Hansel and Gretel is part of our Starts With a Story Collection, which includes more than 550 picture book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Learn more about this children’s book below! - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
SUMMARY
In James Marshall's adaptation of the classic fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel," two siblings find themselves lost in the woods after being abandoned by their stepmother. As they stumble upon a delicious-looking gingerbread house, they are greeted by an old woman who turns out to be a wicked witch. The witch tries to fatten up Hansel to eat him, but clever Gretel comes up with a plan to outsmart her. With quick thinking and teamwork, the siblings manage to push the witch into her own oven and escape. They find their way back home, where they are warmly welcomed by their father, who regrets his earlier actions. The story highlights the bravery and resourcefulness of the young protagonists as they overcome the challenges presented by the cunning witch and reunite with their family.
USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Our read aloud lesson plans for this picture book come with reading comprehension questions (with sample student responses), 30 writing prompts, teaching ideas for grammar skills, social emotional learning discussion ideas, and more. Check out our list below to get a sneak peek at some of the skills this resource teaches.
- Encourage students to use their summarizing and retelling strategies.
- Cause and effect can be a difficult skill for students. This book is a perfect mentor text for teaching this skill.
- Practice making inferences throughout the story and after reading.
- Teach a lesson on making connections to enhance comprehension.
- Introduce the purpose of adverbs and practice using them.
- Explore prepositions and how they describe nouns or pronouns.
- Discuss how problem solving was used throughout the story.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30 writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This book is a must have for your school or classroom library. Your students are going to love completing these activities for the book and you will be impressed with how much they learn. You will want to read this book to your class every year.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will love the similar books listed below, which can all be found in our free picture book list.
- Grasshopper and the Ants by Jerry Pinkney
- Goldilocks and The Three Bears by James Marshall
- John Henry by Julius Lester
- Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg
- Mike Fink by Steven Kellogg
- Paul Bunyan by Steven Kellogg
- Pecos Bill by Steven Kellogg
- Red Riding Hood by James Marshall
- The Boy Who Cried Wolf by B.G. Hennessy
- The Lion and The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone
- The Tortoise and The Hare by Janet Stevens
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
