Summarising
Lesson Idea: Story Maps
Story maps, also known as graphic organisers, are useful in helping students work out the important information in a text. They get students to summarise the main ideas, characters, setting and themes in what they have read, and this aids reading comprehension (Adolescent Literacy, 2015). They can be used for both fiction and non-fiction texts, and teachers should choose the most appropriate story map for the text their students are reading.
Lesson Plan:
(Adapted from: http://www.adlit.org/strategies/22736/)
1) Students are given a blank story map.
2) Students can then map out plot, characters, setting, and theme in their story map as they read.
3) Students can then discuss in small groups why the chose certain elements and create a story map on a bigger sheet of paper.
4) Students can then present their findings with the rest of the class.
Follow the links below for a wide range of printable story maps that can be used in the classroom.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/graphicorganizers/storymap/
https://www.pinterest.com/ebonymperouse/graphic-organizers/
image: www.pinterest.com
Lesson Idea: Paper Bag Reports
Students on the front of a paper bag can write the title of the book they are reading along with its author and illustrator. Students should also draw on the front a scene from the book. On the back of the paper bag, students can write the main characters' names and significant events from the story including the plot's conflict and resolution. Inside the paper, students can place items that relate to the main events or characters in the story.
Lesson idea from here: http://www.readingrockets.org/content/pdfs/summarizing_PaperBag.pdf
image: www.readingrockets.org
Lesson Idea: Comic Strips
1) First introduce students to the format of a comic. Having some examples to show students is helpful. Talk to the students about how panels, sound effects, captions and speech bubbles are used in comics.
2) Students should then think about the main events in their text and how they could display them in their comic's panels. Once they have decided on how many panels they would need they can map out a plan for their comic strip.
3) Students can now draw their comic strip.
