Spring Stinks 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
"Spring Stinks" by Ryan T. Higgins is about how all of the animals in the forest are excited about spring, except for Bruce. His rabbit friend Ruth is excited to share all the smells of spring with Bruce, however, he is less than excited. Ruth brings Bruce around the forest having him smell the flowers, grass, trees, and even a wet moose! She collects the smells in Bruce’s basket and finally, she thinks of something bears like to smell...honey! However, the bees end up chasing and stinging Bruce, cementing his belief that spring stinks. Students’ favorite character, Bruce, is back in this hilarious spring story where students can learn about the positives and negatives of the season while giggling throughout "Spring Stinks" by Ryan T. Higgins.
 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.
- Discuss the different characters in the story and analyze their thoughts and actions.
- Analyze the setting of this book. Discuss where and when it takes place.
- Teach a lesson on making connections to enhance comprehension.
- Have students sequence the important events in the story. This is an important skill when it comes to retelling a story.
- Encourage students to use their summarizing and retelling strategies.
- Explore new irregular verbs using examples from the book.
- Use this book to discuss compromising.
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.
- When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes
- Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak
- Spring is Here by Will Hillenbrand
- Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson
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!
