Stellaluna by Janell Cannon is an endearing story about a bat pup. While out searching for food, Stellaluna, and her mother are attacked by a vicious owl. Stellaluna is separated from Mother Bat and adopted by a family of birds. In the nest, she learns all about birds as she puts aside her bat habits to fit in with her new family. After Stellaluna is reunited with her bat family, she learns that even though bats and birds are different, they are also very much alike.
Is your class reading about a famous fruit bat named Stellaluna? Stellaluna is one of my favorite books to read to the class in October. For that week during centers, we do several literacy and batty activities that are related to the book.
Activities That Focus on Literacy Skills
What skills are you working on in class or during guided reading groups? Character Traits, Setting, Plot, or Author's Purpose? This unit has many of them. Pursue through the unit and pick out the skills that you want to focus on and print those pages. Then prepare each activity or center as described below. Many of these activities work well for reading groups and centers activities after reading the book.
This fun Stellaluna unit has several activities that focus on literacy skills such as:
- Personification
- Plot
- The Problem, Solution, and Theme
- Action Verbs
- Another Word for “said”
- All About Bats
- All About Birds
- Bats Mini-booklet
- Spotlight on Vocabulary
- A Tiny Bat Poem: to compare and contrast the story to the poem
- Write your own Personal Narrative Story
- Writing Rubric
- Life Cycle of a Bat
- Quiz and Answer Key
Another Word for "Said"
For this activity, you will need several copies of the Stellaluna book. You could go to the local library or ask other teachers in your building to borrow their copy. Divide the class into groups of 2 to 3 students. Give each student a copy of the book and the "Another Word for Said" activity page. Instruct students to read through the book and hunt for words that could be used instead of the word "said." You might want to give students a dictionary to look up any words that they are not familiar with. Students will need around 15-20 minutes to complete this activity. Fast finishers can color the bat scene on the page. Bring the class back together to share their findings. In total, there are 18 words in the story that could replace the word, "said." As you read through the words that the students found, ask each them the following questions:
- Describe for the class what that word (squeaked, murmured, whispered, chirped) might sound like?
- Why is this word a better choice than using "said"?
- Why would the author use that word?
- How can this help you in your writing?
- What have you learned from this activity?
The Setting of Stellaluna
The setting is the time and place (where and when) a story takes place. It's important for students to understand the difference between time and place in a story. Thinking critically about a story requires students to explain how they know where and when a story takes place. In the case of Stellaluna, the pictures give students clues to answer these questions. At a center, put the book and the setting questions. Have students read through the book and look at the pictures on each page in order to answer the questions about the setting of the story.
The Plot Thickens...
The plot is what happens in a story. Because it's so vague, it can be a difficult concept for students to grasp. I use this activity in two ways. First, I have students read through the story events and put them in order by writing the number on the outside of the box. This is their "best guestimates" or predictions based on what they remember from the first read. Read the story aloud again (or silently to themselves) and check their answers. Come back to their best guestimates to reflect on their work.
Personification Activity
Personification is the act of giving human characteristics to animals or object to make it appear like they are human beings. Many stories for young children use personification. Ask students how many books can they name that use animals as characters in the story. I always like to take a piece of chalk or a dry erase marker to write a line down the front board. As I do this, I make a crying noise to demonstrate personification. I tell the class that the marker is crying out because it hurts when I write with it. The students usually laugh when I do this, but it helps them remember this term. Next, ask for other examples of personification that they would like to share with the class.
Two Types of Character Traits
There are two types of Character Traits: Inside and Outside. Outside traits are ones you can see. Inside traits are part of a person's or character's personality. On the front board, draw a picture of a bat. Underneath the bat, draw a T-Chart labeled Character Traits: Inside and Outside. On a piece of paper, have students create their own T-Chart. Ask students to describe Stellaluna. Add the traits the correct category and have the students do the same on their page. For additional or independent practice, have students do the same thing for Mama Bird.
Create a Bat Mini-Booklet
After learning about bats, students can complete this batty booklet by following the steps below:
- Copy pages back to back so that bat is on the front cover of the booklet.
- Have students write three facts about bats on the inside of the booklet.
- Cut out the booklet and the 5 life cycle stages.
- Paste the 5 life cycle stages in the correct order on the inside of the booklet.
- Fold booklet in half.
- Color the front cover.
- Mini-booklets can be glued inside their interactive notebooks.
Compare Two Types of Literature
Students will enjoy reading this rhyming poem about a Tiny Bat. This leads to comparing a poem to a fictional story about the same topic.
Birds and Bats: The Same or Different?
Birds and bats have a lot in common. After reading the story, is a great time to compare and contrast the difference between bats and birds. They might have more in common than students think!
Shine a Spotlight on Vocabulary
Every story has some terms that are meant to expand a reader's vocabulary. In the story of Stellaluna, some of them are bat-related and others are words to describe emotions such as anxious and embarrassing. In other words, they are relatable to everyone. Use this opportunity to really talk with your students about feeling anxious and being embarassed.
Here are some questions to start the discussion:
- Why did Stellaluna feel that way?
- What did she do to feel better?
- Do you think everyone has times when they might feel this way?
- Have you ever felt that way?
- What did you do or could you do to feel better?
Deep Dive to Learn More About Bats
There are several extension activities so that you can continue the fun unit for an entire week. Learn more about bats. Bats are amazing little creatures that are helpful to people. Learning about them is a great way to relieve some of the children's fears about them.
Students will love learning all about bats with our batty resource! They will meet three fun and factual character bats: Buddy Boo, Berry Boo, and Bitty Boo.
Students will learn all about bats with informational articles on:
✔Diet
✔Body parts
✔Echolocation
✔Hibernation
✔Ways bats help people
Our Going Batty Bundle includes:
⭐48-page Activity Pack with articles, activities, vocabulary posters, and flip book
⭐26 slide PowerPoint Presentation
⭐28 Task Cards {Editable}
Write A Personal Narrative
Learning writing is one of the most important skills for kids to learn. Writing personal narratives are a perfect way to encourage your students to write. "Personal" refers to a story from one's life or experiences. Creative writing allows kids to express their feelings and beliefs about a given topic. Giving students writing prompts can make the writing process a little bit easier for them.
Grab out Bat Facts Flaps Craft Freebie
Be sure to grab our Bat Facts Craftivity FREEBIE as another great extension activity for this fantastic book.
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