Having students choose their favorite part of a book allows them to express which scenes of the story resonated with them on a personal level. In this way, students are making a text-to-self connection that demonstrates their understanding of the characters and their development or the themes of the novel. Students can share their storyboards afterwards and have a short discussion about what the scenes mean to them.
Some students may end up choosing the same part, but have different perspectives. This is always interesting for students to see and can open up a discussion as to how not everyone can read the same lines in the same way based on their own perspectives and personal experiences.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies your favorite scene in Anansi the Spider. Illustrate the scene and write why you chose it.
Student Instructions:
Invite students to review a partner's storyboard and discuss the chosen favorite scenes together. This fosters respectful listening and helps students appreciate different perspectives while building critical thinking skills.
Share your own favorite scene from the story and explain why it resonates with you. This demonstrates making text-to-self connections and encourages students to reflect on their own experiences as they read.
Ask students to reference specific lines or details from the book when explaining their favorite scene. This practice builds comprehension and helps students cite evidence to support their ideas.
Display all completed storyboards around the classroom and allow students to walk around, observe, and leave positive comments. This activity celebrates creativity and gives students an authentic audience for their work.
The 'Anansi the Spider Favorite Scene' activity asks students to select and illustrate their favorite scene from Anansi the Spider, then explain why they chose it. This helps them connect personally with the story and demonstrate understanding of its characters and themes.
Students make a text-to-self connection by identifying a scene in Anansi the Spider that resonates with their own experiences or feelings. Explaining why they relate to a specific part helps deepen comprehension and engagement.
To complete the assignment, students should: 1) Click "Start Assignment"; 2) Choose their favorite scene from Anansi the Spider; 3) Illustrate the scene with appropriate characters and items; 4) Write a description explaining what happens and why they chose it.
Sharing favorite scenes encourages discussion about different perspectives and helps students see how personal experiences influence interpretation. It fosters empathy, critical thinking, and deeper appreciation for literature.
This activity is designed for 2nd and 3rd grade students, making it developmentally appropriate for early elementary learners building reading comprehension skills.