Lesson Plan Outline: Beyond the Stories - Finding Your Connection to Every Book

1. What will be taught?

This class will teach students how to connect personally with the books they read, making each story feel more meaningful and enjoyable. This will in turn help them become better citizens in their communities and future employment. 

2. Topics Covered

Types of Connections: Personal experiences, emotions, and thoughts that relate to events, characters, or settings in a story.
Identifying Relatable Moments: Recognizing parts of a story that resonate personally, such as challenges, feelings, or situations.
Expressing Connections: Sharing connections through simple storytelling or drawing.

3. Class Structure

Introduction (5 minutes): Brief discussion on what it means to “connect” with a story. Give an example, like how a character’s struggle might remind them of a similar experience.
Explore Connections (10 minutes): Read a short passage (from a well-loved children’s book) and guide students to think about how they relate to the character or situation.
Interactive Activity (10 minutes): Choose a connection type and invite students to share a time they felt similarly to the character or setting in the story. For example, “Has anyone ever felt brave like this character?”
Wrap-Up (5 minutes): Invite students to share their favorite connection or how they think about books differently now. Offer a simple prompt for connecting with their next book.

4. Teaching Style

Encouraging and Reflective: The focus is on open-ended questions and storytelling, helping students feel comfortable sharing personal connections in a safe environment.

5. Interaction with Students

Discussion: Students share their connections and reactions, with guidance to build understanding.
Activity: Create a visual or verbal “Connection Map” where each student adds their personal connection to a part of the story.
Feedback: Acknowledge each contribution and provide gentle guidance to help them think deeper about their connections.