The Very Last Leaf 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

"The Very Last Leaf "by Stef Wade stars Lance Cottonwood who is passing his courses with flying colors- classes such as Budding, Wind Resistance, Photosynthesis, and Pigment Changing. As fall approaches, Lance the leaf becomes fearful of his final exam in Falling. What if he lands on a windshield? What if he falls on dog ‘business’? These worries build up and make Lance want to stay in the branches like Evergreen trees. Once talking with his teacher, Lance gets the nerve to fall! He meets his classmates on the forest ground and they celebrate passing their final exam. More importantly, Lance learns to conquer his fears and trust himself.

 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.

  1. Encourage students to use their summarizing and retelling strategies.
  2. Teach a lesson on making connections to enhance comprehension.
  3. Help students to analyze what the author’s purpose for writing the book might be.
  4. Have students practice their questioning skills as you read the book.
  5. Discuss the use of personification in this story.
  6. Explore exclamation points and why writers use them.
  7. Teach students about the importance of having a growth mindset using examples from the book.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES

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.

SEE MORE RECOMMENDED BOOKS

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!

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