Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources for Bridge to Terabithia

Use Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson to turn your read aloud or small group work into a time to improve comprehension and talk about the text in purposeful ways.

This Newbery Medal-winning novel tells the story of two unlikely friends; Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke. The pair becomes inseparable and turns Jess's love of drawing and Leslie's imagination into Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods. When the unthinkable happens, Jess will need all of the gifts Leslie has given him to handle his grief. A modern classic about friendship and loss, this novel is an ideal anchor text for a Book Club focused on character analysis. Readers will quickly connect to Jess and Leslie's friendship and the great impact her loss has on Jess's character. Read the book of Bridge to Terabithia on Epic here.

Explore lesson plans and activities to help you teach with Bridge to Terabithia in the drop down below.

Instructional Overview

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Instructional Overview

The instructional overview includes instructional background for characterization, instructional objectives for each of the Book Club meetings, and a list of the materials and preparation necessary to Bridge to Terabithia Book Club.

Management Resources

The first page of Book Club for Bridge to Terabithia Management Resources

Management Resources

The management resources include a Book Club Calendar, conversation prompts, Student Self-Evaluation forms, Reading Response Board (with optional Common Core alignment), and an Expectations for Book Club anchor chart.

Meeting 1

Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia is perfect for a Book Club focused on characterization. Discussion in this opening meeting focuses on how the author develops each character and how to cite the text.

Meeting 2

In Bridge to Terabithia, author Katherine Paterson included two main characters; Jess and Leslie. Students will continue their work from the first meeting; noting the character development of Leslie.

Meeting 3

This Bridge to Terabithia Book Club focuses on identifying character traits from the information the students have been gathering on their Character Analysis Charts for Jess and Leslie.

Meeting 4

While reading Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, students will notice the main character changes throughout the novel. Students will discover that characters often change when they face difficulty, develop relationships, or discover something new about themselves.

Meeting 5

Author Katherine Paterson uses dialogue in Bridge to Terabithia to develop her characters. Drawing student attention to conversations between Jess and Leslie is one way for them to learn important differences between the characters.

Meeting 6

For this final Book Club meeting for Bridge to Terabithia, students will use a Venn Diagram to organize their thoughts about the similarities and differences of Jess and Leslie. This information will then be used to write a summary statement that demonstrates their learning about characters.

Vocabulary Connections with Bridge to Terabithia

The first page of Vocabulary Connections with Bridge to Terabithia

Vocabulary Connections with Bridge to Terabithia

This set of vocabulary development resources for Bridge to Terabithia highlights the words that are most important for students to know and understand while reading the book.  Through engaging in fun word games, matching words to definitions, and practicing how to categorize words, students will develop the vocabulary necessary to comprehend this story and many others.

Common Core State Standards Alignment
TEKS Alignment

Focus Assessment and Rubric

The first page of Book Club for Bridge to Terabithia Focus Assessment and Rubric

Focus Assessment and Rubric

Use this six-question assessment to determine whether or not students understand the key concepts associated with character description.

Comprehension Assessment with Bridge to Terabithia

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Comprehension Assessment with Bridge to Terabithia

This 9 question Common Core aligned assessment can be used to determine students' overall comprehension of Bridge to Terabithia and their mastery of the Common Core State Standards.
Common Core State Standards Alignment
TEKS Alignment

Running Record with Bridge to Terabithia

Thumbnail for Running Record with Bridge to Terabithia

Running Record with Bridge to Terabithia

Use this Running Record to assess oral reading fluency with Bridge to Terabithia. Track meaning, structure, and visual accuracy using the first 100 words of the text to determine whether or not this book is a good fit for the readers in your classroom.

Common Core State Standards Alignment
TEKS Alignment

Management Resources - Spanish

The first page of Book Club for Bridge to Terabithia Management Resources

Management Resources - Spanish

The management resources include a Book Club Calendar, conversation prompts, Student Self-Evaluation forms, Reading Response Board (with optional Common Core alignment), and an Expectations for Book Club anchor chart.

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About the Book

The cover for the book Bridge to Terabithia
Title: Bridge to Terabithia
Author: Katherine Paterson
Genre: Fantasy
Themes: Adventure, Decision Making, Relationship Skills, Self Awareness, Family, Self Management, Social Awareness, Friendship, Award Winners
ISBN: 9780061975165
Publisher's Summary:
Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. And he almost is, until the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, outpaces him. The two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind Leslie's house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief.
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