How to Introduce Close Reading Activities

Close reading activities can help you introduce close reading skills in your 4th-8th grade classroom, and I have a great one to share with you! It’s easy and memorable. Most important, you can refer back to the experience to help your students understand what they do during a close read.

Since I teach social studies along with ELA, I have an easy target for close reading content. You can use most any passage, but it’s important to keep it short at the beginning and set a purpose. I’ve researched the best strategies to use. 

Use an engaging close reading activity they’ll remember

First, I did a lesson on the difference between Close Reading and reading without making a connection to the text. It was the good old Oreo lesson you see floating around Pinterest. Here’s our Anchor Chart comparing the quick gobble of an Oreo (first read) to the descriptions after savoring the Oreo (second, third read…note our categories).

I used Mini-Oreos. Each student received two for each round. The first round, kids ate them quickly and without much thought. I passed them around while we were working on something. I mentioned that we’re moving quickly here, so munch your treat as quickly as possible so we can move on.  THEY WERE SOOOO HAPPY!

Have fun with these close reading activities

Next, I asked the class to describe what they just ate. “Oreos” was the general response. I wrote it on our chart.

I then passed around another two Oreos, but this time I told them they couldn’t touch until I gave the okay. I had them close their eyes and use their fingers to experience the Oreo. As they did so, I wrote their comments on our chart. Next, we visually analyzed the Oreo. Kids noted the letters on it, the designs, and the contrasting colors; I recorded their comments.

Smell was our next observation. Kids were over-enthusiastic here, but it was pretty funny. They took the smelling SERIOUSLY!  We noted our observations, including the chocolate dust up the nose.

Finally, we got to the taste component. My rule was that the Oreo had to stay in the mouth for a minute before biting into it. I even had them close their eyes to really focus on the taste.

Then, when they couldn’t take it any longer, they were given the okay to chew it. We recorded all our observations.

We compared both experiences of eating an Oreo. Obviously, the one where we slowed down and really investigated was far more satisfying. My favorite observation was

It’s like a chocolate blanket wrapped around my tongue!

Yummy!  Who doesn’t want a blanket of chocolate?!!! 

Some of my kiddos had done this same lesson in their fifth grade classrooms, but they didn’t care. What I like best about the Oreo lesson is that we have common language and an invaluable common experience to use as a reference.

Use your anchor chart as a reminder of their experience

When we do close reading activities, I put up our Oreo observation chart so students can see the difference between flying right through a reading passage and really experiencing it.

Close reading activities should include high-interest reading

One key element to finding success when you begin to teach Close Reading is to use high-interest material that students find intriguing. Keep it short, and model how to close read either with the first paragraph or another passage. I’ve created passages on the vampire bats, mummies, and Dracula. You can find them in my links below. These passages are meant for grades 6-8, but using one or two paragraphs from the passages would be perfect for an introduction to Close Reading for grade 5.

Check out this blog post on strategies for teaching close reading. Here’s my favorite Close Reading video with a fifth grade teacher describing how he teaches it. It’s WORTH a view!

I’ve developed a Close Reading Freebie for teachers who are wanting to learn more about Close Reading and how to implement and practice this essential skill in the 4th-8th grade classroom.

I’ve created engaging reading passages as part of these close reading units. Remember, to motivate students when you start teaching close reading, you want high-interest passages. 

What are your favorite close reading activities?

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Happy Close Reading!

Marcy