Just a Dream

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    Just a Dream is a picture book about a boy named Walter who has a dream that takes him on an unforgettable adventure. The dream shows Walter what will happen to Earth if people don’t start taking better care of it.

    This unit has been developed with activities and worksheets that are aligned with the Texas Essential Skills and Knowledge for easy curriculum integration. It includes a video where the story is told in American Sign Langauge by Russell Harvard to help Deaf and Hard of Hearing students make better connections with the story and text to increase their literacy skills.

Activities

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    Just A Dream - Articles Worksheet

    zJust A Dream - Articles Worksheet 

    Length of Activity: 25 minutes
    Directions: Edit the sentences to add the articles (a, an, the) to make the sentences correct.


     

    Character Change

    Just A Dream - Articles Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 20 minutes
    Directions: Use the organizer to show how Walter changed through the story, Just a Dream.


    Dictionary

    Just A Dream - Articles Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 25 minutes
    Directions: After reading the story Just a Dream, go through the book and select five words you are unfamiliar with.  Write those five words in the spaces below.  When you are done, use a dictionary to find the definition you feel best fits the word.  Then, write a sentence using your own words.


    Pre-reading Questions

    Just A Dream - prereading Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 15 minutes
    Directions: Before reading Just a Dream, answer the questions on the worksheet.


    Predictions

    Just A Dream - predictions Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 15 minutes
    Directions: The title of the book is Just a Dream.  Consider the title and the words and phrases below from the story and make 3 predictions.


    Questions

    Just A Dream - questions Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 20 minutes
    Directions: Answer the questions using information and thoughts from the story.


    Sensory

    Just A Dream - sensory Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 25 minutes
    Directions: Use the chart to represent the 5 senses.  During or after reading Just a Dream, categorize Chris Van Allsburg's sensory details.


     Subject-Verb Agreement

    Just A Dream - subject verb Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 15 minutes
    Directions: Edit the sentences below for correct subject/verb agreement.  If the sentence is correct, make a check mark.  If it is incorrect, make an X and edit the sentence.


    Summary

    Just A Dream - summary Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 20 minutes
    Directions: Summarize the story Just a Dream.  Your summary must include title and author, setting, important characters, problem, solution and all important events from the story.  


    Synonyms

    Just A Dream - synonyms Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 15 minutes
    Directions: Match the words in the box with their synonyms.  Use the sentences from the story Just a Dream to help determine the meaning of words.


     

    Text Connections

    Just A Dream - text connections Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 15 minutes
    Directions: Make a minimum of one text to text, text to self, and text to world connection from Just a Dream.  When finished share your connections with a partner.


     

    Theme and Purpose

    Just A Dream - theme and purpose Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 15 minutes
    Directions: Answer the questions on the worksheet related to the theme and purpose of the story, Just a Dream.


     

    Transition Words

    Just A Dream - transition words Worksheet
    Length of Activity: 15 minutes
    Directions: Using the list of transition words, add four of your own transition words to the list.  When you are done, 


    Writing

    just a dream writing worksheet
    Length of Activity: 25 minutes
    Directions: In the story Just a Dream, Walter had a dream that changed his perspective on the importance of taking care of our Earth.  Write a creative story about a dream you had that encouraged you to change the world for the better.