The Other Side 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
"The Other Side" by Jacqueline Woodson is a beautifully written children's book that explores themes of racial segregation and friendship. Set in the 1950s, it tells the story of Clover, an African American girl who lives on one side of a fence that separates her town racially. On the other side of the fence is a grassy area where a white girl named Annie lives. Despite the societal barriers and warnings from their mothers, Clover and Annie develop a curious friendship. They find ways to meet at the fence, sit on its top, and share their experiences and dreams. Through simple yet profound storytelling and evocative illustrations, Woodson teaches young readers about the power of breaking down barriers and finding common ground with others who may seem different.
 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.
- Discuss the different characters in the story and analyze their thoughts and actions.
- Help students to analyze what the author’s purpose for writing the book might be.
- Teach a mini lesson on past tense verbs using examples from the book.
- Teach students how contractions are used.
- Introduce pronouns and practice using them.
- Discuss friendship and the qualities that make a good friend.
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.
- Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
- The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
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