Resource Filters Description More information about this book
More information about this book

Book Description

Resource Type

  • Pre-Reading Activities
  • During Reading Activities
  • Post-Reading Activities

Skills and Subjects

  • Critical Thinking in Literacy
  • Key Ideas & Details
  • Comprehension Strategies
  • Oral Language
  • Make Predictions
  • Visual Elements
  • Vocabulary Acquisition
  • Integrated Learning
  • Math & Literacy
  • Making Connections
  • Developing & Creating Texts
  • Just for Fun!
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One Can

    Book Genre:

  • Picture Books

    Audience:

  • ages 3 to 6 / grades K to 1

Written by

  • Lana Button & Eric Walters

Illustrated by

  • Isabelle Malenfant

  • Book Description

    A young child donates a cherished can of Zoodelicious to a school food drive. Their excitement turns into confusion and quiet reflection when the same can shows up in their family’s groceries at home. Through this experience, the child begins to understand food insecurity, community giving, and what it means to be both the giver and the receiver.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Critical Thinking in Literacy, Key Ideas & Details
    Needs vs. Wants Sort

    Have students sort images or words into Needs (e.g., food, shelter, love) and Wants (e.g. toys, candy, electronics). Discuss why some families might need help getting basic needs.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Oral Language
    What Is a Food Drive?

    Show real photos or a short video about community food drives. Ask students to share if they’ve ever donated something.  Ask how it made them feel to give.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Make Predictions, Visual Elements
    Cover Talk – Picture Predictions

    Display the book cover and ask: What do you notice? Who do you think the story is about? What might the title One Can mean?

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Oral Language, Vocabulary Acquisition
    Word Web – ‘Giving’

    Create a web on the board with the word “Giving” in the center. Students can brainstorm words or actions related to it.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Visual Elements
    Picture Walk

    Flip through illustrations (no text). Let students discuss what’s happening. Ask: What feelings do the pictures show?

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Visual Elements, Vocabulary Acquisition
    Vocabulary Word Wall

    Introduce key vocabulary. Create a word wall with key story terms like “Zoodelicious,” “food drive,” “donation,” “’insecurity,” “grateful” and “community.” Add student-friendly definitions and illustrations.

  • During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Key Ideas & Details
    Stop & Reflect Questions

    Pause at key pages and ask: How do you think the character feels? Why? Record student responses.

  • During Reading Activities/ Integrated Learning, Math & Literacy
    Counting Cans Math Tie-In

    As the carpet fills with cans, recreate it with paper cans. Count by tens to one hundred as a class.

  • During Reading Activities/ Making Connections
    Character Connections

    Pause to talk about the main character’s actions and feelings. Ask: Have you ever given something away, or donated something?

  • During Reading Activities/ Key Ideas & Details
    Sticky Note Feelings

    Give students post-it stickers (emoji faces) to place at parts in the book that make them feel different emotions.

     

  • During Reading Activities/ Oral Language, Vocabulary Acquisition
    Matching Words to Feelings

    Use cards with vocabulary words and cards with emotions (happy, proud, confused, thankful). Students match the word to the feeling shown in different parts of the story.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Critical Thinking in Literacy, Developing & Creating Texts
    “Are We the People in Need?” Journal Prompt

    Students write or draw a response to the question: “What would you say if you were the child in the story?”

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Integrated Learning
    Act of Kindness Challenge

    Students plan a small act of kindness at school. Record the acts on a bulletin board.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Oral Language
    Retell with Puppets or Props

    Use simple props for students to retell the story in small groups.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Integrated Learning, Visual Elements
    Create a Mitten Tree

    Each student decorates a paper mitten and writes something kind inside. Create a class ‘mitten tree’.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Key Ideas & Details, Making Connections
    Compare and Contrast – Giver vs. Receiver
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!, Visual Elements, Vocabulary Acquisition
    Zoodelicious Can Label

    Ask students to invent their own silly-named food (like Zoodelicious). They write a few sentences about what it looks and tastes like, and who they would give it to. Next have students design their own label for a pretend can of food.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!, Visual Elements, Vocabulary Acquisition
    Draw the Word

    Assign each student a vocabulary word from the book. They draw a picture that represents its meaning and present it to the class.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!, Oral Language, Vocabulary Acquisition
    Act It Out – Vocabulary Charades

    Play charades with story vocabulary. One student acts out a word (e.g., give, share, pack)