Lisa Storm Fink

Lisa is the Project Manager for ReadWriteThink at NCTE. After teaching grades K-4 for almost 9 years, she brought her varied experiences fulltime to the ReadWriteThink site: multi-age classrooms, looping, cooperating teacher for preservice teachers, plus a specialization in Remedial Reading. Lisa feels lucky to have worked on all parts of the ReadWriteThink site – as a writer and reviewer, curriculum developer, and now as Project Manager. She enjoys sharing the site with others during professional development opportunities as well as with her preservice students at the University of Illinois.

Lessons on ReadWriteThink

A Case for Reading—Examining Challenged and Banned Books  (3-5)
The purpose of this lesson is to inspire students to critically examine a book, which has been selected from the American Library Association Challenged/Banned Books list. The students will analyze the book and document their findings as they read. They will then write a persuasive piece, synthesizing their view about the book and what should be done with the book at their school.

A Genre Study of Letters With The Jolly Postman (3-5)
In The Jolly Postman, a postman rides his bicycle delivering letters. To whom? Storybook and nursery rhyme characters! After reading The Jolly Postman, the students will learn the attributes of different types of mail. Then, the students will categorize the letters from the book, and finally their own mail.

Alphabiography Project: Totally You  (6-8)
Instead of writing their life stories in a linear fashion, students write their biographies from A to Z in this nontraditional autobiography activity, which was inspired by the book Totally Joe by James Howe. After the entry for each letter in their alphabiographies, students sum up the stories and vignettes by recording the life lessons they learned from the events.

Alter Egos and More with Avi’s “Who Was That Masked Man, Anyway?” (3-5)
Today’s elementary students bring many experiences with a variety of texts to the classroom: print, music, online literacies, technical reading and writing, and so on. This lesson plan uses students’ knowledge of these new literacies to introduce them to similar literacies of the past.

Book Report Alternative: Creating a New Book Cover (3-5)
This lesson plan invites students to critically observe book covers and dust jackets and learn more about what they include. Students are then given the opportunity to recreate a cover or a dust jacket for a book and compose an accompanying rationale for the changes they make.

Book Report Alternative: Examining Story Elements Using Story Map Comic Strips (3-5)
Comic frames are traditionally used to illustrate a story in a short, concise format. In this lesson, students use a six-paneled comic strip frame to create a story map, summarizing a book or story that they've read. Each panel retells a particular detail or explains a literary element (such as setting or character) from the story.

Book Report Alternative: Writing Resumes for Characters in Historical Fiction (3-5)
What if a character from historical fiction came to life and asked your students for help writing a resume? What would your students need to know to help that character? This lesson invites students to put themselves in just this situation. Students explore help wanted ads, in print and online, to see what employers want then draft a resume so the character they’ve chosen can apply for a job.

Characters in Because of Winn-Dixie: Making Lists of Ten (3-5)
Extend students’ brainstormed lists of characteristics for the characters in the novels they read by asking them to develop a list of ten important things about a specific character. Modeled on similar lists created by characters in Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie, this lesson plan can be used as full class activity or can be tapped as a book report alternative.

Choosing One Word: Summarizing Shel Silverstein’s “Sick”  (K-2)
After reading a text in the classroom, students work together to determine the one word that summarizes that text. This comprehension activity requires students to work together and highlights their ability to justify their word choice.

Comics in the Classroom as an Introduction to Genre Study (3-5)
The combination of the simple, yet complex nature of comic strips and comic books make them an excellent source of teaching material, as they explore language in a creative way. In this lesson, students will be examining the genre and subgenres of comics, their uses, and purposes.

Comics in the Classroom as an Introduction to Narrative Structure (3-5)
A strong plot is a basic requirement of any narrative. Students are sometimes confused, however, by the difference between a series of events that happen in a story and the plot elements, or the events that are significant to the story. This lesson uses comic strip frames to define plot and reinforce the structure that underlies a narrative, as students write their own original narratives.

Creating Classroom Community by Crafting Themed Poetry Collections (3-5)
Back to school means new teachers, new classmates and many unanswered questions. In this lesson, students create poetry collections with a back-to-school theme of “getting to know each other.” Students write poetry with the goal of introducing themselves, helping to create a sense of classroom community, while exploring the many and varied types and forms of poetry and constructing and refining their own definitions of poetry.

Dear Librarian: Writing a Persuasive Letter  (3-5)
Inspire students to write their librarian a persuasive letter, requesting that a specific text be added to the school library collection. As they work on the project, students plan their arguments and outline their reasons and examples. Finally, students write a persuasive letter, which is assessed using a rubric.

Engaging Students in a Collaborative Exploration of the Gettysburg Address (3-5)
Working collaboratively, students learn more about the Civil War through the Gettysburg Address. Teams of students explore multiple resources and actively engage in learning more about this historical document, using words from the Gettysburg Address as their inspiration.

Figurative Language Awards Ceremony (3-5)
Figurative language enlivens a text, providing visuals in the minds of readers. This lesson will have students listening to and reading selected texts as they seek out their favorite literary devices.

Finding the Science Behind Science Fiction through Paired Readings  (6-8)
Science fiction offers students opportunities to discuss the “what ifs” within the context of scientific principles. This lesson plan invites students to read science fiction texts and then use nonfiction texts to extrapolate the scientific principles presented.

Genre Study: A Collaborative Approach (3-5)
Encourage your students to explore elements of common literary genres, not only as a way to appreciate the wealth of literature available to them, but also to expand their models for effective writing. Using a customized bookmark, students will learn and document characteristics of chosen genres.

Graphing Plot and Character in a Novel (3-5)
In this graphical mapping project, students assign a value to the events, characters, and themes in a novel and think about how the elements of the story are all interconnected. By reading and responding in this deeper fashion, students reach a greater level of comprehension for the novel. This lesson uses The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis as an example, but any text used in class can be substituted.

Investigating Junk Mail: Negotiating Critical Literacy at the Mailbox (3-5)
By investigating junk mail, students learn to think about and question texts in ways that develop their analytical capacities and critical reading practices.

Literature as a Jumping Off Point for Nonfiction Inquiry  (3-5)
Text sets focus on one topic or subject area, yet include texts of many genres. In this lesson, after reading a novel, here Tuck Everlasting, students choose a topic related to a theme in the novel and work cooperatively to learn more about that topic using a text set. Students will have an opportunity to read and explore many genres, while learning through the content areas.

Literature Circle Roles Reframed: Reading as a Film Crew (6-8)
Capture students’ enthusiasm for film and transfer it to reading and literature by substituting film production roles for the traditional literature circle roles.

Literature Circles: Getting Started (3-5)
Students observe and practice different ways of collaborating to read a work of literature in this student-centered lesson. Students work in four different roles as they compose and answer comprehension questions, discover new vocabulary, and examine elements of literature. This lesson provides a basic introduction to the strategy and can be followed with a more extensive literature circle project.

Looking at Landmarks: Using a Picture Book to Guide Research (3-5)
Using the picture book Ben’s Dream as an inspiration, children put their research skills to work. The book illustrates ten landmarks from around the world, without identifying the names of the landmark. In their related inquiry, students learn more about the monuments presented in the book, publish information about them and share that knowledge with others.

Looking for the History in Historical Fiction: An Epidemic for Reading (3-5)
Historical fiction can provide a powerful way to introduce your students to the large themes of history because of their human approach to the events they cover. In this lesson, students will be reading and responding to historical fiction. Then, they will be using nonfiction sources to verify the “facts” presented in the novels.

Mapping Characters Across Book Series (3-5)
How does a character change or stay the same through the course of a book? How also does that character grow and evolve through a book series? In this lesson, students will work on a guided characterization project, mapping the “life” of a character from a book series.

On a Musical Note: Exploring Reading Strategies by Creating a Soundtrack (6-8)
Take advantage of students’ interest in music and movies with this lesson that asks students to create a soundtrack for a novel that they have read. As students search for songs and explain their choices, they engage in such traditional reading strategies as predicting, visualizing, and questioning. The activity can be completed as a response to a class-read novel or as a book report alternative.

Once Upon a Time Rethought: Writing Fractured Fairy Tales (3-5)
Using prior knowledge of the genre, students identify common elements of fairy tales. Next, they read and analyze fairy tales, using a story map. The information from the graphic organizer will assist students as they rewrite one of their favorite fairy tales, changing one of the literary elements.

Opening the Door for Reading: Sharing Favorite Texts to Build Community (3-5)
Students focus on reading and creating classroom displays focused on favorite texts in this lesson plan. The class explores environmental print then focuses specifically on a teacher-created display that focuses on a favorite book. After exploring the teacher’s display, students create presentations on their own favorites. By sharing favorite books in this way, teachers and students build community by getting to know one another while simultaneously exploring works of literature.

Our Classroom: Writing an Owner’s Manual (3-5)
The first few weeks of school are all about creating rules, establishing routines, and becoming familiar with the classroom. Engaging students in activities that help them get to know their classroom can make the transition easier while at the same time providing students with a sense of ownership. In this lesson, students write an owner’s manual to help them become more familiar with their classroom as well as to let others know about their classroom.

Research Building Blocks: “Cite Those Sources!” (3-5)
“Cite Those Sources!” is part of a Research Process/Application unit. The focus of this lesson is on creating a bibliography. The unit/activities were created with a School Library Media Specialist about the State of Illinois; however, they can be adapted to any state or other research topic.

Research Building Blocks: “Organize This!” (3-5)
“Organize This!” is part of a Research Process/Application unit. This lesson focuses on organizing found research information. The unit/activities were created with a School Library Media Specialist about the State of Illinois; however, they can be adapted to any state or other research topic.

Research Building Blocks: Examining Electronic Sources  (3-5)
"Examining Electronic Sources," part of a Research Process and Application unit, focuses on selecting electronic resources. The unit and activities, created in conjunction with a School Library Media Specialist, are on the State of Illinois; however, they can be adapted for any state or other research topic.

Research Building Blocks: Hints about Print  (3-5)
"Hints about Print," part of a Research Process and Application unit, focuses on selecting print resources. The unit and activities, created in conjunction with a School Library Media Specialist, are on the State of Illinois; however, they can be adapted for any state or other research topic.

Research Building Blocks: Notes, Quotes, and Fact Fragments (3-5)
"Notes, Quotes, and Fact Fragments," part of a Research Process and Application unit created in conjunction with a School Library Media Specialist, focuses on taking notes, using materials on the State of Illinois. The lessons can be adapted to any state or other research topic.

Research Building Blocks: Skim, Scan, and Scroll (3-5)
“Skim, Scan, and Scroll” is part of a Research Process and Application unit created with a School Library Media Specialist. The focus of this lesson is searching for information on the State of Illinois; however, it can be adapted to any state or other research topic.

Rummaging for Fiction: Using Found Photographs and Notes to Spark Story Ideas  (9-12)
“I don’t know what to write about!” is a complaint students commonly make when they are asked to write a creative piece. In this lesson, students use found notes and photographs as prompts to help them identify subjects, settings, characters, and conflicts for pieces of creative writing.

Teaching Language Skills Using the Phone Book (3-5)
What literacy skills are needed to use a phone book? Through multiple activities built around an everyday text, students will not only learn how the book is arranged, but what the contents are and also how it is used. In the process, students will be using their research and organizational skills to build their own class phone book.

The History Behind Song Lyrics (6-8)
In this lesson, students examine the song “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel. In groups, students research the items listed in the song, looking at their historical relevance and document their findings using an online chart. The students will then expand their learning by choosing from a menu of related projects.

Travel Brochures: Highlighting the Setting of a Story (6-8)
When reading a text, readers are often transported to the places mentioned through words and descriptions. This lesson plan invites students to think about the details in the texts they have read and then create a travel brochure about the setting. Students learn more about the places mentioned in the text while researching the setting of their text.

Unwinding A Circular Plot: Prediction Strategies in Reading and Writing (3-5)
This lesson, using circular stories, invites students to use a graphic organizer to explore the plot of the stories while focusing on prediction and sequencing skills. After exploring the features of circular plot stories, students write their own stories individually or in small groups.

Using Snowflake Bentley as a Framing Text for Multigenre Writing (3-5)
How can “multigenre” be introduced in the intermediate classroom? Using the Caldecott Medal-winning book Snowflake Bentley as a model, students will create a working definition of multigenre text; then, they will create their own multigenre piece about winter or another pertinent theme.

Using Picture Books to Teach Plot Development and Conflict Resolution (3-5)
Students explore the concept of plot development and conflict resolution through focused experiences with picture books. As they learn about the connections between reading and writing, students find ways to apply the information they learn to revisions of their own writing.

Weather Detectives: Questioning the Fact and Folklore of Weather Sayings (3-5)
Before there were weather tools, people looked to the sky, plants, and animals for hints about what the weather would do. To remember these indicators, people coined weather sayings. But are these sayings true and reliable? By encouraging students to adopt a skeptical stance, this lesson invites students to become weather detectives who ask “Why?” and “Why not?” as they investigate the history and validity of some of the common weather sayings then share their results with their classmates.

Writing ABC Books to Enhance Reading Comprehension (3-5)
In this lesson, students will use an online interactive, the Alphabet Organizer, to think critically about a piece of literature. Using the alphabet as an organizing structure, students will analyze literary elements in the story, such as characters, setting, and themes, organizing their observations in an alphabet book.

Writing and Assessing an Autobiographical Incident (3-5)
An autobiographical incident, a story students can tell about an event in their own lives, can be a powerful teaching tool at the beginning of the school year. It is a wonderful way to introduce students to each other because the author shares experiences and feelings about an event.

You Know the Movie Is Coming—Now What? (6-8)
Students and teachers often get excited when they hear that a movie version of a favorite book will soon be coming to theaters. What can be done in the classroom to prepare for a viewing of that film? In this lesson, students read a literary text with the eye of a director, selecting scenes from the text and putting a cinematic spin on them.