Responding to Literature in the Primary Grades 

Responding to Literature in the Primary Grades is a fantastic way to start young children off 
with looking at what they read in a different way. It teaches them that they can have 
opinions about what they read and it is Ok to express those thoughts and feelings. 

Depending on the age and grade of the children, this book contains ideas that you can use 
with children in Kindergarten, as well as those starting to read chapter books in Grades 2 
and 3. All of the suggestions have been tried and tested with students in the former 
Avalon West School District in Newfoundland, Canada. This school board is now part of 
the Eastern School District.

The book "Responding to Literature in the Primary Grades" is the result of efforts of two 
teachers at Tricon Elementary, Bay de Verde – myself, Frances Stanford and Debbie 
Milley to come up with activities designed to help prepare students for the Criterion 
Referenced Tests administered at the end of Grade 3.

The students, with the help of teachers and parents, entered the name of the book in their 
reading log and once a week, they had to complete one of the activities on a book of their 
choice. With older students reading books with chapters, the responding to literature 
activities had to be completed when they finished reading the book. Teachers 
incorporated the ideas in the activities into their reading conferences with the students as 
well, so they were well able to complete the activities on their own.

This book contains 17 open-ended activities for picture books and 40 open-ended 
activities for chapter books.

Have a look at some of the sample pages from "Responding to Literature in the Primary 
Grades:

Picture Book Activity 7

Is the main character in this book the same as or different from you?

Tell how you are the same or different and give two examples from
the story.

Draw a picture of you and the main character.

Picture Book Activity 12

Was this story real or make - believe?

How do you know? 
Give two reasons for your answer.

Picture Book Activity 15

In your book, find three examples of words or sentences written
differently.

Write these words or sentences and tell why you think the author
chose to write them this way.

Chapter Book Activity 3

In what you have read so far in this novel, find an example of:

a. similie
b. personification
c. alliteration


Chapter Book Activity 8

Find an example of each of the following in the novel you are
reading:

a. dialogue
b. a statement
c. a question
d. a command
e. a sentence expressing surprise

Chapter Book Activity 11

If you could be any character in this novel, which one would you be?

Why?

Support your answer with examples from the novel.

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The Stories of Patricia Polacco

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