On a board, write in three columns, "before reading," "during reading" and "after reading." Tell students they will be using a reading strategy that requires them to make predictions. Hold up the front book cover and ask students to predict what the story might be about. Make notes on the "before reading" column. As you read through the story, stop at certain points and ask students what they think will happen. Why do they think that will happen and what in the text makes them think that? Jot down their ideas in the "during reading" column. When the story is over, discuss why it's important to find evidence in the text to prove or disprove predictions.
Tomie dePaola has written more than 200 children's stories. Have students research where he got his ideas, how some come from real life experiences or from stories he heard as a child. Teach students how to write a summary of a book. Give each student a dePaola book to read and summarize. Students can draw a scene from the story to attach their summary to. As an added project, have students look up what inspired dePaola to write that particular book.
Before reading the story of Strega Nona and Big Anthony, ask students to listen for the kinds of jobs people do in the story. As you read, students can write down the jobs they hear on chart paper. Next, discuss what it means to be a responsible worker. Which people in the story displayed responsibility in their jobs? How did Big Anthony not show responsibility? Bring the lesson home by asking what jobs students are responsible for at home and school. Ask them to share stories of times they have been responsible and what the outcome was. Also ask them to share when they weren't responsible and tell what was the result of irresponsibility.
"Strega Nona" is a great book for teaching cause and effect. Create a sheet or colored index cards of scenes from the story that show cause. The first one would be, Strega Nona needed help; another might be about how Big Anthony saw Strega Nona use the pot. Discuss or have students write or match what the effects are to each cause. This can be a writing activity or matching game.