First Chapter Friday Story Openings: Hooks & Clues, Grades 5-8

A First Chapter Friday lesson on what a story's opening does, for any first chapter you read aloud. Students listen for the four things a first chapter sets up (who, where and when, the problem, and the open question), then name the hook, find the line that pushes the story, and say what it shows about a character.

What's inside

• 13 slides, with speaker notes on every slide
• Lesson plan, 2 pages: 40-minute sequence keyed to slide numbers, a 30-minute short version and a Watch For list
• Sample first chapter, 1 page: a made-up chapter written for this lesson, for you to read aloud
• Student pages, 2 pages: Opening Clues, and The Hook and the Push
• Rubric and look-for key, 1 page, with one scored model
• Print All PDF, 6 pages: the lesson plan, sample chapter, student pages and rubric together

Answer key included

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