. A labeling page, for example, is always a hit. Students identify and label objects, which sneaks in vocabulary practice and handwriting mechanics without feeling like a chore. This activity pairs beautifully with the themes of Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon—students are, in their own way, “standing tall” as they use words and pictures to express themselves.

By mixing in these identity-building and skill-focused centers, you’re giving early learners multiple ways to grow—academically, socially, and emotionally—while keeping them excited to learn.

Kindergarten writing center activities and vocabulary for August

A Back-to-School Poem to Complement Fluency and Shared Reading

The first weeks of kindergarten are all about finding our rhythm—and shared reading routines are a big part of that. Familiar poems are such a fun way to build fluency, and one of my favorites is an original called Time for School. It’s short, sweet, and quickly becomes a class favorite.

This poem works perfectly in a five-day fluency plan, where each day has a focus—maybe phrasing on Monday, expression on Tuesday, and comprehension later in the week. Reading and singing it together not only builds fluency skills, but also helps students settle into the flow of the school day.

The tone is warm and welcoming, much like Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon, making it a great companion piece. And if you have a recorded version, even better! Audio supports give students another way to practice, and they’re especially helpful for those who learn best when they can both hear and see the words.

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

You can find this Poem of the Week:

Detailed Lesson Plans and Practical Resources for Seamless Implementation

Let’s be honest—having a solid plan in place can make all the difference between a smooth, joy-filled week and one that feels like you’re juggling flaming hoops. That’s where these detailed lesson plans come in. They’re designed to walk you through the entire Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon unit from start to finish.

The visual plans are easy to follow and use clear, teacher-friendly fonts (pro tip: download the recommended literacy fonts so everything looks exactly as intended). This keeps your plans not just functional, but polished and professional.

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go. If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

Each plan is editable, so you can tweak them to fit your class’s needs. They include everything—literacy, writing, math, STEM, and center activities—mapped out across the week with timelines and suggestions. You’ll know exactly what’s coming next, but still have the flexibility to adjust as you go.

If you’re a visual person, you’ll love having these as your go-to guide. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes co-teacher, keeping you organized so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

You can find more back to school detailed lessons by clicking:

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Deedee Wills

After 25+ years teaching kindergarten, first, and second grade, I know how much the early years matter. I'm an Orton-Gillingham and LETRS-trained educator who develops curriculum, presents internationally and writes about literacy and early math. Let's make your job easier!

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4 Responses

  1. Thank you for providing this resource and everything else you do! I love following you and all your ideas.

    Reply

  2. Hi DeeDee! I don’t know which of the fonts to download, there are zillions. Which one did you use for the lesson plan? Thanks!

    Reply

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