Pictionary

Below are ten key words from the book. Draw the first picture that comes to mind for each word. If there is a word you don’t know, try to guess or use a dictionary. If completing this exercise in a class, use these words to play Pictionary. Split the class into teams....

New Words

As you read the book aloud, have students raise their hands if they hear a word they do not recognize or a word used in an unfamiliar way. Write these words on the board. Ask students to figure out the meaning of the word from context. Provide real-life connections to...

Feelings Vocabulary

Introduce or review emotion words such as shy, brave, lonely, happy and excited. Explain that these feelings may appear in the story and students will look for them while listening.

Emotional Vocabulary Building

Introduce and define key emotional vocabulary such as lonely, misunderstood, comforted, anxious and belonging. Invite students to share examples or act out emotions to deepen understanding.

Words That Matter

Revisit the vocabulary introduced before reading. Have students create illustrated word cards or mini-posters.