Activity Overview
In this activity, students will be provided a question or prompt to answer using textual evidence. The prompt here is, “What lessons about life did Omakayas learn?” The four examples provided are:
- Death and sickness affect people differently.
"It was difficult for Omakayas to understand all that had happened. Why Neewo was gone, though at night she imagined that she heard his cries."
- Things are not always what they seem.
"What other story do you know about me?"
- Family and tradition are important.
"Although the family did not return with as much rice as they needed, Omakayas and Two Strike Girl became such good friends that, ever after, they called each other sister."
- Laughter and happiness helps cure sadness and loss.
"Ever after that terrible winter, as though he understood from then on how important it was to be funny, Pinch gave laughter to them all."
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 The Birchbark House. Click on "Add / Delete Cells" to change the number of examples.
- Type the question into the central black box.
- Type a response to the question in your own words in the title box.
- Think about examples from the text that support your answer.
- Type 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 textual evidence. The prompt here is, “What lessons about life did Omakayas learn?” The four examples provided are:
- Death and sickness affect people differently.
"It was difficult for Omakayas to understand all that had happened. Why Neewo was gone, though at night she imagined that she heard his cries."
- Things are not always what they seem.
"What other story do you know about me?"
- Family and tradition are important.
"Although the family did not return with as much rice as they needed, Omakayas and Two Strike Girl became such good friends that, ever after, they called each other sister."
- Laughter and happiness helps cure sadness and loss.
"Ever after that terrible winter, as though he understood from then on how important it was to be funny, Pinch gave laughter to them all."
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 The Birchbark House. Click on "Add / Delete Cells" to change the number of examples.
- Type the question into the central black box.
- Type a response to the question in your own words in the title box.
- Think about examples from the text that support your answer.
- Type 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 Lessons in The Birchbark House: Using Textual Evidence
Organize a classroom discussion using student storyboards
Invite students to share their storyboards with the class. Encouraging discussion helps students explain their thinking and deepens understanding of textual evidence.
Model how to select strong textual evidence
Demonstrate choosing quotes or paraphrases that directly support an answer. Show examples and explain why each is effective, helping students build critical reading skills.
Guide students to paraphrase instead of copy
Encourage students to restate information in their own words. Paraphrasing shows understanding and avoids plagiarism while using textual evidence.
Incorporate illustrations to boost comprehension
Ask students to create drawings for each example. Visuals support memory and help students connect ideas from the story to their own experiences.
Reflect on lessons learned through group sharing
Facilitate a group reflection where students discuss what they learned from Omakayas’s experiences. Reflection deepens empathy and reinforces life lessons from the text.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lessons in The Birchbark House: Using Textual Evidence
What lessons does Omakayas learn in The Birchbark House?
Omakayas learns important life lessons such as coping with death and sickness, recognizing that things are not always what they seem, valuing family and tradition, and understanding that laughter can help heal sadness.
How can students use textual evidence to answer questions about The Birchbark House?
Students can support their answers by paraphrasing or quoting directly from the text. For example, when discussing lessons Omakayas learns, they can cite specific passages showing her experiences and emotions.
What is a storyboard activity for The Birchbark House?
A storyboard activity asks students to visually organize their ideas by answering a prompt with examples from the book, supporting each with textual evidence and illustrations of scenes or characters.
Why is using textual evidence important in literature lessons for grades 4-5?
Using textual evidence helps students strengthen reading comprehension and critical thinking by requiring them to justify their answers with proof from the story.
What are some examples of textual evidence from The Birchbark House to support life lessons?
Examples include Omakayas coping with loss ("Why Neewo was gone, though at night she imagined that she heard his cries") and family bonding despite hardships ("Omakayas and Two Strike Girl became such good friends that, ever after, they called each other sister.").
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