Book Summary
Miss Susie: A Handclap Game teaches students about one of many popular handclap games. Students will delight in both learning the chant and learning the motions that go along with the chant as they use their hands to make rhythm.

Build Background
Discuss with students the meaning of a chant. Ask them to name or tell any familiar chants. Invite students to share any movements that go along with the chant.

Explain that chants are a form of rhyming poetry that follows a beat based on syllables. Display and read a familiar nursery rhyme to students. Have students practice clapping the syllables in each word on the board. Ask volunteers to come to the board and put a slash mark between the syllables in each word. If necessary, remind students of the rules for dividing words into syllables (VCV: between the consonant and vowel; VCCV: between the two consonants; compound words: between the two words).

Discuss how symbols (triangles, circles, squares, and so on) can be used to represent different kinds of movements. Invite students to put simple, repetitive motions to a few words of the rhyme. Identify and write symbols under the words and practice saying the rhyme while doing the motions with students.

Preview the Poem
Show students the front and back covers of the book. Discuss the pictures. Turn to the title page. Discuss the picture and the information on the page (title of book, author's name, illustrator's name).

Explain to students that in this poem, every other sentence ends with rhyming words. Read pages 6 and 7 aloud to students. Ask students to tell you the two rhyming words at the end of the sentences (Tim and swim).

During Reading
Have students listen as you read the poem. Tell them to clap or raise their hands whenever they hear the second word of a rhyming pair. Read the book expressively without the hand motions and emphasize the words that rhyme in each pair of sentences. Then reread the poem with students.

After reading the poem with students, point out the symbols used to represent the handclaps. Practice each type of handclap with students. Slowly read the poem aloud and clap the chant with students. Then have them practice reading the poem aloud and doing the hand motions at the same time.

After Reading
Reader Response
Ask students what they thought of the poem. Have volunteers describe their favorite part and tell whether they enjoyed the rhythm produced by the clapping.

Comprehension
Ask specific questions that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the poem.

• What is a handclap game?
• What is the author's purpose for writing this poem? Is it to explain, entertain, or persuade?
• What was Miss Susie's problem and how did it get solved?