Upper Elementary Novel Study Favorites
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Feb 21, 2024
If you have been following the blog for a while, you already know how wildly passionate I am about novel studies. Sharing a whole class novel is a wonderful opportunity for students to think deeply about text and refine their reading comprehension skills. Additionally, it can be a great way to share the love of reading through a collective reading experience with their classmates. In a previous post, I shared some of my very favorite novel studies for middle school. Today I am excited to share some of my upper elementary novel study favorites! All of these books have been classroom tested by my students, and come highly recommended!
Looking for some no prep resources for your next novel study? Click on the image or button below to see all of the different novel studies available in my TPT shop!
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
In this slightly gross but highly engaging novel, young Billy takes on a dare to eat 15 worms in 15 days. If he wins, his friends will have to fork over $50. With this, his dreams of purchasing a minibike will come true. As the story progresses, Billy comes up with a variety of zany ways to choke down the creepy crawlies. However, chaos ensues when his friend Allan schemes of ways to sabotage his endeavors.
The worm eating grossness of this novel makes it an absolute hit with this age group. There are great opportunities for Science activities to learn more about the different worms mentioned in the story. In addition, as a fun writing extension, I like to have my students brainstorm and write about their own creative worm recipes!
There is a hilarious movie adaptation of this novel as well. It makes for a great compare/contrast activity.
Interested in incorporating this novel study into your ELA curriculum? Check out my complete novel study on TPT by clicking here or on the image below.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
I am a bit biased with this selection, as it really is one of my all time favorite novels. The book is based on the true story of Ivan, a gorilla who lived in a shopping mall before eventually being released to a zoo. It is a heartfelt and beautiful story. Because of this, it makes a truly wonderful novel study for elementary learners.
Zoo Atlanta, where Ivan was released to, has a great YouTube video that talks all about this amazing gorilla.
If you are interested in learning more about ways to incorporate this beautiful novel into your ELA classroom, you can check out my previous posts here and here.
If you looking for a novel study to go along with the book, click here or on the image below to visit my TPT shop.
Holes by Louis Sachar
This novel tells the story of Stanley Yelnats, a young boy who gets sent to Camp Greenlake after being accused of stealing a pair of valuable sneakers. There is no lake at Camp Greenlake, and the boys are forced to dig holes all day in the hot sun. Stanley must find a way to expose the corrupt warden and escape the camp. Through doing this he hopes to free himself from his family curse.
It is an inspiring story of perseverance, justice, and the power of friendship. There are multiple storylines going on in this novel at the same time. This makes it a great story to help focus in on plot and story structure. Also, there is a great movie adaptation. This makes a great class party addition after completing the story!
To grab a novel study to go along with this awesome novel, click here or on the image below!
To read more about this fun novel, check out our Holes novel study activities!
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Wonder follows the adventures of Auggie, a ten your old boy born with Mandibular Dysostosis and a cleft palate. In his short life he has had to endure 7 different surgeries. Consequently, he has spent his educational career being home schooled by his mother. The story begins at the start of a new school year, with Auggie about to start public school for the very first time. Each chapter of the story is told through the perspective of Auggie or 5 other narrators. As a result, readers are given a unique look at events through the eyes of others.
This thoughtful story covers important themes of identity, family, courage, and kindness. In addition, it promotes empathy. Readers are encouraged to “choose kind” as they examine the relationships and interactions they have with others.
To check out my previous post all about this engaging novel, click here.
To grab a copy of a complete unit to go along with this novel, click here or on the image below.
Seedfolks by Paul Fleishman
I was first introduced to this novel by a colleague at an International Baccalaureate conference. After reading, I quickly added it to my favorite upper elementary novel study list. The book revolves around the development of a community garden. It is told through the perspectives of 13 different characters, each from a different ethic group. Each chapter focuses on a different character, and the ways the community garden impacts their journey.
This a relatively short novel, with a theme that centers around community bonding and coming together for a common cause. Also, because there are so many different characters, it is perfect for in depth character study activities. The stories that the different ethnicities share make for great classroom discussions about who we are, where we come from, and the stories we bring with us.
You can grab a complete novel study to go along with this novel by clicking here or on the image below.
The Lemonade War By Jacqueline Davies
The Lemonade War is told from the perspective of two sibling rivals, Evan and Jessie. As part of a school project, they are tasked to create a lemonade stand. The story heats up when the children decide to turn their project into a competition.
This is a great story for class discussion about sibling relationships and ethical boundaries. Also, the story incorporates a variety of economics and math concepts, making it great for subject integration. As an added bonus, it is part of a series. I always love hooking students to the first book in a series, as it encourages them to read the books that come after.
Grab a copy of a novel study use along with this fun novel by clicking here or on the image below.
Read more about this engaging novel, with tips and tricks for using it with your learners, by checking out our Lemonade War Guide!
Looking for more Upper elementary Novel Study Ideas?
Click here or on the image below to check out all of the novel studies available in my TPT shop!
Looking for a free resource to use with your next upper elementary novel study?
Click here or on the image below to download a FREE activity to teach plot! It includes detailed student notes and fill in the blank notetaking templates, as can be used alongside any short story or novel study!
For more information on teaching specific novels, you won’t want to miss our posts on teaching Wonder, The Hunger Games, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Outsiders!
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