What student doesn’t love a theme or amusement park? Today we are spotlighting the book Roller Coaster. This book makes an awesome read aloud! It is perfect for teaching a lesson on visualizing, one of the main reasons we selected it. The descriptions in this book are so captivating and sure to engage students. - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
SUMMARY
Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee is about the thrilling experience of riding a roller coaster for the very first time.
The story follows a group of people, one of whom has never ridden a roller coaster before, and describes what they see, hear, and feel as they clickity-clack, whoosh, and zoom on this exciting ride! The descriptive language and vivid Illustrations in the story will make you feel like you are riding the roller coaster for the first time, too!
USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Aside from visualizing, Roller Coaster lends itself to teaching many important skills. We encourage teachers to use this book for reading comprehension, writing, grammar and social emotional lessons. Here are some ways you can use it with your students:
- Analyze the illustrations in the book and discuss the added meaning they give readers.
- Make connections to the characters experience and the setting of the story.
- Have students practice their descriptive writing skills by describing events from the book.
- Tie in narrative writing and have students write about their own similar experience.
- Teach a lesson on types of print.
- Explore adjectives and action verbs.
- Discuss the importance of perseverance and different feelings characters have.
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
Let’s be honest, planning a comprehensive read aloud takes a lot of time. Between assessments, meetings, and other lesson plans, read alouds often take the back burner. However, we think they’re too important to put to the side. That’s why we created Starts With a Story. Our book companions come with specific reading comprehension questions, 30 writing prompts related to the story, ideas for teaching grammar and social emotional learning based off the story. Each companion also includes printable worksheets and activities for students. We hope this resource helps teacher to use read alouds more often in their classrooms.
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will also love these similar books:
- After the Fall by Dan Santat
- Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
- Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
- Bedhead by Margie Palatini
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!
