Teaching the Common Core State Standards for literature about analyzing character traits in a story is really easy when you have the right book! Some books have really strong characters with very obvious character traits. These are the kinds of books you need to teach characteristics / characterization. One book that is great for teaching this is... Akiak: A Tale From the Iditarod by Robert J. Blake This is an amazing story for winter by author-illustrator Robert Blake who also wrote Togo. The story is about a sled dog named Akiak who has run the Iditarod Sled Dog Race through Alaska before. The race started and Akiak needed to be left behind by her musher Mick. As she was about to be airlifted back, Akiak escaped and tried to run to catch up with the rest of the team. For days she follows the trail, and many try to stop her along the way. The story of this determined dog ... read more
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Togo by Robert J. Blake
A guided reading or interactive read aloud lesson plan for the historical fiction mentor text picture book Togo by Robert J. Blake. A great story for reading about sled dogs, the origin of the Iditarod Race in Alaska, the Leonhard Seppala Siberians, the Diptheria Serum Run of 1925, and determination. Google Slides presentation and student activities on Google Docs. Lessons and activities focus on: Summarizing key details (4 strategies: narrative retell, timeline, graphic organizer, Somebody Wanted But Then So)Close reading for describing character traits / characteristicsAnalyzing the author's message / lessonintegrating knowledge from multiple sourcesMain idea and detailsComparing and contrasting but can easily be modified for other uses The lesson plans include: teacher script with strategic stopping points and questions for ... read more
Akiak by Robert J. Blake
A guided reading or interactive read aloud lesson plan for the realistic fiction mentor text picture book Akiak A Tale of the Iditarod by Robert J. Blake. A great story for reading about sled dogs and the Iditarod Race in Alaska and determination. Google Slides presentation and student activities on Google Docs. Lessons and activities focus on: Summarizing key details (4 strategies: narrative retell, timeline, graphic organizer, Somebody Wanted But Then So)Close reading for describing character traits / characteristicsAnalyzing the author's message / lessonintegrating knowledge from multiple sourcesMain idea and detailsComparing and contrasting but can easily be modified for other uses The lesson plans include: teacher script with strategic stopping points and questions for students to discussprintable prompts for student ... read more
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
A guided reading or interactive read aloud lesson plan for the realistic fiction mentor text picture book Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho. A great multicultural read for self-esteem, social-emotional learning (SEL), positive self-image, relationships, and family. Google Slides presentation and student activities on Google Docs. Lessons and activities focus on: Summarizing key details (4 strategies: narrative retell, timeline, graphic organizer, Somebody Wanted But Then So)Close reading for describing figurative languageAnalyzing the author's message / lessonMain idea and detailsComparing and contrasting but can easily be modified for other uses The lesson plans include: teacher script with strategic stopping points and questions for students to discussprintable prompts for ... read more
The Raft by Jim LaMarche
A guided reading or interactive read aloud lesson plan for the realistic fiction mentor text book The Raft by Jim LaMarche. Great for relationships, summer, and studies of nature and the environment! Google Slides presentation and student activities on Google Docs. Lessons and activities focus on: Summarizing key details (4 strategies: narrative retell, timeline, graphic organizer, Somebody Wanted But Then So)describing character point of view / feelings / emotionscomparing and contrasting with a Venn diagrammain idea and detailsauthor's message / lessonanalyzing theme The lesson plans include: teacher script with strategic stopping points and questions for students to discussprintable prompts for student post-reading responses through discussion in writing or reading response logs4-5 day planDiscussion questionsSuggested ... read more
Mock Caldecott 2021 Unit Lessons and Google Activities
Dive into the Caldecott Medal with this fun Mock Caldecott unit! Lessons to help students learn about the medal, pretend to join the Caldecott Medal Committee, learn about some top books that could win for 2020 - 2021 as well previous winners. Learn about selection criteria as well with activity pages as well as Google Slides and Google Form for voting! Lessons and activities focus on: background about the Caldecott Medalselection criteriaprevious winnersanalyzing illustrationspotential nominees this year! This resource includes: Google Slides for displaying lesson ideas, discussion questions and promptsDiscussion questionsPrintable posters with potential nomineesGoogle Form to vote onlineNote-taking sheetsVoting sheets for upper and lower elementarySentence stems / frames for oracy and vocabulary developmentGreat for bilingual classroomsPrintable ... read more
Above the Rim by Jen Bryant
A guided reading or interactive read aloud lesson plan for the biography mentor text book Above the Rim How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball by Jen Bryant and Frank Morrison. Great for biography studies, Black History Month and sports! Google Slides presentation and student activities on Google Docs. Lessons and activities focus on: Summarizing key details (4 strategies: narrative retell, timeline, graphic organizer, Somebody Wanted But Then So)describing character traits / characteristicscomparing and contrastingmain idea and detailsintegrating knowledge from multiple sourcesauthor's message / lesson The lesson plans include: teacher script with strategic stopping points and questions for students to discussprintable prompts for student post-reading responses through discussion in writing or reading response ... read more
Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry
A guided reading or interactive read aloud lesson plan for the realistic fiction mentor text picture book Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry and Juana Martinez-Neal. Great for relationships, friendship, or community. Google Slides presentation and student activities on Google Docs. Lessons and activities focus on: Summarizing key details (4 strategies: narrative retell, timeline, graphic organizer, Somebody Wanted But Then So)Close reading for describing illustrationsdescribing character traits / characteristicsAnalyzing the author's message / lessonMain idea and detailsComparing and contrasting but can easily be modified for other uses The lesson plans include: teacher script with strategic stopping points and questions for students to discussprintable prompts for student post-reading responses through ... read more
Best Children’s Books About Arctic Animals
What are some of the best children's books about arctic animals? There are a ton of picture books about the arctic and polar regions both fiction and nonfiction. There are books about polar bears, penguins, wolves, and more! Check out these picture books about the arctic! If you’re a member of the Picture Book Brain Trust Community, you already have access to EVERY lesson plan and activity for these books! Just click on the Lesson Plans button in the menu! If you’re not a member of the Picture Book Brain Trust, you can join for as little as $1 for 30 days to get unlimited access! Click here to join! Check out the books: Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell A Caldecott-winning wordless book from Matthew Cordell. The entire time the reader thinks that the child will be attacked by the wolves. Even with no words, the illustrator shows all of the emotion of the ... read more