Great ways to respond to literature
There are many interesting and dynamic ways that you can respond to written texts. The following ideas are designed to 'activate your imagination'.
FOCUS ON THE CHARACTERS
1. Discuss how the main character is like or unlike people you know.
2. Pretend you are one character and introduce the other characters to your class.
3. As an interior decorator, how would you decorate a charcter's room and why?
4. Make a diary entry for 'a day in the life' of the main character.
5. Make up five interview questions (with answers) for the main character OR, with a partner, film the interview.
6. For a film of your book, which actor / actress would you choose for the lead role and why?
7. Create a word cloud with words describing the characters.
8. Design a character in Voki and talk about your role in the story.
9. Create a sociogram that provides a visual representation of the relationships between all of the main characters in the story.
FOCUS ON THE SETTING
1. Make a map of the setting of your book OR if it is a real place use Google Maps / Google Earth to locate the setting.
2. Compare where you live with the setting in the story. Use a T Chart, Venn Diagram or Mindmap.
3. Create an interactive map using Thinglink and add annotations.
FOCUS ON THE AUTHOR
1. Write to the author explaining your reaction to their book.
2. Make up five interview questions you would like to ask the author.
3. Conduct research about the author and create a timeline of their life.
4. Create a poster (traditional or interactive) promoting the author and their books.
5. Find out whether your author has a Twitter, Facebook or Instagram account and follow them (if you have permission form your teacher / parent). Post comments about their books (remember netiquette when working within a social media environment).
FOCUS ON AN ARTISTIC RESPONSE
1. Design a new cover for your book (using traditional or digital mediums).
2. Draw / create a comic strip for your book.
3. Draw a portrait of your favourite character and describe his / her personality.
4. Create an illustration depicting an incident / setting in your story.
4. Make a collage (traditional or digital) depicting an aspect of your book.
5. Create an advertisment / poster or movie trailer abvout your book.
6. Create a paper bag book review for your story.
FOCUS ON A DRAMATIC RESPONSE
1. Dramatise your favourite incident in the story.
2. As a famous movie star you have been asked to play a character, explain why you are excited about the role.
FOCUS ON THE CHARACTERS
1. Discuss how the main character is like or unlike people you know.
2. Pretend you are one character and introduce the other characters to your class.
3. As an interior decorator, how would you decorate a charcter's room and why?
4. Make a diary entry for 'a day in the life' of the main character.
5. Make up five interview questions (with answers) for the main character OR, with a partner, film the interview.
6. For a film of your book, which actor / actress would you choose for the lead role and why?
7. Create a word cloud with words describing the characters.
8. Design a character in Voki and talk about your role in the story.
9. Create a sociogram that provides a visual representation of the relationships between all of the main characters in the story.
FOCUS ON THE SETTING
1. Make a map of the setting of your book OR if it is a real place use Google Maps / Google Earth to locate the setting.
2. Compare where you live with the setting in the story. Use a T Chart, Venn Diagram or Mindmap.
3. Create an interactive map using Thinglink and add annotations.
FOCUS ON THE AUTHOR
1. Write to the author explaining your reaction to their book.
2. Make up five interview questions you would like to ask the author.
3. Conduct research about the author and create a timeline of their life.
4. Create a poster (traditional or interactive) promoting the author and their books.
5. Find out whether your author has a Twitter, Facebook or Instagram account and follow them (if you have permission form your teacher / parent). Post comments about their books (remember netiquette when working within a social media environment).
FOCUS ON AN ARTISTIC RESPONSE
1. Design a new cover for your book (using traditional or digital mediums).
2. Draw / create a comic strip for your book.
3. Draw a portrait of your favourite character and describe his / her personality.
4. Create an illustration depicting an incident / setting in your story.
4. Make a collage (traditional or digital) depicting an aspect of your book.
5. Create an advertisment / poster or movie trailer abvout your book.
6. Create a paper bag book review for your story.
FOCUS ON A DRAMATIC RESPONSE
1. Dramatise your favourite incident in the story.
2. As a famous movie star you have been asked to play a character, explain why you are excited about the role.
more rsources
10 ways to teach literature with the New York Times
Classics, contemporary fiction, young adult and graphic novels, sequels and adaptations: here are 10 ideas that will help any literature teacher use the vast resources of NYTimes.com to connect literature to life.
1000 + ideas about Teaching Literature on Pinterest
Creative Literature Projects that Students Love
A Directory of Lesson Plans Sites for Teaching Literature in the Library Classroom
An extensive list of literature activities
Teaching Literacy Analysis
A step-by-step guide to literacy analysis
Teacher's Guide to Secondary Literature
provided details analysis for a wide range literary texts
Literature Circles for Reluctant High School Readers
Classics, contemporary fiction, young adult and graphic novels, sequels and adaptations: here are 10 ideas that will help any literature teacher use the vast resources of NYTimes.com to connect literature to life.
1000 + ideas about Teaching Literature on Pinterest
Creative Literature Projects that Students Love
A Directory of Lesson Plans Sites for Teaching Literature in the Library Classroom
An extensive list of literature activities
Teaching Literacy Analysis
A step-by-step guide to literacy analysis
Teacher's Guide to Secondary Literature
provided details analysis for a wide range literary texts
Literature Circles for Reluctant High School Readers
