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HomePageBetween thematic units, or just to give us all a break, I let my students choose their own books to read instead of having them in groups. I copied these ideas to put onto the overhead for the children to use for their reading journals. Most activities require no more than the overhead, and those that do I mark when I skip them to save for a day when we can use a little more activity or fun time. The ones at the front are a good way to begin using these; most can be done by the teacher reading the selection out loud. You'll have to pick which activities are age-appropriate for your students.
#1
1. The teacher will read orally the first half of an adventure story, then stop.
2. Pretend that you are the author. Finish the story as you think the author would finish it.
3. Read the rest of the story to see how well you were able to guess what the author would write.
#2
1. Read about half of a mystery story or an adventure story, then close your book.
2. Draw three pictures to show three possible endings for the story.
3. Finish reading the story. Which of your pictures matched the events in the story?
#3
1. BEFORE you read the story, do these things:
A. Read the title.
B. Study the first picture.
C. Read the introductory paragraphs.
2. Now--before you finish reading the story--tell what you think will happen in the story. Put your ideas into good sentences.
3. Finish reading the story.
4. How many of your ideas were correct?
#4
1. Read the introductory paragraphs of a new story.
2. Before you finish reading the story, tell who you think the main character is.
3. Tell what kind of person you think this character is.
4. Tell what you think he will do in the story.
5. Finish reading the story.
6. Draw a line through each of your statements which was incorrect.
#5
1. Read two stories from the same unit in a reader.
2. Tell which of the two stories you like best. Explain why.
3. In what way(s) were these stories alike?
4. In what way(s) were they different?
5. What kind of stories were they: Make-believe? True-to life?
#6
1. Read two stories which deal with the same subject.
2. In what ways were these stories alike?
a. characters
b. setting
c. Place
d. plot
e. information
3. Which story did you like best? Why?
#7
1. Read a story about some famous person.
2. In what way was this person different from most famous people whom you have read about?
3. Does this famous person remind you of any other famous person? Whom?
4. In what way(s) were they alike?
5. In what way(s) were they different?
#8
1. Read the Letters to the Editor in your newspaper.
2. Find one which you think contains a good idea. Tell why you think it is a good idea.
#9
1. Find five sentences in a story or article which give true facts.
2. Find five sentences that you think show the opinion of the author and may or may not be true facts.
#10
1. Read a biography or informational article or story.
2. Look for more about the subject in other books.
3. Can you find anything to add to what the author has said on this subject?
4. Would you change anything the author has written?
#11
1. Find an article or story which is written for the purpose of persuading someone to believe something or do something.
2. How can you tell what purpose the author has in mind?
3. Does the author use good arguments to support his ideas?
4. Do you agree with the author?
#12
Read some stories about some famous people.
1. What was there about each man or woman you read about that helped to make him or her famous?
2. Can you name one characteristic which all of these individuals had in common?
3. Do you think that that characteristic had anything to do with their success?
4. What are some characteristics which you think would help to make a person famous or successful?
5. Do you think most famous people make the world a better place in which to live? Explain your answer.
#13
Your teacher will read orally half-way through a story, then stop.
1. What do you think will happen next?
2. How will the story end?
3. What are some other adventures that could happen to the main character?
#14
1. Choose an interesting character in your story and write a character description of him.
2. Make an illustration of your character. Choose your own way to do it.
You may make him out of clay.
You may make a paper and cloth picture of him.
You may paint him at the easel.
You may put him on flannel board.
You may design him with fingerpaints.
You may paint him with water colors.
You may draw him with pencil or crayon.
JUST MAKE HIM!
#15
1. Write a few sentences about each of the characters in the story.
2. Use specific words from the story to describe the kind of individual each character is.
3. Underline the words you have taken from the story to make this character description.
#16
1. Think about two characters in the story. Write sentences telling what kind of individual each of these characters is.
2. Tell whether these characters would make good neighbors. Give good reasons for your answers.
#17
Sometimes authors use special language to help you understand what is happening. Perhaps you have heard or read the expression, "It is raining cats and dogs! Try to find other expressions of this kind. (They are called idioms.) Keep a list of them, writing down the title of the book and the page number. When you have found three, turn them in to your teacher.
#18
1. Animal names are sometimes used to tell us about a person, such as, "He is as smart as a fox." Can you think of some sayings that use the names of animals to tell us about people? See if you can think of two or three or four and write them down.
2. Read a story to find some of these sayings.
3. Write a paragraph or two which illustrate the meaning of one of the sayings you have heard.
#19
Write four sentences which tell:
1. Who or what did something important, or funny or exciting in the story.
2. When this happened or was done.
3. Where it happened.
4. Why it happened.
#20
1. Write sentences which tell the most important things which happened in the story.
2. Arrange your sentences in the order that the events occurred.
3. Which of these events was the most important? Why?
#21
1. Pretend that you are going to change your story into a play. Give the title of the play.
2. List the characters you will need for the play.
3. Tell what scenes you will need.
4. Which scene will be the most important? Why?
#22
Read a story. Draw a series of pictures to show the main things that happened in the story.
a. What happened in the beginning? Show this in a picture.
b. What happened next? Show this a picture.
c. How does the story end? Show this in a picture. (If you haven't yet reached the end, draw a picture showing what you think will happen.)
#23
Read a story and fill in the following outline for each character.
a. Name the character.
b. Tell the problem that he had.
c. Tell how he solved his problem.
#24
1. List as many words and phrases as you can find in the story which tell where the story took place.
2. Write a paragraph describing the setting of the story in your own words. Include at least one description of what you would smell, feel and touch in that setting.
#25
1. Make a map to show where the characters went in this story.
2. Put labels on the map to show what happened in each place.
#26
1. Sometimes authors tell about the feelings of their story characters. Sometimes you can tell how the story characters feel by the way they act in the story. Was someone in this story very happy, or excited, or sad, or worried, or puzzled, or disappointed or pleased? If so, tell which character had this strong feeling and tell what kind of feeling it was.
2. Now tell what caused the character to have that strong feeling.
#27
Choose one of the characters in the story.
Tell how he felt at the beginning of the story. What make him feel this way?
Tell how he felt in the middle of the story. What made him feel this way?
Tell how he feels now. What made him feel this way?
#28
Most story characters do things for a reason. Pick out some important things which one of the story characters did. Tell what it was and what you think his reason was for doing it.
#29
Where did this story take place? Would you have to make any change in your daily life to live in a setting such as this? If so, list the changes.
#30
1. Choose a part of the story with interesting conversation.
2. Invite classmates to join with you in taking the speaking parts.
3. Practice with your classmates until you think you are ready to read the conversational parts of the story as if you were really talking.
#31
1. Tell what kind of person the main character was.
2. Copy several sentences from the story to prove your statements.
3. Can you find any pictures in the story to help prove your statements?
#32
1. Which character in the story did you like best? Why?
2. Was the main character true-to-life or make-believe? Write a paragraph giving food reasons for your answer.
#33
Answer the following questions:
1. What was the story about?
2. Where did the story take place?
3. When did the story take place?
4. Who were the chief characters?
5. What part of the story did you like best? Why?
6. Draw a cartoon strip showing the main parts of the story. Be sure to show what happened at the beginning, middle and end of the story (or as far as you've gotten).
#34
1. Briefly outline the major events as they happened in the story.
2. Draw several pictures in comic strip form showing the events as they happened. Write a caption for each picture.
3. Prepare a short report from your outline. Be sure to tell all the events in the order in which they happened.
#35
Write a paragraph telling something you have seen or done yourself which is related to material read in your story.
#36
1. List the main characters in the story.
2. Which one do you think plays the most important part in the story?
3. Could he have done everything that was done in the story by himself?
4. What, if anything, did others do to help the main character solve his problem?
#37
1. Why are the people you are reading about living where they are? Did they choose to live there? If so, why?
2. Are there any problems they face because they live where they do?
3. Could this story take place in another setting? If so, what changes would have to take place in the story?
#38
In most stories the main things are told in a few key sentences. Copy four or five key sentences which cover the main events in the story so far.
#39
Read a story that takes place in another time.
1. Compare the way of traveling with that of your own.
2. What problems did these people have? Do we have these problems today?
3. Would you like to trade places with this person? Why or why not?
#40
1. What is one problem in the story?
2. Which character has this problem?
3. Tell how the character solved this problem.
#41
1. Study carefully the pictures which go with the story you have read.
2. Use a sentence or a part of a sentence from the story to make a label or caption for at least five pictures.
3. Write down each caption and give the page number of the picture that it matches. (If there are no pictures in the story, draw your own and write a caption for it.)
#42
1. Choose one of the characters in the story and tell how he felt at the end of the story.
2. What caused him to feel this way?
3. Did his feelings at the end of the story differ from his feelings at the beginning of the story? If you think they did, explain the difference.
#43
1. Write down in sequence the different times and places where the main events of the story took place. Use words or phrases from the story.
2. Would this list be useful as an outline for telling the story? Why?
#44
1. Choose a story character which you would like to have as a friend. Tell why you believe this person would make a good friend.
2. Name a story character which you would not like to have for a friend. Tell why.
#45
1. Make a list of things you learned from the story by reading "between the lines."
2. Make a list of things shown in the pictures but not directly stated in the test.
3. If there are no pictures, find a moral the author has directly stated in the story.
#46
1. Tell something exciting that happened to the main character.
2. What caused this exciting thing to happen?
3. What was the outcome of this adventure?
4. What do you think the story character learned from this experience?
#47
1. List the important events of the story in chronological order.
2. Write a paragraph telling about one of these events.
3. Did this event occur in the beginning of the story, the middle, or the end?
#48
1. Make four pictures to show what happened in the story.
2. Arrange the pictures in order.
3. Write a sentence under each picture to tell what is happening.
4. Staple the pictures together to make a small book.
#49
1. Divide the story into its main parts. Make a subtitle for each part.
2. Make a sentence outline of the things that happened in each part.
#50
1. What was the main problem of the story?
2. How was this problem solved?
3. Do you believe it was solved in a good way?
4. Would you have solved it differently? Explain your answer.
5. What do you think might have happened to the main character after the end of the story?
#51
Do either #1 or 2.
1. Choose one of the pictures which illustrate this article or story. Tell what page it is on. Tell three or more things that you learned from this picture.
2. Draw a picture of your own to illustrate one of the main points or events described in the text. Make a caption for your illustration.
#52
List words or groups of words from the story that tell
1. Where
2. When
3. How
4. Which
5. What kind
6. How many
Find at least four words for each category.
#53
Choose two important characters from the story. Use a Venn diagram to
1. Tell how they were alike
2. Tell how they were different.
#54
1. From memory, list all the characters in the story. As you list each one, tell something that he did, believed or was.
2. Check your work by finding and copying a sentence for each character that supports your writing.
#55
1. Describe the setting of the story.
2. Use a Venn diagram to compare this setting to your own neighborhood.
#56
Choose the main topic or one of the main topics of your article or story. Make a list of words or phrases that tell about it. Make sure that every word or phrase listed tells something about the topic.
#57
1. Describe one of the important events in your story.
2. Tell what the main character did during this time.
3. Tell why you think he behaved as he did.
4. Would you have behaved in the same way under the same circumstances? If not, what would you have done?
#58
1. Choose one of the important events that happened in the life one of the characters.
2. Tell how you think this person felt about this important event in his life.
3. Copy a sentence from the book that supports your opinion.
#59
1. From memory, list all the events in the story as they happened.
2. Go back over the story and make sure that the events are in order and that you left out nothing important.
#60
What are some of the machines in your story? Make a list of those that
1. Make work easier
2. Make us more comfortable
3. Help us learn
4. Help us have fun
#61
1. Did the actions of the story seem true-to-life or make-believe? Give good reasons for your answer.
2. Did you learn anything from this story that you can use in your daily life? If so, tell what it is.
#62
1. Read a description of something in your story.
2. Make an illustration to fit this description.
3. Label it. Tell why it is important to your story.
#63
1. Describe an animal in the story. Use as many descriptive words as you can.
2. Have you ever seen an animal like this?
3. If you have, tell when and where you saw it.
4. If you have not seen one, tell some ways in which it is like an animal that you have seen.
#64
1. Make a Venn diagram of an adventure that takes place in your story.
2. On one side write the adventure. On the other side, write an adventure that you have had that is similar to the story's.
3. Compare them, using the center for the things that are similar, the edges for the differences.
#65
1. Read a story about a person in another time or place.
2. Tell some things he or she does that are different from things you do.
3. Tell some things he or she does that are similar to things that you do.
4. Would you like to visit his place or time?
5. How would you get there?
#66
In our language there are certain "sayings" called idioms which have special meanings. Sometimes you will find these phrases or sentences in the stories you read. It will help you to understand the story if you know the special meanings of these sayings. Try to answer these questions
1. Have you ever been a thorn in the side of one of your friends? How?
2. Have you ever cried crocodile tears? Why?
3. Have you ever looked for a needle in a haystack? Did you find it?
#67
1. Write the names of the characters in the order they came into the story. Number them in this order.
2. Write one speech for each character. In each quotation, tell who is speaking. Arrange these speeches in the order that they were given.
3. Copy the first quotation in the story.
4. Copy the last quotation in the story.
#68
1. Name an animal that appears in your story.
2. Would this animal have any value for you or for the people around you?
3. Answer yes or no, and tell why.
#69
1. What is the title of the book or story?
2. Who wrote it?
3. Who is the publisher?
4. Write two sentences telling what has happened in your story so far.
#70
1. Look at each picture in the story. Choose one picture and study it. Pick out the words and phrases on the page or pages near the picture which tell what is happening in the picture.
2. Make a list of the words and phrases which relate to the picture.
3. Give the book title and the page number of the picture you have chosen.
#71
Use a Venn diagram to compare one character in your story to another one.
#72
1. Divide your story into three main parts.
2. Give each part a subtitle.
3. Recall the story in your own words for each part, listing them in the order in which they appear.
#73
1. Keep your book closed and write in detail one important thing that has happened so far.
2. Reread that part of the story and make any changes you need to to make your description more detailed.
#74
1. List each main even in the story that has occurred.
2. Use specific words from the story to tell you when the event took place.
#75
1. Make a list of five words which are new to you in the story you have read.
2. Give the definitions of the words, then put them in sentences of your own.
#76
Choose a page from your story, and write that page number at the top of your paper. Go through the whole page listing words that have prefixes or suffixes.
1. Underline the root word
2. Give the meaning of the prefix or suffix.
#77
Choose a page from your story, and write that page number at the top of your paper. Go through the whole page carefully and write down a word that begins with the letter a. Then find a word to go with the letter b. Do that for all the letters of the alphabet. You may not be able to find words to go with some letters, but do choose a page with lots of words so that you can do a good job.
#78
List three things that you have learned from the story.
#79
1. Pick out the words, phrases and exclamations which make a good word picture of an event which occurred in the story.
2. Write an original story, using the words and phrases you chose to make a word picture which will fit your own story.
#80
If your story is short, use the whole story to do your work. If longer, choose a single page from your story and write the page number at the top of your paper. List as many words as you can from this story which are formed by adding one of these endings to a root word. Underline the ending: s es d ed ing
#81
1. Choose five of the longest words from your story.
2. Write down a definition of each word without using the dictionary--what do you think the dictionary will say they mean?
3. Find the definitions of each of these words in the dictionary. How did they compare?
#82
If your story is short, use the whole story to do your work. If longer, choose a single page from your story and write the page number at the top of your paper.
1. List all the words you can find in this story which are made up of a prefix and a root word. Underline the prefix.
2. List all the words you can find in this story which are make up of a suffix and a root word. Underline the root word.
3. List the different contractions which you are able to find.
4. List the compound words which you are able to find.
#83
If your story is short, use the whole story to do your work. If longer, choose a single page from your story and write the page number at the top of your paper. Make a list of all the words that begin with capital letters. After the word, write why it is capitalized. For instance, Los Angeles would have written after it, "The name of a city."
#84
1. Choose five of the longest words from your story.
2. Find the definitions of each of these words in the dictionary. Make sure that you know what they mean. Write a good sentence explaining the meaning of each word.
#85
If your story is short, use the whole story to do your work. If longer, choose a single page from your story and write the page number at the top of your paper.
1. List all the words you can find that begin with the letter c.
2. Make another list with these words in alphabetical order.
#86
If your story is short, use the whole story to do your work. If longer, choose a single page from your story and write the page number at the top of your paper.
1. List all the names of nouns (cities, people, pencils, books, etc.) which you find in your story.
2. Arrange them into categories with the name of the category at the top.
#87
If your story is short, use the whole story to do your work. If longer, choose a single page from your story and write the page number at the top of your paper.
1. Make a list of two-syllable words from your story. If there are too many of them, use three syllable words instead.
2. Make a vertical line to show where the syllables break in each word.
3. Use an accent mark to show which syllable is accented.
#88
If your story is short, use the whole story to do your work. If longer, choose a single page from your story and write the page number at the top of your paper.
1. Make a list of words which have long vowel sounds.
2. After each word write the pronunciation symbol for the vowel sound in the words.
#89
If your story is short, use the whole story to do your work. If longer, choose a single page from your story and write the page number at the top of your paper.
1. List the words which have vowel digraphs
2. After each word, write the pronunciation symbol for the sound of the vowel digraph. Example: head = e reach = e
#90
1. Look at each picture in the story. Choose one picture and study it. Pick out the words and phrases on the page or pages near the picture which tell what is happening in the picture.
2. Make of list of the words and phrases which relate to the picture.
3. Give the book title and the page number of the picture you have chosen.
#91
1. Describe in detail the main event in the story or chapter.
2. Reread that part of the story. Did you leave out anything important? If so, what?
#92
1. Divide the story into three main parts: the introduction, the plot, the ending.
2. Give each of these parts a name, or subtitle.
3. Retell the whole story in your own words.
#93
1. List each main event in the story in the order in which it occurred.
2. As you do this, use specific words from the story to tell when the event took place.
#94
1. Draw three pictures--one of the main event of the story (or the story so far) one of what happened right before, and one of what happened right after.
2. Choose one of the pictures or places. What would you like about being there?
3. What would be a disadvantage to being in the picture you chose instead of one of the other ones?
#95
1. What in the story has been the most interesting to you?
2. How would you have reacted if you had been the main character?
3. What do you think will happen next?
#96
1. Choose a problem that you have had. Write about it.
2. Choose a character from the story. How would that character handle your problem?
#97
1. Who is your favorite character in the story? Why?
2. Is that character someone who could really exist? Why?
3. How would you like the story to end? (If it is over, write another ending that you would have liked to see.)
#98
1. What are some important ideas in your story?
2. Divide the big ideas into smaller parts and give each smaller part a subtitle.
A. Important idea
1. Subtitle
2. subtitle
B. Important idea
1. Subtitle
2. subtitle (this will lead to a simple outline)
#99
1. What is the main idea in your story?
2. Tell what steps led up to the big idea. What steps followed the main idea?
3. Draw the part hat you think is the most important.
#100
1. Choose a character in your story that you would like to have as a friend. Tell why you chose this "make believe friend."
2. Was there any character in your story whom you didn't like? Did you feel differently about him before your story had ended? What made you feel this way?
3. Where do you think the story took place? Why do you think so? Can you locate it on a map?
#101
1. List at least three important events that happened in the story.
2. What story character or characters had an important part in these important events? What did they do that was important?
3. Write a paragraph telling about one of these events.
#102
1. List one problem in the story.
2. Which character had this problem?
3. Tell how the problem was solved (if it has not yet been solved, tell what you think will happen).
#103
Draw a picture of the characters in the story (you do not need to choose more than three). Try to have either their faces or actions show what kind of person they are. Put the characters, names under their pictures.
#104
1. What problem did the main characters have?
2. Tell what they did to solve their problem.
3. Tell another way one of their problems might have been solved.
#105
Imagine that you are a character in the story. Choose one scene in the story and write in complete sentences the following:
a. everything you saw
b. everything you felt.
c. everything you smelled
#106
What is the main problem in your story? Think of another story you have read that has either similar characters or a similar plot to the one you are reading. Choose one of the following:
1. Compare the problems in your story to the other one you have read. Use a Venn diagram to make the comparisons.
2. Tell how the characters in one story might have handled the problems given the main characters in the other story.
#107
How does the author let us know that time is passing? Copy down some of the sentences from the story that show when different events go on.
#108
What lesson did each story characters learn? List each character separately and tell how they have grown. If you are not finished with your story yet, tell about something they need to learn in order to become a better person.
#109
Write five sentences telling what important things have happened so far in your story. Put the sentences in order. Make sure that each sentence is complete and that all the words are spelled correctly.
#110
1. Outline the major events as they have happened in the story.
2. Draw several pictures in comic strip form showing events as they happened. Label each picture.
#111
Skim the story so far. Write the sequence of events that have happened to the main character and give a reason why you think each happened.
#112
1. Review one of the action parts. Tell the story in five sentences using such words as first, then next, after that, and finally.
2. Copy words or phrases from your story that tell you how long a period of time the story events cover.
#113
Did all the events in the story happen one after another, or did some things happen at the same time? Use quotes from the story to prove your answer.
#114
Write your own conversation between some of the characters in your story. Use your own words, and write it as if they were in a play!
#115
1. Look at each picture in the story. Choose one picture and study it.
2. Close your book. Make a list of as many things from the picture you choose as you can.
1 to 10 things = fair
11 to 17 things = good
18 and above = excellent
Note: If there are no pictures in the book or on the cover, reread a scene from the story, then close your book and list as many details as you can remember.
#116
1. List 5 things that have happened to one of the characters in the story.
2. Choose one of the items from your list.
3. Why did the author choose to have that happen?
4. Is there something else the author could have chosen that would have had the same effect? If so, what? If not, why not?
#117
Write a new title for your story. Why did you choose it?
#118
1. Draw a picture of an exciting thing that the main character did.
2. How did it affect the story? Why did you choose the one you did?
#119
1. What is the main character's biggest problem?
2. How would you solve it if you had the same problem?
#120
1. Find sentences in your story where the author was able to make you feel: happy sad excited afraid
2. Write your own sentences to make someone else feel: happy sad excited afraid
#121
1. What has been the main event in the story so far?
2. List the main characters in the story.
3. Which character do you think plays the most important part in the story?
4. What does the main character do that helps the story move along?
#122
Write the adventures in the order that they happened and tell what effect they had on the main character. Could these adventures have really happened? Why?
#123
Choose a character in your story. What kind of person is he? In what ways would you like to be like him? Why?
#124
From memory:
1. List all the characters in the story. Write one or two characteristics after their names.
2. Check your work by glancing over the story. Did you remember everyone?
#125
1. What is the biggest adventure one of the characters has had?
2. What effect did the adventure have on the character?
3. Would you have liked to do what he did? Why?
#126
Choose a favorite sentence for the first page of your story. Copy it exactly. Now go back and replace as many words as you can with words of your own. For example, if the author wrote
"The wailing wind scraped the branches over the window, making a sound like fingers on a chalkboard," You might write "The leaking faucet dripped into the sink, producing a noise like a clock ticking."
#127
Choose an event from your story and move it to another setting. How would that have changed what happened? Why?
#128
Chose a page or two of your story and see if you can find any examples of alliteration--two or more words that begin with the same sound, like"wailing wind," or "pink and purple polka dots."
#129
Choose a paragraph in the story that is interesting or exciting. Copy it--or part of it--down. Now rewrite what you have written in your own words. Use the thesaurus if you wish.
#130
Choose a page or two of your story and see if you can find any examples of onomatopoeias--words that represent sounds, i.e., cuckoo, meow, scratch. If you can,t find any in the story, make a list of ten of your own words.
#131
1. Authors often choose words which will help the reader to "see" or "hear" what is happening in the story. Sometimes they use words which help the reader to "smell or "feel something in the story.
2. Make a list of words in this story (or in recent pages) which helped you to see or hear or smell or feel something in the story.
#132
1. Choose five of the longest words from your story.
2. Write down a definition of each word without using the dictionary--what do you think the dictionary will say they mean?
3. Find the definitions of each of these words in the dictionary. Make sure that you know what they mean. Write a good sentence explaining the meaning of each word
#133
Does anyone you read about in the story remind you of anyone you know? In what way?
#134
How is the way you live different than the way some of the characters in the story live? Make a Venn diagram to show this.
#135
Choose one of the characters in this story. Was it a bad or good person? Why? Give examples of each.
#136
Choose another place where the story might have taken place. What differences would that have made to the plot? List three ways the story would have to change.
#137
What did you like best about the main character? If he were to be your best friend, what things would you want to be different about him?
#138
Choose an event in the story that you did not like. Why didn't you like it? How would you have made it different? Would this have changed the story in any way? How?
#139
In what time did the story you just read take place? Using your imagination, put the story into the year 3000 BC or the year 3000 AD. List five ways in which the story would change.
#140
Go through the story and find as many similes as you can. (A simile is phrase which compares something to another, i.e., "as red as fire," or "as hungry as a bear.") For each simile that you find, see if you can write it in another way.
#141
Change the sex of the main character. (If it's a male, make it a female. If it's a female, change it to a male.) List five ways in which the story would change.
#142
Go through the story and find as many metaphors as you can. (A metaphor says that something is another thing, for example, "the wind was a raging dragon," and "the city below is a glittering fairyland" or "the battle was a blood bath." For each metaphor that you find, see if you can write it in another way.
#143
How do you feel about the main character in the story? Find and copy some phrases or sentences that made you feel this way.
#144
Find a sentence in your story that has a lot of pronouns in it (i.e., he, she, it, him, they). Copy the sentence, and then rewrite it using only the nouns to whom the pronouns refer. Example: "The man chased him, but he kept running with his ball." becomes "The man chased the dog, but the dog kept running with the man's ball."
#145
Some words have more than one meaning. For example, to "run for office" does not mean the same thing as to "run the machine", or to "run to the store". Choose a page from your story and list the words that have more than one meaning. Pick three words from your list and write two sentences for each word, showing different meanings for the words.
#146
Choose one character from the story. Compare this character with some person you know quite well. Tell the ways in which they are alike. Then tell the ways in which they are different. Use a Venn diagram to show this.
#147
The author finished the story, but the character's life can go on--if you choose to give it to him. Write a brief description of the next adventure one of the characters might have.
#148
Skim back over the story and write down the time phrases that tell how many days the story covers.
submitted by
BARBARA D. MARTIN
RICE SCHOOL
ROSEMEAD, CA
barbdmar@earthlink.net