Activity Overview
In this activity, students will be provided a question or prompt to answer using text evidence. Students need to identify three examples from the text that answer the question, and depict it in a storyboard.
The prompt here is, “Identify moments where a character takes a risk and explain how they benefit or lose from it.”
The three examples provided include:
- Jess standing up to Janice Avery on the bus. As a result, Jess and Leslie become best friends.
- Leslie uses a rope to cross the creek, which eventually is the cause of her death.
- Jess accepts Miss Edmunds offer to visit the Smithsonian. Jess enjoys the experience and avoids witnessing Leslie’s death, or falling to his own death.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that answers the prompt using at least three examples from Bridge to Terabithia. Click on "Add / Delete Cells" to change the number of examples.
- Type the question into the central black box.
- Type an answer in your own words in the title box. Think about examples from the text that support your answer.
- Type the text evidence in the description boxes. Paraphrase or quote directly from the text.
- Illustrate each example using scenes, characters, items, etc.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support from Text | Examples chosen fully support the answer to the question. | Some of the examples answer the question correctly, but not all. | Most of the examples do not support the answer to the question. |
| Quote / Text | Evidence provided from the text is properly quoted or paraphrased. | There are some minor mistakes in the quote / description from text. | Quote or paraphrase is incomplete or confusing. |
| Illustration of Examples | Ideas are well organized. Images clearly illustrate the examples from the text. | Ideas are organized. Most images help to show the examples from the text. | Ideas are not well organized. Images are difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
In this activity, students will be provided a question or prompt to answer using text evidence. Students need to identify three examples from the text that answer the question, and depict it in a storyboard.
The prompt here is, “Identify moments where a character takes a risk and explain how they benefit or lose from it.”
The three examples provided include:
- Jess standing up to Janice Avery on the bus. As a result, Jess and Leslie become best friends.
- Leslie uses a rope to cross the creek, which eventually is the cause of her death.
- Jess accepts Miss Edmunds offer to visit the Smithsonian. Jess enjoys the experience and avoids witnessing Leslie’s death, or falling to his own death.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that answers the prompt using at least three examples from Bridge to Terabithia. Click on "Add / Delete Cells" to change the number of examples.
- Type the question into the central black box.
- Type an answer in your own words in the title box. Think about examples from the text that support your answer.
- Type the text evidence in the description boxes. Paraphrase or quote directly from the text.
- Illustrate each example using scenes, characters, items, etc.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support from Text | Examples chosen fully support the answer to the question. | Some of the examples answer the question correctly, but not all. | Most of the examples do not support the answer to the question. |
| Quote / Text | Evidence provided from the text is properly quoted or paraphrased. | There are some minor mistakes in the quote / description from text. | Quote or paraphrase is incomplete or confusing. |
| Illustration of Examples | Ideas are well organized. Images clearly illustrate the examples from the text. | Ideas are organized. Most images help to show the examples from the text. | Ideas are not well organized. Images are difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Text Evidence in Bridge to Terabithia
How to teach students to distinguish strong vs. weak text evidence
Help students identify what makes text evidence effective by comparing examples. Show both strong (directly supports the answer) and weak (vague or unrelated) evidence from the book. Discuss as a class why some evidence is more convincing, so students learn to choose the best support for their answers.
Model selecting the best evidence with think-alouds
Demonstrate your thought process by reading a question aloud and thinking through possible evidence. Explain why you accept or reject each example. This shows students how to analyze and justify their choices, boosting their confidence in finding strong evidence.
Guide students to use sentence starters for citing evidence
Provide sentence frames like ‘According to the text,’ or ‘The author states,’ to help students smoothly introduce evidence. This makes their answers clearer and encourages proper citation habits.
Organize a partner check for evidence quality
Have students pair up and exchange their storyboard examples. Each partner reviews the other's evidence, giving feedback on whether it directly supports the answer. Collaboration helps students spot gaps and learn from each other’s thinking.
Frequently Asked Questions about Text Evidence in Bridge to Terabithia
How can I teach text evidence using Bridge to Terabithia?
To teach text evidence with Bridge to Terabithia, have students answer a prompt by finding three moments from the story that support their answer. Ask them to record each example, paraphrase or quote the text, and explain its relevance. Visual tools like storyboards help students organize ideas and show understanding.
What are good examples of characters taking risks in Bridge to Terabithia?
Strong examples include Jess standing up to Janice Avery on the bus, Leslie crossing the creek using a rope, and Jess accepting Miss Edmunds' invitation to the Smithsonian. Each action shows a character taking a risk and facing positive or negative consequences.
How do I create a storyboard for a text evidence lesson?
Start by choosing a central question or prompt. Ask students to add cells for each example from the text, write paraphrased or quoted evidence in description boxes, and illustrate scenes using images of characters or events. Storyboards help students organize their thoughts visually and support their answers with evidence.
Why is using text evidence important in grades 4-5 literature lessons?
Text evidence helps students build reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. By backing up their answers with specific examples from the story, students learn to support their ideas, improve writing, and engage more deeply with the text.
What is a spider map activity and how does it support text analysis?
A spider map is a graphic organizer that starts with a central idea or question, with branches for supporting details or examples. In text analysis, students use spider maps to organize evidence from the text, making it easier to connect examples to their main answer.
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Bridge to Terabithia
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