Ten Teaching Ideas for Books and Plays

By Janice Gardner

MY DIARYStudents write a diary entry for a select character. This can be done at the end of a reading or as a diary book project, and it can include drawings and artifacts. http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/images/

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IT’S ON FACEBOOK

• Create a Facebook profile for a character. Make sure it includes the character’s interests, hometown, hobbies, likes, and list of friends

• The student writes a reflection on the profile.

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Where U At?

• Make a map of the town or journey of important places the main character goes.

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• Be sure to include a paragraph description for each point on the map.

That Ain’t Right

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Have the students spot the differences between book or play, and the movie.

Be sure the students write a three or four paged paper on how the two are different, why the director made it different, and how the student feels about it.

As the Author • The students rewrite a scene in a style more appealing to themselves or more appealing to another character in the story. The students write a one-page reflection explaining why they changed it.

ADVERTISE!

• Students make a poster cover for the book or play using key objects and symbols from the story.

• Students can also make a magazine cover using real magazine clippings or design a set of three bookmarks for the story.

• Students write a one-page reflection explaining why they chose the symbols they did and how they fit it in the project.

(n) It’s in the Name• Students then

write a one-page paper explaining why they chose that name and why they think it fit the character.

Define:• Students research

the meaning behind character names and pick new names for the characters.

Rose TylerRose: (f) flower of loveHer name is Rose because she is the Doctor’s true love, synonymous to the flower.

THIS STORY IS ABRIDGED

• The student acts out the book in one minute or less in front of the class or in a video. The students write a one-page paper on the chronicles of why he or she chose to perform the story the way he or she did.

Alternate Ending

ORIGINAL ENDING• Teachers can ask the

students to scan and print the original ending to turn in with the student’s ending.

ALTERNATE ENDING• Students write a

three to four paged alternate ending to the story along with a one-page explanation of their ending.

Model Me Students draw out the model of one of the characters, then, using craft supplies, create a physical model of the character using clay, foam, cloth, etc. Students write one page why they did it that way and why they chose that character.

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