Minds On
Connecting to texts
There are many different ways to make connections.
We can make connections to the books or texts we read. (A text is another way of saying “book” or something that we read.)
Let's explore a book with Boomer and the Book Hungry Bears called No Two Alike by Keith Baker.
Connections
Connecting to the story
As you explore the story, think about the following questions:
- What does this remind you of in the real world?
- What events in this story are similar to things that happen in the real world?
- What events in this story are different from things that happen in the real world?
Record your ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.
Video
Explore this video to discover No Two Alike.
In the video, Nina and Leon measure each other and Nina is the tallest. The way we look or dress, or what we eat might be different, but this is what makes us special! Let’s try to celebrate the ways we are different.
Action
Three kinds of connections
What you have just practised is called making text-to-world connections!
At one point, Yetili reads, “and could it be that growing up means no longer clowning around?” This connects to our changing roles and responsibilities over time and in different situations.
Making connections is a reading strategy that we can use to better understand what we are reading.
- text-to-self
- text-to-world
- text-to-text
Explore the following images to review the types of connections.
Kite in tree
Text-to-Self Connection: “This story reminds me of the time my kite got stuck in a tree, just like the main character.”
Sitting in front of a screen
Text-to-World Connection: “This part of the book makes me think of the year 2020 when schools closed so that people could stay safe during the pandemic.”
Thinking of a butterfly
Text-to-Text Connection: “I read another book similar to this one about butterflies that explained the life cycle of a butterfly.”
Practise making connections
Think of the stories that you have recently read. They might remind you of something that is happening in your community or the world.
This is called a text-to-world connection.
Use these sentence starters to help you make text-to-world connections:
- This part reminds me of (something in the real world)…
- This book is similar to things happening in the real world because…
- This book is different from things happening in the real world because…
Record your text connections in a notebook, or another method of your choice.
Consolidation
Now you choose the book!
Choose a book or an audiobook that you like.
Complete Making Text-to-World Connections in your notebook or use the following fillable and printable document. You can also use another method of your choice.
Be sure to also describe or draw the part of the story that you are making a connection to!
|
Book title: (Blank)(Blank)(Blank) Author: (Blank)(Blank)(Blank) |
|
|---|---|
|
The story This part of the book… |
The world Reminds me of… |
Press the Activity button to access Making Text-to-World Connections.
Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
If possible, share your text-to-world connection with a partner.
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.