What is better than one read aloud? Three! Not only three read alouds, but three read alouds that are part of the same series. Like our Crankenstein Read Alouds!
The Crankenstein series by Samantha Berger is one of our favorites for early elementary readers. The original book is a great choice that can be used all year long. While the other two books in the series are great for Halloweend and Valentine’s Day.
If you’re not familiar with these children’s books, keep reading to learn more about each one. Already a fan of all three? Jump down to our Crankenstein Activities to get everything you need to teach these books in your classroom.
Crankenstein Summary
Summary of Trick or Treat Crankenstein
In addition to the first two Crankenstein books is the third in the series, Trick or Treat Crankenstein! A fitting addition for a story with a “monster.”
This fun book is a great choice for a read aloud throughout the month of October. Like the other two books, it focuses on the emotions of the main character. Moreover, how even small emotions can have a big impact on our days.
Ready to Teach Read Aloud Lesson Plans
Even though read alouds are one of the most fun types of lessons, they can take a lot of time to put together. Especially for a new book. This is why we have made read alouds a primary focus here at The Core Coaches!
All of our read alouds are ready-to-teach! Therefore, you can grab any new book that seems exciting (like Crankenstein) and know that you have a complete lesson plan ready to go.
Moreover, our read aloud lesson plans are not just for one day. All of our read alouds provide enough learning activities for 3-5 days! That is a whole week’s worth of reading activities!
In addition, every lesson plan created by The Core Coaches follows a similar format. Therefore, the more you use these read aloud activities in your classroom the easier it will be to teach them, and for your students to follow along.
Check out the format we follow in the next section to see how easy it is to use read alouds for any book, including any Crankenstein book!
Check out our Creepy Crayon Read Aloud here.
Crankenstein Activities
Whether you choose to read the original Crankenstein, one of the holiday themed books, or all three, The Core Coaches have you covered with activities!
Below is an overview of some of the types of activities included in our read aloud packets.
- Detailed Lesson Plan with Full Color Examples
- Text Dependent Questions and Answer Keys
- Character, Setting, Problem and Solution Graphic Organizer
- Point of View/ What Are They Thinking? Graphic Organizer
- Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer
- Writing pages
- Vocabulary cards and worksheets
- Quiz
- Retelling puppets
- Craftivity template
- Graphic organizers pre-loaded to Easel
The use of a consistent format makes it easy for you to plan your lessons. Moreover, it provides your students with a clear expectation of what to expect when it is read aloud time, and helps them succeed!
While we use a similar format in all of our read aloud packets, each one is tailored to every individual story. Are you ready to find out what’s included in all three Crankenstein read alouds? Keep reading!
Crankenstein Text Dependent Questions & Answer Key
Crankenstein, Crankenstein Valentine, and Trick or Treat Crankenstein read alouds all begin with text dependent questions. These questions are specific to each book and have all of the answers provided for you. Therefore, you can quickly check your students’ work.
Character Close-up Activity for Crankenstein
While you can use these three books independently, we encourage you to begin with the original title. The original Crankenstein book introduces students to the main character. Therefore, it helps them to better understand the other books.
To assist with understanding the main character, the read aloud that pairs with Crankenstein has a character close-up graphic organizer. In addition, the Crankenstein Valentine read aloud follows up with a Character’s Feelings graphic organizer activity.
Story Events and Key Ideas in Crankenstein
All three books have activities that help students dive deeper into the story by looking at story events, key ideas, and details. Each of these learning activities is supported by a graphic organizer.
In addition to text related activities, the original Crankenstein activity packet also includes a Text and Illustration Connection Graphic Organizer. This is one of our favorite activities to help students explore analyzing visual texts.
Compare and Contrast Crankenstein Lesson
Another reason we encourage teaching the original Crankenstein first is so that you can include the compare and contrast activity as part of your lesson. Compare and contrast is an important reading strategy and these books are perfect for teaching this concept!
In the A Crankenstein Valentine read aloud you will find a ready to go compare and contrast reading activity. STudents will use the guided reading questions to compare and contrast Crankenstein with A Crankenstein Valentine.
Writing Activities for Crankenstein
As a teacher you know that part of creating good readers is giving students time to write! Therefore, all of our Crankenstein read alouds include writing in response to text pages.
- I Feel Cranky When…Writing in Response to Text Page for Crankenstein
- Things that Make Me Say Yechhh Writing activity for A Crankenstein Valentine
- Poem Writing for A Crankenstein Valentine
Crankenstein Read Aloud Worksheets & Quiz
In addition to the reading comprehension activities, each read aloud packet includes easy to use worksheets for vocabulary. These can be used in a traditional printed version or as part of digital activity.
All three Crankenstein read alouds also include a final quiz. A quick and easy way for you and your students to see what they learned!
Crankenstein Read Alouds Craftivity
While text focused questions and writing are essential for helping students learn, there is also room for a bit of creativity! Therefore, all of our read aloud packets include at least one craftivity.
These craftivities are connected to the text and a great activity to wrap up your study of the book. Moreover, they provide students with a visual representation of their learning to take home and share with their families.
STEM Activity for Crankenstein
In addition to the traditional read aloud activities above, the original Crankenstein read aloud includes a BONUS! A STEM activity!
While STEM learning activities are often only associated with science, technology, engineering, and math, reading and writing are also part of this process! Therefore, we have several STEM read aloud activities available for elementary students.
Including a STEM activity with a read aloud not only further develops reading skills, but helps students make connections between all learning disciplines early on.
Just like all of the read alouds follow a similar structure, so do all of the STEM activities! Once again, making it easy for students to know what to expect and for teachers to plan their lessons.
In the Crankenstein STEM activity, students follow the engineering design process to build a structure to keep Crankenstein’s popsicle from melting in the sun.
Read Aloud Bundle for Crankenstein
While each of these read alouds is easy to use on its own, they are even better together! Therefore, you can buy all three in one bundle.
Not only does this bundle save you money, but it saves you time! Crankenstein is perfect for beginning the school year and using it to teach students about their emotions. Moreover, it is the perfect book to engage students early in the year while you are teaching them about procedures for read aloud time.
Once you have read Crankenstein with your students, read Trick or Treat Crankenstein in October. This book is perfect to pair with other fall themed activities.
After the holiday season, students will love returning to this series in February for A Crankenstein Valentine!
