As we all know, the key to a successful novel study lies in how we prepare our students before they even open the first page. Pre-reading activities for novel studies are crucial for building anticipation, activating prior knowledge, and setting the stage for engaging readers.
We’ll explore a variety of pre-reading activities designed specifically for upper elementary students. These strategies will not only engage your students but also help students gain a deeper understanding of the novel’s themes and characters.
Pre-reading activities are the warm-up exercises of the literary world. They prime students’ minds, create a sense of curiosity, and lay the groundwork for a meaningful exploration of the novel. By engaging students before they begin reading, we can help them make connections, predict outcomes, and build a solid foundation for comprehension. Read on for some tried-and-true pre-reading activities that will get your students excited about their next novel study.
Engage your students with a fun pre-reading activity! Completing a pre-reading activity is one of the most important ways to get students excited about a book. Pre-reading activities also give a lot of insightful feedback into your students’ critical thinking skills. All too often, we teachers forget to slow down and take a beat before diving into the next part of the curriculum. It is imperative that we take the time to build-up interest and engagement.
One way that I like to engage readers and access their critical thinking skills is through the use of story snippets. Regardless of the age of students you teach, movement is needed! Story snippets are a great way to get students moving around the classroom and discussing their thoughts. Before I begin a new novel study with the students, I pull various quotes from the novel that relate to the plot and theme. I also have the students infer and make predictions based on the selected quotes.
I try to integrate the curriculum as much as possible. One way that I integrate with story snippets is by having the students write throughout the pre-reading activity. The students that are timid will then have a written response to use during the whole class discussion. I can also collect their story snippets recording sheet to assess students’ critical thinking skills.
A great thing about story snippets is making predictions about a novel. The students will make predictions based on a snippet of the story. Creating an anchor chart with these predictions can be referred back to while reading the novel to determine if they are accurate. This will also pull in the reading skill of using text evidence.
Bring the characters to life by encouraging students to engage in role-playing activities. Assign each student a character from the novel and ask them to imagine how their character might feel or react in various situations. You can create scenarios related to the novel’s plot and have students act them out. This activity helps students develop empathy and a deeper understanding of the characters’ motivations and personalities.
One of the most engaging pre-reading activities is hosting a book tasting in your classroom. My students love participating in this every year…even multiple times throughout the school year.
Transform your classroom into a cozy café or a fancy restaurant and invite students to “sample” different books. Set up stations with various novels, complete with menus and decorations to match the themes of the books. This activity allows students to get a taste of multiple stories, helping them choose the one they’re most excited to read. Plus, it turns reading into a special event, making it fun and memorable.
Incorporating objects and props related to the novel is a powerful pre-reading activity that helps students connect with the story on a deeper level. Select items that symbolize key themes, characters, or events in the novel, and present them to your students before they begin reading. For example, if the novel involves a journey, you might display a compass, a map, or a suitcase.
Discuss how these objects might relate to the story and encourage students to make predictions about their significance. This activity not only stimulates curiosity but also introduces the concept of symbolism, helping students understand how authors use tangible items to represent abstract ideas and themes. By interacting with these props, students can form visual and tactile connections to the novel, enhancing their overall engagement and comprehension.
Creating a classroom transformation can engage your students in the world of the novel. Transform your classroom to reflect the setting or theme of the book you’re about to study. For example, if your novel is set in a jungle, decorate the room with green foliage, animal props, and nature sounds playing in the background.
If the story takes place in a historical era, adorn your space with relevant artifacts, posters, and costumes. This transformation not only captures students’ imaginations but also provides a multi-sensory experience that makes the narrative more tangible and engaging. And it’s just plain fun!
By stepping into a space that mirrors the book’s environment, students can better visualize the story and feel more connected to its characters and events. Such an immersive setup also encourages curiosity and excitement, setting a engaging tone for the novel study ahead.
One of the best ways to start a novel study is by creating a concept map. This visual tool helps students brainstorm and organize their thoughts about the novel’s themes, characters, and setting.
Begin by writing the title of the novel in the center of a large piece of paper or on a digital platform. Then, have students contribute ideas, words, or phrases that they associate with the title. This activity not only activates prior knowledge but also fosters collaboration and critical thinking.
Integrating STEM activities related to the novel is an innovative way to deepen students’ understanding and make connections between literature and the real world. Select events from the novel and design STEM challenges that complement them.
For example, if the novel involves a character who is an inventor, have students design and build their own simple machines or prototypes inspired by the story. If the narrative includes a journey through different terrains, create experiments or projects that explore the science behind these environments, such as studying ecosystems or weather patterns.
These activities not only reinforce the scientific and mathematical concepts but also encourage problem-solving and critical thinking. By linking STEM projects to the novel, students can see how the skills and knowledge they learn in these subjects are relevant to everyday life.