The Tortoise and The Hare

As a part of our study of fables, we read "The Tortoise and The Hare." The students made connections to the story by either writing about a personal experience that it reminded them of or by writing about a lesson they learned from the story. Many of the students said that they learned it is not important to be first but that it is important to keep trying. They also said that the real winner is the one who doesn't give up. Most of them made the connection to our class motto which is that "It is not important to be first. It is important to be right."

The Ant and the Pigeon

This week we have been reading fables as a part of our unit on making connections. One of the fables we read was the African fable "The Ant and the Pigeon". The fable is about a pigeon who saves an ant. The ant then returns the favor. When a boy trys to shoot the pigeon, the ant crawls up his leg and bites him causing him to drop his bow and arrow. After reading, we discussed what the story reminded them of - their connections. Most of the connections were about times that someone helped them or they helped someone else. We then talked about what the lesson was trying to teach us. They said they learned that you should help someone who helps you, you should help someone even if you are smaller, and that you should be nice to everyone and not pick on anyone. I think these were great connections that they made to the moral of the story!

Franklin's Halloween

As a part of our study of making connections, we read Franklin's Halloween by Paulette Bourgeois. The students made text-to-text and text-to-self connections to the story.

The Biggest Pumpkin Ever

Last week we were working extensively on making connections. After reading The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll, the students wrote and illustrated at least one text-to-self connection they made.

The Memory String

As a way to analyze character's feelings and make connections, we read The Memory String by Eve Bunting. The story is about a little girl whose mother had passed away and reflects on the relationship between a daughter and step-mother during a conflict. After reading, the students verbally identified the characters, setting, problem, and solution in the story and made connections to the story. They then wrote the story elements on a four-part chart. You can download this story elements chart for FREE at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

The Little Engine That Could

This week we have been reading The Little Engine That Could. Yesterday the students created story element charts to describe the characters, setting, problem, and solution of the story. (Fellow teachers, you can download the chart here for free.) Then, as a whole group, we retold the story on a Flow Map. Today the students created their own version of the Flow Map in small groups on train paper. After writing their retell, the students colored their train, cut it out, and ordered it on their sentence strip railroad track. Each group then read their retell to their classmates. Following this activity, the students made connections to the story. We brainstormed things that they once thought they could not do that they now can do. They wrote their connections on mini trains and placed them on their tracks.



Lucky Lily

We read a short story "Lucky Lily" this week about a rat who was lucky to escape a cat, find cheese in a window sill, and then be able to watch the moon and stars. After reading, the students made connections by writing about a time that they felt lucky.

One Giant Leap: A Story of Neil Armstrong

As a part of our study of day and night and space, we read "One Giant Leap: A Story of Neil Armstrong." After reading the biography, we watched the video of his actual landing on the moon through TeacherTube. The students were amazed to see this part of our country's history. The students then made connections to what they read and watched by writing if they would or would not want to go to the moon.

The Monkeys and The Hat

Yesterday we read a story called The Monkeys and The Hat. The story is very similar to the book Caps for Sale which led to the students making connections and comparisons about the story elements. After reading the new book, the students shared with their neighbor what the book reminded them of. The students then divided into small groups and wrote and illustrated the story elements: characters, setting, problem, and solution. They then shared their charts with the class.