Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Shared Inquiry Discussion
Students learn to generate ideas with a clear focus in response to questions while participating in a shared inquiry discussion. Included are shared inquiry guidelines, and tips on discussing fiction and non-fiction books using this method.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Student Led Book Clubs Using Qar
Contains plans for lessons that use the Question-Answer Relationships (QAR) strategy in book discussion groups. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as well as...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Acquiring New Vocabulary
This lesson plan teaches elementary students new vocabulary terms through book discussion groups. Students use context clues, prior knowledge, and print and online resources for vocabulary understanding in their discussion.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Thoughtful Threads: Sparking Rich Online Discussions
Today's learners love chatting online with friends. This lesson plan combines that love with literature. Students form literature circles and have meaningful online discussions about a literary work.
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Reading Discussion Guide: Corby Flood
Corby Flood and her family are about to set sail on a rather ramshackle cruise ship, the S.S. Euphonia. Onboard, among the odd passengers and eccentric crew, there is a strange group of men in bowler hats who call themselves the...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Reading Discussion Guide: Hugo Pepper
After his adventure-seeking, storytelling parents are eaten by polar bears in the Frozen North when he is just a baby, Hugo Pepper is found and raised by reindeer herders. One day he discovers a flying sled with a very special compass -...
Other
Multnomah County Library Discussion Guide: Keeping the Moon
Your book club or discussion group, or even your class, can use the summary and questions here, along with the suggestions for snack ideas!
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Literature Circles With Primary Students, Self Selected Reading
Students respond to self-selected books in journals and talk about their books daily in small groups. The teacher guides students by offering suggestions and writing with them in dialogue journals.
Other
Literature Circles: Lesson Plans and More
What are the major roles in literature circles? Check out this site to learn more about the individual roles needed to form a literature circle. Includes links to various reading handouts and lessons.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Breaking Barriers: Critical Discussion of Social Issues
Through a series of picture book read-alouds and journal entries, students engage in critical discussion of complex issues of race, class, and gender.
Scholastic
Scholastic Discussion Guides: Dear America
Good for classrooms and book groups, this site offers background, summary, discussion topics and questions, as well as activities. There's also an interview with the author.
Other
Penguin Group Canada: 'Run' Teacher's Guide [Pdf]
Run' by Eric Walters is a fictionalized account of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope run across Canada. This teacher's guide has discussion questions and response journal prompts for each chapter as well as extension activities for the novel....
Other
Seattle University: Literature Circles Resource Center
How can you get started with literature circles in your classroom? This site provides information on every aspect of developing your own literature circle instruction.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Girls Read: Online Literature Circles
In this lesson designed especially for girls, students read a work of realistic fiction and get to know strong female protagonists through online literary circles and writing activities.
Other
Reading Group Guides: My Intonia
This site features a reading group guide for the book, "My Antonia," by Willa Cather. Students will benefit from the discussion questions listed in this resource.
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: 'In a Flash' Teaching Guide [Pdf]
In a Flash by Canadian author Eric Walters is about a boy who plans flash mob events where a large group of teens do something outrageous. The girl he wants to impress thinks these are not smart and he sets out to change her mind. This...
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: 'Manga Touch' Teaching Guide [Pdf]
In 'Manga Touch' by Canadian author Jacqueline Pearce, Dana tries to fit in at her school and with Japanese students she meets on a school trip to Japan. She feels excluded from the 'in' group of school peers. This teacher's guide...
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: 'Daredevil Club' Teaching Guide [Pdf]
In Daredevil Club by Canadian author Pam Withers, a group of boys dares each other to complete challenges in order to remain members of their club. One boy takes risks he should not. This teacher's guide includes a book summary and ideas...
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: 'Sewer Rats' Teaching Guide [Pdf]
Sewer Rats by Sigmund Brouwer is an adventure tale. A group of kids secretly play paintball games in urban underground drainage tunnels. Then one of them gets lost in the tunnels just as a heavy rainstorm begins. This teacher's guide...
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: Hit Squad Teaching Guide [Pdf]
Hit Squad by James Heneghan is about a group of girls who decide to fight back against bullies at school. At first they feel empowered, but then an innocent person gets killed. This teacher's guide includes a book summary, discussion...
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: Zee's Way Teaching Guide [Pdf]
Zee's Way by Kristin Butcher is about a group of young people who feel they are discriminated against because they are teens. They get into conflict with store owners and after Zee is caught vandalizing, he must make peace with them....
Scholastic
Scholastic: Maniac Magee
Have you ever read "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli? Use this resource to learn more about this book. An educational resource with discussion questions, extension activities and more.
University of Calgary
The Children's Literature Web Guide
This resource is a children's literature web guide.
OpenStax
Open Stax: u.s. History 1968 1980: Identity Politics in a Fractured Society
Discussion of identity politics during the 1960s and 1970s in which underrepresented and marginalized groups organized to fight discrimination and challenge the established political and social culture. Page contains questions for...