Teacher Page
This page serves as a resource for teachers. For each activity, you will see descriptions and rationales. In addition, I have provided the Common Core Standards for 3rd grade and the Levels of Bloom's Taxonomy that apply. Feel free to use these activities with your students and adapt them to fit your needs!
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/9/0/11901085/337849.jpg?172)
Writing Activity #1
Students will write a newspaper article about themselves. They must reflect about the story and how they can relate to Liam's selfless actions and caring attitude. They will write the article including who or what they cared for, the character traits that they used, and how the experience affected them. They must write in appropriate newspaper article format and draw at least one picture that relates to the student.
This activity allows students to show their knowledge of the story. By connecting this to their personal experiences, they are better able to think about the character, Liam. The students must also show their abilities to write in a sequential order, just as a newspaper article would be. They must clearly describe who the story is about, what took place, and how the person was feeling. They must also end the article with a sense of closure in order to tie the whole article together. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3.b
Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3.d
Provide a sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5.b
Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., describe people who are friendly or helpful).
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will describe an experience that they've had in relation to the story, The Curious Garden.
The students will relate their personal experience to the experience of the main character, Liam.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will create a newspaper article including text and images.
The students will write a newspaper article using correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.
Students will write a newspaper article about themselves. They must reflect about the story and how they can relate to Liam's selfless actions and caring attitude. They will write the article including who or what they cared for, the character traits that they used, and how the experience affected them. They must write in appropriate newspaper article format and draw at least one picture that relates to the student.
This activity allows students to show their knowledge of the story. By connecting this to their personal experiences, they are better able to think about the character, Liam. The students must also show their abilities to write in a sequential order, just as a newspaper article would be. They must clearly describe who the story is about, what took place, and how the person was feeling. They must also end the article with a sense of closure in order to tie the whole article together. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3.b
Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3.d
Provide a sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5.b
Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., describe people who are friendly or helpful).
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will describe an experience that they've had in relation to the story, The Curious Garden.
The students will relate their personal experience to the experience of the main character, Liam.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will create a newspaper article including text and images.
The students will write a newspaper article using correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/9/0/11901085/442775.jpg?172)
Writing Activity #2
Students will write a letter to the mayor of the city where The Curious Garden is set. The students will incorporate their knowledge about keeping the Earth healthy and taking care of the environment. They will also compare the first and last pictures of the book and describe changes that they see. The students will use vivid descriptions of the images and changes. They will also use the correct format and style for writing a letter.
This activity allows students to share their knowledge from science and language arts. For science, the students will use what they know about protecting the environment to justify why the curious garden is good for the city. The students will also show their knowledge about language arts. They will explain a topic and give further information such as facts and details to support their statements. In addition, the students will use and show their skills to write a letter to a given audience in an appropriate way. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2.a
Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2.b
Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2.d
Provide a concluding statement or section.
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will compare the first and last pictures in the book The Curious Garden.
The students will justify how the growing garden has benefited the city.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will write a letter to the mayor of the city where The Curious Garden is set.
Level 4- Analysis: The students will compare two pictures to determine the changes that have occurred in the city.
The students will identify differences between the two pictures.
Students will write a letter to the mayor of the city where The Curious Garden is set. The students will incorporate their knowledge about keeping the Earth healthy and taking care of the environment. They will also compare the first and last pictures of the book and describe changes that they see. The students will use vivid descriptions of the images and changes. They will also use the correct format and style for writing a letter.
This activity allows students to share their knowledge from science and language arts. For science, the students will use what they know about protecting the environment to justify why the curious garden is good for the city. The students will also show their knowledge about language arts. They will explain a topic and give further information such as facts and details to support their statements. In addition, the students will use and show their skills to write a letter to a given audience in an appropriate way. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2.a
Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2.b
Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2.d
Provide a concluding statement or section.
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will compare the first and last pictures in the book The Curious Garden.
The students will justify how the growing garden has benefited the city.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will write a letter to the mayor of the city where The Curious Garden is set.
Level 4- Analysis: The students will compare two pictures to determine the changes that have occurred in the city.
The students will identify differences between the two pictures.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/9/0/11901085/1398358343.jpg)
Writing Activity #3
Students will spend some time in their neighborhood or community to observe new or interesting things. The students should think about how Liam explored his community to find the struggling plants that became the curious garden. The students will write down all of their observations in a bulleted list.
This activity will help students to build a list of writing topics or starters. Spending time in their community can also broaden their views of the world they live in. They must use their skills to write lists and focus on the main idea when writing their list. The students should also use descriptive and vivid words when describing what they observed. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2.b
Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will describe details of their observations.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will write their observations of their community.
Level 4- Analysis: They students will identify new and interesting parts of their community by observing and exploring.
Students will spend some time in their neighborhood or community to observe new or interesting things. The students should think about how Liam explored his community to find the struggling plants that became the curious garden. The students will write down all of their observations in a bulleted list.
This activity will help students to build a list of writing topics or starters. Spending time in their community can also broaden their views of the world they live in. They must use their skills to write lists and focus on the main idea when writing their list. The students should also use descriptive and vivid words when describing what they observed. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2.b
Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will describe details of their observations.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will write their observations of their community.
Level 4- Analysis: They students will identify new and interesting parts of their community by observing and exploring.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/9/0/11901085/5558757.jpg?180)
Word Choice Activity
Students will be viewing the final picture of the book The Curious Garden. They will need to use vivid describing words just as the author does to describe the city before the garden grows. Students should write as if they were describing the picture to someone who could not see it. The students will write a paragraph that is at least 5 sentences long.
This activity allows students to use their vivid describing words. Students will need to consider the audience that they are writing for in order to build a clear picture of the city. They should also refer to the words that the author uses to gain a better idea of what is expected. This activity will build their describing skills and their abilities to create a mental picture through the use of words. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3.b
Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations.
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will describe what the final picture looks like after the garden has grown all around the city.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will write a paragraph about the picture in the book The Curious Garden.
Students will be viewing the final picture of the book The Curious Garden. They will need to use vivid describing words just as the author does to describe the city before the garden grows. Students should write as if they were describing the picture to someone who could not see it. The students will write a paragraph that is at least 5 sentences long.
This activity allows students to use their vivid describing words. Students will need to consider the audience that they are writing for in order to build a clear picture of the city. They should also refer to the words that the author uses to gain a better idea of what is expected. This activity will build their describing skills and their abilities to create a mental picture through the use of words. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3.b
Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations.
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will describe what the final picture looks like after the garden has grown all around the city.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will write a paragraph about the picture in the book The Curious Garden.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/9/0/11901085/9477762.jpg?177)
Voice Activity
Students will write the story from another person's point of view. The students should think about how Liam's mother or father may react when they find out Liam is responsible for growing the curious garden. They should write in the same timeline as the book, but from the other person's perspective.
This activity helps the students to take the same story and imagine how another character may view the story. They must think about how someone else in the same community might view the changes to the city as the curious garden grows. Students will need to use the same kind of descriptive language as the author. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3
Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.6
Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters.
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will interpret the story The Curious Garden from a different character's point of view.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will rewrite the story from another character's view point.
Students will write the story from another person's point of view. The students should think about how Liam's mother or father may react when they find out Liam is responsible for growing the curious garden. They should write in the same timeline as the book, but from the other person's perspective.
This activity helps the students to take the same story and imagine how another character may view the story. They must think about how someone else in the same community might view the changes to the city as the curious garden grows. Students will need to use the same kind of descriptive language as the author. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3
Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.6
Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters.
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will interpret the story The Curious Garden from a different character's point of view.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will rewrite the story from another character's view point.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/9/0/11901085/1398358757.jpg)
Grammar Activity
Students will read a given passage from the book The Curious Garden. They will use a table categorized with nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives to sort the words from the passage. After they have done this, the students will write at least four original sentences using those words. They can use as many words as they want, but they must use at least one word from each of the four columns.
This activity allows students to utilize grammar concepts when writing. The students must have prior knowledge of the parts of speech in order to sort the words and use them appropriately. They can also use their knowledge of the meaning of the words in the passage in order to write original sentences. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1.a
Explain the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in general and their functions in particular sentences.
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will write at least four sentences that use words from the given parts of speech.
The students will categorize words into the given parts of speech.
Level 4- Analysis: The students will identify the nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives in a given passage.
Required Materials:
Students will read a given passage from the book The Curious Garden. They will use a table categorized with nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives to sort the words from the passage. After they have done this, the students will write at least four original sentences using those words. They can use as many words as they want, but they must use at least one word from each of the four columns.
This activity allows students to utilize grammar concepts when writing. The students must have prior knowledge of the parts of speech in order to sort the words and use them appropriately. They can also use their knowledge of the meaning of the words in the passage in order to write original sentences. As expected for all writing activities, the students must use writing conventions correctly and appropriately.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1.a
Explain the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in general and their functions in particular sentences.
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will write at least four sentences that use words from the given parts of speech.
The students will categorize words into the given parts of speech.
Level 4- Analysis: The students will identify the nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives in a given passage.
Required Materials:
- Given passage from The Curious Garden
"Liam ran up the stairs, pushed open the door, and stepped out onto the railway. The first thing he saw was a lonely patch of color. Wildflowers and plants were the last things he had expected to find up there. But when he took a closer loo, it became clear that the plants were dying. They needed a gardener." - Table with the four parts of speech: Nouns, Verbs, Adverbs, and Adjectives
- Word cards including:
Liam, ran, stairs, pushed, door, stepped, railway, thing, saw, lonely, patch, color, wildflowers, plants, were, expected, find, took, closer, look, clear, dying, needed, gardener - Lined paper
- Pencils
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/9/0/11901085/1398358841.jpg)
Create Your Own Garden Poem
Students will create an acrostic garden poem. They will use a word from the book The Curious Garden or another word that relates to gardens in some way. Each letter of the word will be written vertically. Then, the students will write words or phrases that begin with those letters and relate to the main word.
This activity allows the students to show their knowledge of poetry. They must have previous knowledge of the book and/or gardens in order to write words and phrases that relate to the topic. They must also understand acrostic poems and how to create one. This will help students to build their practice in writing poems and using creative language.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5.b
Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., describe people who are friendly or helpful).
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will describe the main chosen word by using related words and phrases.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will create an acrostic poem about The Curious Garden.
Level 4- Analysis: The students will relate the words and phrases to the main word in the acrostic poem.
Students will create an acrostic garden poem. They will use a word from the book The Curious Garden or another word that relates to gardens in some way. Each letter of the word will be written vertically. Then, the students will write words or phrases that begin with those letters and relate to the main word.
This activity allows the students to show their knowledge of poetry. They must have previous knowledge of the book and/or gardens in order to write words and phrases that relate to the topic. They must also understand acrostic poems and how to create one. This will help students to build their practice in writing poems and using creative language.
3rd Grade Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5.b
Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., describe people who are friendly or helpful).
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels:
Level 6- Evaluation: The students will describe the main chosen word by using related words and phrases.
Level 5- Synthesis: The students will create an acrostic poem about The Curious Garden.
Level 4- Analysis: The students will relate the words and phrases to the main word in the acrostic poem.