Get the Reel Scoop: Comparing Books to Movies

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Book(s) and film you plan to share with students (see Grade 3–5 Book and Film List)
  
  
• Television and VCR or DVD player
  
  
• Writer’s Notebook
  
  
• Photocopies of selected scenes from the book OR additional copies of the book

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   K – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Organizing & Summarizing

Story Map

The Story Map interactive is designed to assist students in prewriting and postreading activities by focusing on the key elements of character, setting, conflict, and resolution.

 

Grades   K – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Organizing & Summarizing

Venn Diagram

This interactive tool allows students to create Venn diagrams that contain two or three overlapping circles, enabling them to organize their information logically.

 

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PRINTOUTS

• Permission to View Film/Video handout
  
  
• Focused Reading and Viewing Guide
  
  
• Thinking Critically about a Movie Adaptation
  
  
• Getting into Readers Theater
  
  
• Movie Adaptation Readers Theater Reflection
  
  
• Readers Theatre Evaluation (optional)

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WEBSITES

• Readers Theatre Digest
• Aaron Shepard’s RT Page
• Teach with Movies

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PREPARATION

• Select a book that has been made into a movie to read aloud to the class. Possible titles have been included on the Grade 3–5 Book and Film List. If you wish to make these activities cross-curricular then cross-check the title with the Website Teach with Movies.
  
  
• Obtain permission for viewing the film using the Permission to View Film/Video handout, or the permission forms and any other documents required by your school or district.
  
  
• Share the novel with the class.
  
  
• Make copies of all necessary handouts.
  
  
• Allow for additional plan/copy time after Session 5 to make copies of selected scenes, if necessary.
  
  
• Familiarize yourself with Readers Theater. The ReadWriteThink lesson Readers Theater provides excellent background. Good resources are also available at Readers Theater Digest and Aaron Shepard’s RT Page.
  
  
• Test the Story Map student interactive and the Venn Diagram on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tools and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page.

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