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by Jane Oh
Topics: Fifth Grade, Reading, Writing
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  • Give a speech as if you were a character. Monologues give your child the opportunity to imagine what a character might say in any given situation, and are a great opportunity to experiment with humor and drama!
  • Put on a play. Staging literature with physical characters can bring it to life like nothing else. Shakespeare, anyone?
  • Make puppets and put on a puppet show. This activity puts arts and crafts, acting, set design, and more into play, and gives your child a taste of the dramatic power behind every work of literature.

Discussion

  • Child-led book talk. It's the simplest way to get your child's response to what he's reading, and sometimes, the best. Sitting down with your child to talk about a book or hash out themes and characters together not only helps him give words to his thoughts, it can also lead to important conversations about his life, friends, family, and anything that might come up in conversation. Plus, this activity doubles as good old-fashioned quality time!
  • Book club meetings with peers. Setting up a book club, or even getting friends together for an informal chat about what they're reading, can help your child communicate her ideas in a stress-free environment, and can also give her fresh perspectives into the book.