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Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources for The One and Only Ivan

The cover for The One and Only Ivan Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources

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Use The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate to turn your read aloud or small group work into a time to improve comprehension and talk about the text in purposeful ways.

Katherine Applegate's best-selling novel, The One and Only Ivan, celebrates the power of unexpected friendship. Inspired by the true story of a silverback gorilla who lived in a circus-themed mall in Washington state, this captivating story promises to be a favorite year after year. Through engaging students in deep conversations about character word choice and actions, readers will have the opportunity to explore the universal themes that make Ivan's story so memorable.

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Explore lesson plans and activities to help you teach with The One and Only Ivan in the drop down below.

Instructional Overview

The instructional overview includes instructional background for determining theme, instructional objectives for each of the Book Club meetings, and a list of the materials and preparation necessary to the The One and Only Ivan Book Club.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

RL.4.7RL.4.6RL.4.5RL.4.4RL.4.3RL.4.2RL.4.1RL.4.9W.4.9L.4.6L.4.5cL.4.4aW.4.8SL.4.1cSL.4.1bSL.4.1aRL.4.10

TEKS Alignment

4.7F4.9D(i)4.9B4.9A4.8D4.8C4.8B4.8A4.7G4.9D(ii)4.7E4.7D4.7C4.7B4.7A4.6I4.6H4.6G4.10D4.13H4.13E4.13C4.13A4.10G4.10F4.10E4.6F4.10C4.10B4.10A4.9F4.9E(iii)4.9E(ii)4.9E(i)4.9D(iii)4.6E4.6D4.6C4.6B4.6A4.1D4.1C4.1A

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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.

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Meeting 1

Examining the main character's actions, dialogue, feelings, and experiences in The One and Only Ivan will help lead the reader to discovering the theme that author Katherine Applegate presented in this novel.

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Meeting 2

Using details from the text to support their summarization of the main idea is a critical skill for readers. During this The One and Only Ivan Book Club, students will develop this skill as it relates to tracking the main character.

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Meeting 3

This Book Club meeting for The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate dives deep into examining the main character's words and actions to discover the theme of the text. Students will continue to track important ideas and supporting details using a graphic organizer.

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Meeting 4

Students will work together to brainstorm possible themes for Katherine Applegate's The One and Only Ivan. By looking for connections between all of the students' ideas, the central message of the text will emerge.

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Meeting 5

Building on the theme work from the last The One and Only Ivan Book Club, students will take their thinking further by exploring universal themes for this text.

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Vocabulary Connections with The One and Only Ivan

This set of vocabulary development resources for The One and Only Ivan 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

L.4.4a,L.4.5c,L.4.6

TEKS Alignment

4.7E,4.7F,4.3A,4.3B

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Focus Assessment and Rubric

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

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Comprehension Assessment with The One and Only Ivan

This 9 question Common Core aligned assessment can be used to determine students' overall comprehension of The One and Only Ivan and their mastery of the Common Core State Standards.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

TEKS Alignment

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Running Record with The One and Only Ivan

Use this Running Record to assess oral reading fluency with The One and Only Ivan. 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

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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 The One and Only Ivan

Title: The One and Only Ivan

Author: Katherine Applegate

Genre: Fantasy

Themes: Friendship, Award Winners

ISBN: 9780061992254

Publisher's Summary:

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate introduces readers to Ivan, a gentle silverback gorilla who has spent years living in a glass enclosure at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Ivan's world is small but filled with memorable companions, including Stella, a wise old elephant with an injured foot, and Bob, a spirited stray dog. Ivan is not only an observer of the world around him but also an artist, creating drawings that are sold to mall visitors. Though content in his daily routines, Ivan's life changes dramatically when a young elephant named Ruby arrives. Stella entrusts Ivan with a promise to care for Ruby and help her find a better life.

The arrival of Ruby awakens new feelings in Ivan, prompting him to reflect on his own past, his memories of the wild, and the meaning of freedom. With the help of Julia, the mall's janitor's compassionate daughter, Ivan uses his artistic talents to advocate for change, highlighting the plight of animals in captivity. Through Ivan's unique perspective, the story explores themes of friendship, empathy, and the transformative power of hope and creativity. The One and Only Ivan is a moving, accessible narrative that encourages students to consider the ethical treatment of animals and the importance of compassion. Applegate's novel is ideal for classroom discussion, offering opportunities to explore topics such as animal welfare, advocacy, and the impact of art as a form of communication and change.

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Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources for The One and Only Ivan