Curated OER
Language Arts: Creative Reading, Predicting and Writing
In this predictions worksheet, 5th graders guess what Jumanji and will be about after reading only the first line. Students write and illustrate their own short story based on the first line of Jumanji .
Curated OER
Author Study (Chris Van Allsburg)
Third graders study a list of books written and illustrated by the author. They examine facts about the author's life. They take a survey of Allsburg's books read by the students using the Excel spreadsheet.
Curated OER
Author Study: Chris Van Allsburg
This short presentation provides an overview of the types of things students will learn about as they conduct an Author Study. The focus of this PowerPoint is author Chris Van Allsburg, but you could replace him with any author your...
Curated OER
The Polar Express
Learners read The Polar Express.They prepare a painting on KidPix that shows what they predict The Polar Express will be about. They show their paintings and tell what they feel the story is about and discuss why it is important to...
![Dr. Chase Young, Ph D: Reader's Theater Script: The Polar Express [Pdf] Activity](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Dr. Chase Young, Ph D: Reader's Theater Script: The Polar Express [Pdf] Activity")
Chase Young, PhD
Dr. Chase Young, Ph D: Reader's Theater Script: The Polar Express [Pdf]
A reader's theater script for Chris Van Allsburg's illustrated children's book, The Polar Express, is provided on these pages. Eight narrators are needed in this activity.
Books in the Classroom
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Jumanji
This site on the book "Jumanji" by Chris Van Allsburg, includes a review of the book, a listing of things to notice and talk about, activities related to the book, other related books, and links to other resources.
Other
Chris Van Allsburg
This is the official website for the children's author, Chris Van Allsburg. Includes a biography, interviews, timeline, and many interactive activities. Click on one of his works to take a sneak peek at the book. Winner of the Caldecott...
The Book Report
Kids reads.com: Authors
Click on the children's author link to view an article with biographical information, book titles, and the like.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Chris Van Allsburg Lesson Plans
Explore the informative links found within this site to gain an insight into the life and work of Chris Van Allsburg. This site provides lesson plans, teaching ideas and activities for several of his works.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Houghton Mifflin: The Garden of Abdul Gasazi
Explore this informative teachers' guide for the book, "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi," by Chris Van Allsburg. Students and teachers will enjoy this comprehensive source.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Houghton Mifflin Books: Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg
This comprehensive teacher's guide for the book "Zathura" by Chris Van Allsburg provides us with an opportunity to examine how writers blend scientific information with a fictional story.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Houghton Mifflin: Teacher's Guide to "The Polar Express" [Pdf]
This teachers' guide for "The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg has lessons designed for both early elementary and intermediate students. It includes working with a timeline and learning about similes and metaphors. (In PDF format.)
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Teaching Point of View With Two Bad Ants
Contains plans for two lessons that teach point of view using the book "Two Bad Ants" by Chris Van Allsburg and titles from the from the "Look Once, Look Again" series by David M. Schwartz. In addition to objectives and standards, this...
Read Works
Urban Education: Exchange: Read Works: 3rd Grade Lesson: Fantasy
[Free Registration/Login Required] A lesson in which students use the book Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg and fantasy texts from the classroom library to learn about the characteristics that define fantasy. Lesson includes direct...
Read Works
Read Works: Predicting 2nd Grade Unit
[Free Registration/Login Required] A series of three lesson plans designed to teach students to use textual clues and prior knowledge to make predictions and revise incorrect predictions. Lessons are based on the books The Stories Huey...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Chris Van Allsburg: Houghton Mifflin Books
Provides a brief biography, a bibliography with synopses, the text of his two Caldecott Medal acceptance speeches, and three audio samples of Vans Allsburg's works.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Writing Activity: Harris Burdick Stories
After reading The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, by Chris Van Allsburg, students create their own stories about the pictures. By navigating the Internet, students learn more about the writing process to help them create their stories.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Jet, Set, Go! Travel Google Earth in Ben's Dream
This lesson uses the picture book by Chris Van Allsburg Ben's Dream with Google Earth to highlight ten major landmarks of the world. After reading and discussing Ben's Dream, learners "travel" to each location using the free software...
TES Global
Blendspace: Author Study Chris Van Allsburg
A learning module with eleven links to information, websites, pictures, and videos about award-winning author Chris Van Allsburg.
Books in the Classroom
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Widow's Broom
Review of the book The Widow's Broom and a link to another website for which this book goes well.
Curated OER
Chris Van Allsburg
Chris Van Allsburg explains how he became an illustrator and writer of picture books. Included is a slide show of illustrations from his books.