Reading
Unit 4: Fantasy Reading
Fantasy novels teach kids to be better readers. Because of their exciting plots and young heroes, these novels make children want to read. Fantasy novels also teach readers to deal with complexity through complicated characters, multiple plotlines, shifting timelines, and symbolism. This unit aims to help create lifelong readers of the fifth graders. It is also meant to instill an eagerness in the fifth graders to tackle more complex texts by giving them the tools to be able to do so, both now and in the future. As with interpretation book clubs at the beginning of the year, a large part of this unit will focus on discovering the theme, or lesson, in fantasy books. Students will ask themselves, “What does the author what me to learn from this book?” and “What techniques did the author use bring out this lesson?”
A large part of this unit will also focus on students having literary conversations with their book clubs. Students are expected to be prepared for their book club meetings by completing the self-assigned reading each night and jotting as they read. This year, each student will read The City of Ember, Gregor the Overlander, The Magician’s Nephew, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, The Capture, or Artemis Fowl.
Fantasy novels teach kids to be better readers. Because of their exciting plots and young heroes, these novels make children want to read. Fantasy novels also teach readers to deal with complexity through complicated characters, multiple plotlines, shifting timelines, and symbolism. This unit aims to help create lifelong readers of the fifth graders. It is also meant to instill an eagerness in the fifth graders to tackle more complex texts by giving them the tools to be able to do so, both now and in the future. As with interpretation book clubs at the beginning of the year, a large part of this unit will focus on discovering the theme, or lesson, in fantasy books. Students will ask themselves, “What does the author what me to learn from this book?” and “What techniques did the author use bring out this lesson?”
A large part of this unit will also focus on students having literary conversations with their book clubs. Students are expected to be prepared for their book club meetings by completing the self-assigned reading each night and jotting as they read. This year, each student will read The City of Ember, Gregor the Overlander, The Magician’s Nephew, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, The Capture, or Artemis Fowl.