Lesson Plan - Doodling His Way to Fame

Turn and Talk
Before reading the article, have students turn and talk with a partner about whether they like to doodle and whether they think doodling is an art form. 

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them identify some of the ways Joe Whale has used his doodling skills. 

1. What is Joe Whale’s nickname, and how did he get it? 
Joe’s nickname is the Doodle Boy. He got this nickname after he drew a mural on the wall of a local restaurant and gained a big following on social media.
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2. According to the article, what advice does Joe have for other kids?
Joe’s message to other kids is to be creative with art because you never know where your imagination will take you. He says, “Most important, have fun doing what you love.”
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3. Do you think “Doodling His Way to Fame” is a good title for the article? Why or why not? What other effective titles can you think of?

Sample response: “Doodling His Way to Fame” is a good title for the article because it sums up a main idea—that Joe became well known because of his doodling. Other good titles might be “Meet the Doodle Boy” or “His Doodling Went Viral.”                                                                                                                 R.2 Main Idea

FEATURED SKILL: Paired Texts
Use the skill builder “Doodling Is Good for You” to pair this text with a short article about the benefits of doodling. Follow-up questions on the skill builder help students look at the texts together. 
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