How to Catch a Witch 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
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SUMMARY
"How to Catch a Witch" by Alice Walstead takes place on Halloween night and a group of friends are dressed in their costumes ready for trick-or-treating. As they walk around, the children notice more ghosts, ghouls and goblins keep appearing and soon there are more creatures than kids in the town! The children see a witch flying in the sky and realize she is inviting all the creatures. They decide they need to trap the witch to send all the ghosts, ghouls and goblins back to where they belong.
First, the children try and catch the witch by offering to add bristles to a broom for free. They also try offering a prize for best dance moves but have no luck. As the children work to trap the witch, more creatures keep appearing.
Finally the children set their last trap, a Tunnel of Tricks. When the witch comes along though, she just flies right through the tunnel and doesn’t get trapped. Instead, all of the creatures meet up with the witch for a dance party where the children join in on the dancing until all the creatures leave through a portal back to their own home!"
 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.
- Analyze the setting of this book. Discuss where and when it takes place.
- Teach a lesson on making connections to enhance comprehension.
- Practice making predictions throughout the book. Encourage students to check and see if their predictions were correct.
- Encourage students to use their summarizing and retelling strategies.
- Read the book to students without showing the pictures. Encourage them to close their eyes and visualize the story. Discuss their visualization as a class.
- Introduce homophones and discuss the multiple meanings of homophones in this book.
- Discuss the importance of teamwork and what a good teammate looks like.
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
- 30Â 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.
- Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
- Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
- Hansel and Gretel by James Marshall
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!
