Welcome to Chapter 4: “The Road Through the Forest” in our Wonderful Wizard of Oz book study! This post includes teaching materials and skill-building strategies to help students explore setting, mood, and descriptive language.
If you’re just joining us, be sure to begin with the Introduction to the Book Study for pacing tips and setup ideas.
Tips on pacing, setup, and how to use the materials across grade levels.
Includes word lists, bookmarks, word wall cards, and more – great for planning ahead.
Get vocabulary practice, comprehension questions, and organizers for this chapter.
🌲Chapter Summary
Chapter 4: “The Road Through the Forest”
Dorothy and the Scarecrow continue their journey toward the Emerald City. As they travel, the landscape becomes increasingly wild and unkempt. The two stop to rest and share stories—Dorothy describes her life in Kansas, while the Scarecrow recounts how he was created by a farmer and left in the field to scare away crows.
Their friendship deepens as they learn more about each other. That night, they find shelter in a small cottage at the edge of the forest. Dorothy sleeps peacefully while the Scarecrow stands watch, showing his loyalty and growing sense of responsibility.
This chapter offers a quiet moment of reflection and character development before the group enters the darker woods ahead.
Chapter 4: “The Road Through the Forest” Projects
Mentor Sentences
One way to turn classic literature into a powerful teaching tool is to pull mentor sentences straight from the text. Instead of random worksheets, students get to see grammar, punctuation, and style in action—inside a story they’re already reading.
“I am never hungry,” he said, “and it is a lucky thing I am not, for my mouth is only painted, and if I should cut a hole in it so I could eat, the straw I am stuffed with would come out, and that would spoil the shape of my head.”
Focus: Commas in Compound and Complex Sentences
Practice Prompt: Write a sentence that includes two independent clauses joined by a comma and “and.” Use these ideas: I finished my work, I went outside.
“If this road goes in, it must come out,” said the Scarecrow, “and as the Emerald City is at the other end of the road, we must go wherever it leads us.”
Focus: Quotation Marks + Divided Dialogue
Practice Prompt: Write a divided quote with the phrase said the student placed in the middle. Be sure to punctuate it correctly.
Dorothy could not see at all, but Toto could, for some dogs see very well in the dark.
Focus: Coordinating Conjunctions + Sentence Structure
Practice Prompt: Write a sentence using “but” and “for” to connect three short ideas. Use these ideas: I was tired, I kept walking, the sun was setting.
Yellow Brick Road Quilts
“The Road through the Forest” is the first chapter where Dorothy and her companions begin their journey on the Yellow Brick Road. It’s visually described, and the road becomes a symbol of hope, direction, and adventure. The chapter also introduces the Scarecrow, making it a natural launch point for a craft that celebrates the journey.
Turn the iconic Yellow Brick Road into a collaborative project by creating “quilt” style artwork. Each student receives a square of yellow cardstock to design their own patterned brick. It could be stripes, polka dots, geometric shapes, or even small drawings of Dorothy’s companions. When combined, the squares form a long road that can be displayed down a hallway wall or across a bulletin board.
For a writing connection, students can add a sentence or two about the journey they would take if they could follow the Yellow Brick Road.
Focus Skills
Constructed Response Skill – Character Traits: The Scarecrow
Students analyze the Scarecrow’s personality based on his actions, dialogue, and backstory. A foldable organizer helps students identify traits like loyalty, curiosity, and humility, using textual evidence to support their analysis.
Standards: RL.5.3, RL.6.3, RL.7.3
Language Arts Skill – Latin Root port
This week’s root word is port, meaning “to carry.” Students explore how this root appears in words like transport, portable, and import, using a foldable organizer to define, illustrate, and apply each term in context.
Standards: L.5.4.b, L.6.1.a, L.7.4.b
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