Making Book Magic Lesson Plan

Download this lesson

Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will describe and sequence the steps Tracey West takes when writing a book.

 

Literacy Focus:

author study

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing, analyzing

 

Page 4 Skill:

genre features

 

Vocabulary:

fantasy, editor, outline, cliff-hanger, revision

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.5 use text features; RI.2.10 read informational texts; W.2.1 writing; W.2.8 gather information; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Lexile Level: 

610L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on authors.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “Making Book Magic With Tracey West.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is one thing you learned about Tracey West?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Have any students read the Dragon Masters books?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about the steps Tracey takes to write a book.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think skill sheet. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are fantasy, editor, outline, cliff-hanger and revision.

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work skill sheet to deepen students’ understanding of the words fantasy, editor, outline, cliff-hanger and revision.

Editor’s Pick: Writing / Analyzing (15 min.)

  • Students will analyze a book they have recently read using the Is It a Fantasy? skill sheet and conclude whether or not it is a fantasy book.

ELA Focus: Writing (15 min.)

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on authors:

  • “Meet Christian Robinson!,” March 2021. Students will follow illustrator Christian Robinson’s process of telling stories through pictures.
  • “Meet Yuyi Morales!,” October 2021. Students will discover how Yuyi Morales makes a book.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher-Lexile level: 740L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 500L