Divide the class into two relay teams to review vocabulary. Post targeted words on the board or word wall. One student from each team goes to the word wall. The teacher says the definition, and the students attempt to touch the correct word. The first student to get the word correct, wins a point for his team. Those students go to the back of the line, giving another team member a chance. The team with the most points at the end of the game, wins. This activity reinforces vocabulary skills for a quick review or assessment.
Test a student's comprehension with plot sequencing cards. Use this activity after reading a story or nonfiction selection. Write a sentence about the plot on an index card. Write out five to 10 details on what happened in the story. Choose a number of students (equal to the number of index cards) and give each a card. Instruct them to go to the front of the room and organize the sequencing cards. Each student lines up in the correct plot sequence of his card. The remaining seated students check the sequence and tell the students where to make corrections, if needed.
Cut out various pictures from magazines and place them on a table. Instruct a student to choose any three pictures. The group of pictures do not need to relate to each other for this activity. The object is to design a story using the visuals in the pictures. The student needs to use his imagination and carefully analyze each picture to develop a plot. He then creates an outline of the setting, characters, plot and conflict. Next, he writes the story. The student glues the story and pictures to construction paper and then shares his photos and story with the class.
To create a picture poem, the student chooses an image that she likes. It could be a race car, rain drop or flower. The student thinks of words to describe the object. She does not need to worry about rhyming pattern or rhythm while writing. Instead of drawing the image, she uses the poem to shape words into the chosen image. The picture and poem become interchangeable.