READING ACTIVITIES

(Second Grade)

NO ONE TOLD THE AARDVARK

by Deborah Eaton and Susan Halter

Activity 1: Why did the authors write this story?

Activity 2: Sometimes I think it would be more fun to be an animal..." What animal would you like to be? Support your answer.

Activity 3: Tell why it is important to follow a crossing guard's direction.

Activity 4: What is your favorite dessert? Write your recipe for the dessert-no fair asking Mom or Dad?

Activity 5: (to be done with an adult) This story is fiction. The authors, however, have included at the end of the story information about each animal shown in the story. Talk about how the animals are alike and different.

Activity 6: Write a fiction story about one of the animals you read about in Activity Five.

GREAT AUNT ARIZONA

by Gloria Houston

Activity 1: What does a person do if they're in the cavalry?

Activity 2: List the ways you could go to far-away places.

Activity 3: Locate a far-away place you would like to visit. What continent is it on (or closest to)?

Activity 4: Great Aunt Arizona never actually went to the faraway places she taught her students about. Write about the most faraway place you've actually been to.

Activity 5: Make a chart comparing school back in the days when Great Aunt Arizona went to school and what school is like today.

THE SECRET BIRTHDAY MESSAGE

by Eric Carle

Activity 1: Why was the message written?

Activity 2: Which page (drawing) do you like best? Tell why.

Activity 3: Tim's birthday gift was a dog. What would you have like to get as a birthday gift?

Activity 4: Draw the birthday gift (from Activity 3) on a piece of paper. Make the object large like the dog in the story. Now take another piece of paper and cover it with a picture or design. Give a hint of what your birthday gift will be. Draw and cut out a square somewhere on the second paper. Staple the two pieces of paper together.

Activity 5: Pretend you are Tim. Write a thank you letter to Eric Carle for your puppy.

Activity 6: Write a secret message to someone in your family.

TONY'S BREAD

by Tomie dePaola

Activity 1: Make a list of ingredients you would need to make bread.

Activity 2: Angelo's stationary (paper people use to write letters on) had a design using the first letter of his first name. Create a design you would use on your stationary. Use the first letter of you first name.

Activity 3: You were invited to Angelo and Serafin's wedding. Write a letter on you stationary to your teacher describing their wedding. Make the stationary by putting the design you created on a piece of colored paper.

Activity 4: You are a cook. Write a story with you as the main character. Instead of the title, "Tony's Bread", name it" (YOUR NAME's) (NAME OF THE FOOD YOU LIKE TO COOK).

Activity 5: Use an encyclopedia/atlas to find Milan, Italy. On what continent is Italy?

Activity Six: (to be done with an adult) The note from the author tells that PANETTEONE is sent to the United States every Christmas. Ask an adult to tell what special food they enjoy every Christmas.

WHEN I GO CAMPING WITH GRANDMA

by Marion Dane Bauer

Activity 1: Grandma asked her grand-daughter if she wanted fish for breakfast. Why did she tell grandma that she liked pancakes?

Activity 2: You are going camping. Make a list of the equipment you would need.

Activity 3: Write about a special time you had with your Grandmother (Grandfather or Mom or Dad).

Activity 4: (to be done with an adult) Spend some time with your Grandmother (Grandfather or older neighbor). Talk with them about what they did for fun when they were young. Compare that with what you do for fun.

NOTE: These activities were made for what I called READING PACKETS.

CONTENTS of READING PACKET

-Paper listing the activities for the story.

-Any materials needed for activities.

-Plastic bag made to hold books.

SIGNING out PACKETS

-Give each child an index card with their name at the top.

-The child writes the date they take out the packet, the name of the story.

-The child writes the date they bring the packet back.

OTHER INFORMATION

-Reading packets can be worked on at school or at home.

-All student papers are returned in the packet for the teacher to review.

-The student's work is read to the class and/or displayed in the room.

Feel free to use these activities as they are or use them as a "starting point" for your own reading activity. Please email me if you have used any activities. Thanks!

ALSO AVAILABLE:

FIRST GRADE READING ACTIVITIES

THIRD GRADE READING ACTIVITIES

Other Reading Activities on the Web

Curious George Lesson: From ACCESS Indiana Teaching Lessons Archive

CyberGuides: Activities for children's books by grade level

Doucette Index: Ideas for books for K-12

Gingerbread Man Activities: From Kindergarten Connection

Gingerbread Man Ideas: Includes links to other sites

The Mitten: Activities for the Jan Brett story

SCORE CyberGuides: Teacher guides and student activities on children's literature

Authors of Children's Books