When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller: Favorite Scene

Q: What is a good activity for teaching When You Trap a Tiger to grades 4-6?

A great activity is having students choose and illustrate their favorite scene from When You Trap a Tiger . Students create a storyboard, write about why they picked that scene, and share with the class for discussion.

Q: How do I help students make text-to-self connections with When You Trap a Tiger?

Ask students to select a quote or scene that resonated with them personally . Have them explain their choice and relate it to their own experiences, encouraging them to see themselves in the story.

Q: Why is it helpful for students to discuss different perspectives on the same scene?

Discussing different perspectives helps students understand how personal experiences shape interpretation . It fosters empathy, deeper comprehension, and richer class discussions.

Q: What skills do students develop by illustrating their favorite scene from a novel?

Students build reading comprehension, personal reflection, and creative expression skills. They also practice connecting literature to their own lives and communicating ideas visually and verbally.

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Lesson Plan Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Student Rubric

Lesson Plan Overview

Having students choose a favorite quote or scene from a book allows them to express which parts 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 quotes mean to them.

Some students may end up choosing the same quote, 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.

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Template and Class Instructions

(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 When You Trap a Tiger. Illustrate the scene and write why you chose it.

Student Instructions:

Click "Start Assignment".
Choose a favorite scene from When You Trap a Tiger.
Create an image that represents this scene using appropriate scenes, characters and items.
In the description box, write what happens during this part of the book, and why you chose this part.

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 4-6

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual

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Student Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Favorite Scene

Explain and illustrate your favorite scene from the story.

	Proficient 7 Points	Emerging 4 Points	Beginning 1 Points
Explanation	The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen is clear and at least two sentences.	The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen can be understood but it is somewhat unclear.	The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen is unclear and is not at least two sentences.
Illustrations	The illustration represents the scene or explanation using appropriate scenes, characters and items.	The illustration relates to the scene or explanation, but is difficult to understand.	The illustration does not clearly relate to the scene or the explanation.
Evidence of Effort	Work is well written and carefully thought out.	Work shows some evidence of effort.	Work shows little evidence of any effort.

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Lesson Plan Overview

Copy Activity

Template and Class Instructions

(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 When You Trap a Tiger. Illustrate the scene and write why you chose it.

Student Instructions:

Click "Start Assignment".
Choose a favorite scene from When You Trap a Tiger.
Create an image that represents this scene using appropriate scenes, characters and items.
In the description box, write what happens during this part of the book, and why you chose this part.

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 4-6

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual

Copy Activity

Student Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Favorite Scene

Explain and illustrate your favorite scene from the story.

	Proficient 7 Points	Emerging 4 Points	Beginning 1 Points
Explanation	The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen is clear and at least two sentences.	The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen can be understood but it is somewhat unclear.	The explanation of the scene and why it was chosen is unclear and is not at least two sentences.
Illustrations	The illustration represents the scene or explanation using appropriate scenes, characters and items.	The illustration relates to the scene or explanation, but is difficult to understand.	The illustration does not clearly relate to the scene or the explanation.
Evidence of Effort	Work is well written and carefully thought out.	Work shows some evidence of effort.	Work shows little evidence of any effort.

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How Tos about Favorite Scenes in When You Trap a Tiger

How to Facilitate a Meaningful Class Discussion on Favorite Scenes

Encourage students to share their favorite scenes and reasons with the class. Fostering discussion helps build confidence and respect for diverse perspectives.

Prepare students with guiding questions

Provide prompts like, "What made this scene stand out?" or "How did this scene make you feel?" Guiding questions help students reflect more deeply on their choices.

Model respectful listening and response

Demonstrate how to listen actively and respond thoughtfully to classmates’ opinions. Modeling sets a positive tone and teaches important discussion skills.

Connect student responses to story themes

Highlight how different scenes relate to major themes or character growth in the novel. This deepens understanding and connects individual insights to the bigger picture.

Wrap up with a whole-class reflection

Invite students to share what they learned from hearing others’ perspectives. This reinforces empathy and broadens appreciation for the story.

Frequently Asked Questions about Favorite Scenes in When You Trap a Tiger

What is a good activity for teaching When You Trap a Tiger to grades 4-6?

A great activity is having students choose and illustrate their favorite scene from When You Trap a Tiger. Students create a storyboard, write about why they picked that scene, and share with the class for discussion.

How do I help students make text-to-self connections with When You Trap a Tiger?

Ask students to select a quote or scene that resonated with them personally. Have them explain their choice and relate it to their own experiences, encouraging them to see themselves in the story.

What are the steps for a favorite scene storyboard lesson?

Guide students to: 1) Click "Start Assignment"; 2) Pick their favorite scene; 3) Create an image depicting it; 4) Write a description about what happens and why it’s meaningful to them; 5) Share with the class.

Why is it helpful for students to discuss different perspectives on the same scene?

Discussing different perspectives helps students understand how personal experiences shape interpretation. It fosters empathy, deeper comprehension, and richer class discussions.

What skills do students develop by illustrating their favorite scene from a novel?

Students build reading comprehension, personal reflection, and creative expression skills. They also practice connecting literature to their own lives and communicating ideas visually and verbally.