Mar 17
In Cressida Cowell’s novel How to Train Your Dragon, readers meet Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III as he strives to prove himself in a world of Vikings and dragons. This fantasy novel combines humor, action, and heartwarming moments, making it a perfect read for upper elementary students. Hiccup, the son of a Viking chief, must capture …
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Mar 10
Let’s talk about theme. That elusive message lurking behind every story—the one we know is there, but students often treat like a secret code they forgot the cipher for. Some kids catch on quickly. Others? You’ll get responses like “The theme of Charlotte’s Web is… pigs can talk?” (Close, but no.) Thankfully, teaching theme doesn’t …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=383
Mar 03
If you’re looking for engaging activities to enhance your theme lessons, animated shorts are a fantastic way to teach this important reading skill. These short films are high-interest, visually engaging, and often convey powerful themes in just a few minutes. This post provides four animated shorts that can be used to teach the theme. Lesson …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=5616
Feb 24
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th is a wonderful opportunity to explore the holiday’s rich history and legends with your upper elementary students. St. Patrick’s Day not only commemorates the life of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, but also offers a glimpse into Irish culture, traditions, and folklore. Lesson Handout Jump into …
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Feb 17
Teaching point of view can feel a bit like jumping into a choose-your-own-adventure book. Which narrator are we following? Who’s telling the story? Is it you, me, or someone with omniscient powers? With the Common Core weaving it across multiple grade levels, it’s a must-teach skill—and dare we say, a fun one too. Standards Snapshot …
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Feb 17
Let’s face it—perspective and point of view walk into your classroom hand in hand…and immediately start causing confusion. Your students think they’re twins. They are not. Let’s face it—“perspective” can be one of those slippery ELA terms that makes kids (and sometimes teachers) go, “Wait, didn’t we just cover this with point of view?” Not …
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Feb 10
In Lisa Fipps’ novel And Then, Boom!, readers follow the journey of Joseph Oak, a young boy navigating tough family situations. The story touches on themes like homelessness and the importance of community support. This is an excellent book for upper elementary students. Joseph lives with his grandmother and mother, who often leaves due to …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=24906
