Reading is an essential skill for academic success and personal growth. Pre-reading activities are designed to prepare readers for the reading experience by introducing them to the text’s themes, vocabulary, and structure. Pre-reading activities help readers to become active readers, making meaning as they read.
Here are twenty fantastic pre-reading activities that teachers, parents, and librarians can use to support readers of all ages:
1. K-W-L Chart: This chart helps readers to organize their prior knowledge about a topic, generate questions about it, and identify what they learned after reading.
2. Pre-Reading Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt using questions that require readers to locate information in the text ahead of time.
3. Anticipation Guide: This guide asks readers to agree or disagree with a series of statements related to the text’s themes or content.
4. Create a Word Wall: Create a word wall of vocabulary words related to the text to help readers develop an understanding of new vocabulary.
5. Picture Walk: Use illustrations to preview the text’s content and structure.
6. Thought Bubble Writing: Before reading, ask readers to write their thoughts and questions in bubbles around the text.
7. Character Sketching: Create a worksheet for readers to sketch and describe the characters in the text.
8. Text-to-World Connections: Ask readers to make connections between the text and their own experiences.
9. Summarizing: Ask readers to write a summary of what they think the text will be about based on title, subtitle, and pictures.
10. Mind Mapping: Use visual aids to help readers understand the text’s themes, characters, and concepts.
11. Roundtable Discussion: Conduct a discussion focused on the text’s themes and content.
12. Small Group Reading: Conduct small-group reading sessions where readers can share their thoughts and opinions.
13. Picture Sorts: Sort pictures from the text into categories to help readers understand the book’s structure.
14. Story Mapping: Map out the story’s conflict and resolution to help readers better understand its themes and structure.
15. Predict-O-Gram: Predict the outcome of the story by filling in a graphic organizer.
16. Read-Alouds: Conduct read-alouds that introduce readers to new vocabulary words and structure.
17. Vocabulary Charades: Act out vocabulary words related to the text to help readers understand them in context.
18. Journaling: Ask readers to keep a reading journal to track their thoughts, questions, and understanding of the text.
19. ‘Who Am I?’ Quiz: Create a quiz where readers have to guess which character from the text you are describing.
20. ‘What’s Your Color?’ Quiz: Assign different colors to different parts of the text and have readers select which color they associate with each part.
In conclusion, these twenty fantastic pre-reading activities help readers to become active and engaged learners, setting them up for success in their reading journeys. By incorporating these activities in the classroom or at home, readers will develop a deeper understanding of the text and be able to make meaningful connections to their own lives.
