Reading at all grade levels involves building up vocabulary, which is especially important at the fifth-grade level, where students are making the transition to more complex and difficult novels. Have students keep a running dictionary journal of difficult words. Each time the student comes across a word he does not understand, he should look up its definition and enter it into his personal dictionary. Have your students read contemporary favorites, such as "Kit's Wilderness," by David Almond, or older classics that contain sophisticated vocabulary, such as "The Secret Garden," by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Students should also learn how to use key reference materials in addition to dictionaries, such as a thesaurus, an encyclopedia and online reference tools.
A major focus of a fifth-grade literature curriculum is teaching students to understand a literary text and to analyze its features. Students should be able to read a novel independently and comprehend its main action and plot. Have students write chapter summaries so they can practice this skill. Students should also be able to identify structural elements of narrative, such as character and plot development. Have students write and present book reports that summarize plot, discuss meaning and pay attention to key elements such as figurative language. Find books that are heavy on plot, such as the detective novel "Airborn," by Kenneth Oppel. The "Harry Potter" books also contain complex plots that are rich grounds for analysis.
Synthesizing different materials is a skill that students in the fifth grade should be developing. After reading a few different texts, ask students to compare characters from novels or stories written in different periods. Get them thinking about character as an abstract concept with a textual function, rather than as real people. You should also get students to apply the lessons of a literary text to the world they live in. Have them write responses that consider choices made by characters and what they would do if put in a similar situation. Consider books for these activities that rely on strong central characters who develop over the course of the story, and with whom fifth graders might identify. "Hatchet," by Gary Paulsen, about a 13-year-old boy who survives a plane crash, works well for this activity, as does "The Slave Dancer," by Paula Fox.
Part of a fifth-grade literature curriculum should be devoted to cultivating students' creativity. Set aside time for students to write their own short stories or chapters of novels. Let them write their own fairy tales, as well as poems, based on poetic structures that you have studied in class. Also set aside time for students to read and critique their fellow students' creative works.