oral/writing activities
Oral:
Time Machine: Students should select a book and change the setting by one hundred years either forward or backward in time. Then they can describe how the characters' lives would be different and what part of the story would have to be changed.
Flame Partridge, North Andrew RV1 Elementary, Bolckow, MO, Grades 2-6
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My second grade class has been going out to the Community Care Center to read to the residents for one of the five months of the BOOK IT! program for the past five years. February is the month we've chosen. We've been fortunate to have the Center's social director help in setting up our reading partners. We go to the Care Center after school and find our resident then read for half-an-hour once a week for three weeks. Parents have been very happy to pick their child up when we are done. Some children report they get some "oos and ahs" as they read.
Gail Sears, McAndrew Elementary, Ainsworth, NE, Grade 2
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I like response reading. One child, designated as the "leader," comes to the front of the room and reads a few sentences. When the "leader" stops reading, he/she points to a student who reads until the "leader" resumes reading or points to another child to read. This keeps everyone alert, the children keep their place, and it's fun. The "leader" feels important and gets a taste of what the teacher feels like when students respond well (or don't respond well).
Dolores Cooper, East Prairie School, Skokie, IL, Grade 2
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Let the children take turns reading one of their BOOK IT! book choices orally to the rest of their classmates. Prior to this oral reading, I ask the reader to prepare two or three comprehension questions about the book. After the oral reading, the reader gives a "quiz" to the class. The reader then has the responsibility for grading the papers. (Kids love to play teacher and check papers!) They could do the grading in class in lieu of another assignment or at home.
Cheryl De Haven, Wadsworth School, Griffith, IN, Grade 2
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A Story-Telling Apron: Make an apron for your students out of black felt. It should have two large pockets. Have each student make characters from a favorite story out of flannel. Let the students tell their story to the class and dramatize it by arranging the flannel characters on the felt apron. The students can put their characters in the pockets of the apron and move around the room while they tell their story.
Betty Stapleton, Highland Park South School, Topeka, KS, Grades 5-6
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Turn a story into a radio show. Students construct an old-time radio out of cardboard. The radio sits in front of a screen, and the cast of characters read their lines from behind the screen. Sound effects can also be used. People watching have the illusion of listening to the radio.
Christine Plunkett, William B. feeler School, Amsterdam, NY, Grade 6
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Writing:
Ask students to write an original poem that captures the mood or tone of their favorite story. Then have the students find a selection of music - classical works the best - that can be used as background music to fit the mood or tone of their poem. The music should accompany the students as they recite their poem.
Tom Worth, The Haverford School, Haverford, PA, Grade 6
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Bag-a-Book Report: Have students read a fiction book. Then have them write down facts about the book on file cards. One card should be used for each of the following: Title and author, characters, setting, plot, and their opinion. Tell the students to put the five cards into a brown lunch bag that they have decorated with the title and an original picture about the story. The class can then share their "bag-a-book" at a class reading picnic. Cathryn Whisman, St. Gregory the Great School, Virginia Beach, VA, Grade 4
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Have children write a log about what they and their favorite storybook character would do if they could spend a whole day together. Have them pick the character they like the least. Ask them to write in their logs what they would do if they were the parents of that character. What chores would they assign? What rules and discipline would they have in the house? What could the character do to make you like him/her?
Fran Teresi, Garfield Elementary, Garrettsville,OH, Grade 2
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Pick a favorite character from two different books and write a new story or play in which they meet. Have the members of your class act it out.
Alice M. Cosgrove, St. Joseph School, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Grade 5
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