Ember’s Gallop Middle-Grade Activity Kit Expansion Plan
1. Quick Summary
This guide is your ticket into the world of Ember-a brave horse who leads her herd through raging wildfires and wild surprises. Inside, you’ll find five hands-on, creative challenges inspired by Ember’s journey. Get ready to use your senses, solve problems, and team up with friends as you explore science, art, and the power of protecting our planet. Everything is designed for ages 10–14, and every activity connects to what you’re learning in school. Saddle up-your adventure starts here!
2. Sections for Expansion
- Activity 1: “Through Ember's Senses” Challenge – expand with more sensory stations, creative prompts, and cross-curricular links.
- Activity 2: Design a “Wildfire Survival Guide” – add research, group roles, and presentation formats.
- Activity 3: Character Comic Strip – include storyboarding, digital tools, and peer review.
- Activity 4: “Protect Your Herd” Pledge – add conservation projects, community actions, and digital campaigns.
- Activity 5: Host a “Herd Council” Debate – expand with character profiles, structured debate, and reflection questions.
3. Research Sources for Expansion
- Novel study frameworks (Create Dream Explore, Creative Classroom Core)
- Animal perspective writing (Writers Digest, academic studies)
- Wildfire/STEM resources (BrainPOP, Australian education sites)
- Horse-themed activities (Young Rider, agricultural education)
- Reading engagement strategies (Scholastic, ReadWriteThink)
- Character analysis and cross-curricular connections (ReadWriteThink, teacher resources)
4. Highlights of Expansion Plan
- Comprehensive educator guide with implementation tips and assessment tools
- Deeper, differentiated activities for all learning styles and abilities
- Cross-curricular connections (science, art, tech, social studies)
- Digital alternatives for tech integration
- Pre- and post-reading activities for a full instructional sequence
- Family engagement and community partnership ideas
- Detailed standards alignment and assessment rubrics
- Additional printables and book recommendations
5. Expanded Guide Structure Breakdown
- I. Introductory Materials: About, summary, timeline, materials checklist
- II. Standards & Objectives: Common Core, NGSS, SEL goals
- III. Pre-Reading Activities: Wildfire ecology, horse research, predictions, vocab
- IV. During-Reading Activities: Expanded activities 1–5, with differentiation and extensions
- V. Post-Reading: Culminating projects, creative writing, real-world connections
- VI. Assessment Tools: Formative and summative rubrics, self-assessment, portfolios
- VII. Differentiation: Reading levels, learning styles, ELL support, enrichment
- VIII. Resources & Extensions: Book lists, digital links, family/community ideas
- IX. Printables: Worksheets, organizers, visual aids, assessment forms
Keep Exploring! Every page is a new adventure. Librarian Assignable Tasks: Ember's Gallop Activities
Activity 1: Through Ember's Senses Challenge
- Set up sensory stations (touch, smell, sound, sight) inspired by Ember’s journey.
- Assign students to rotate through each station and record their experiences.
- Challenge students to write a short scene from Ember’s point of view using their senses.
- Connect with science class by discussing animal senses and survival.
- Host a “Guess That Sense” group game based on book scenes.
Activity 2: Wildfire Survival Guide
- Assign students to research real wildfire survival tips for animals and humans.
- Have students work in groups to create a visual survival guide (poster, brochure, or digital slide).
- Assign roles: researcher, writer, illustrator, presenter.
- Encourage students to include Ember’s perspective in their guide.
- Host a gallery walk where groups present and explain their guides.
Activity 3: Character Comic Strip
- Assign students to choose a favorite scene or character moment from Ember’s Gallop.
- Provide storyboard templates for planning comic panels.
- Encourage use of digital tools (Canva, Google Slides) or hand-drawing.
- Pair students for peer review and positive feedback.
- Display finished comics in the library or online gallery.
Activity 4: Protect Your Herd Pledge
- Guide students to brainstorm ways to help animals and the environment in their community.
- Have each student write and decorate a personal “Protect Your Herd” pledge card.
- Organize a class or library display of all pledges.
- Encourage students to plan a group project (e.g., recycling drive, awareness poster, social media campaign).
- Connect with a local animal shelter or conservation group for a real-world impact.
Activity 5: Herd Council Debate
- Assign students to role-play as different herd members (Ember, foals, elders, etc.).
- Give each character a profile card with motivations and concerns.
- Set up a debate or council circle on a big decision from the story.
- Encourage respectful argument sharing and listening.
- Wrap up with a reflection journal: “What would you decide for the herd?”
Choose your challenge and let your adventure begin!
Librarian Assignable Tasks: Research & Exploration
Novel Study Frameworks
- Assign students to explore how novel studies are structured using resources like Create Dream Explore and Creative Classroom Core.
- Have students compare different frameworks and discuss which would work best for “Ember’s Gallop.”
- Challenge students to create their own mini novel study plan for a favorite chapter or scene.
Animal Perspective Writing
- Invite students to read tips and examples from Writer’s Digest and academic sources on writing from an animal’s point of view.
- Assign a creative writing prompt: retell a scene as Ember or another animal.
- Host a mini workshop where students share their animal-perspective writing and receive feedback.
Wildfire & STEM Resources
- Guide students to research wildfire science using BrainPOP or Australian education sites.
- Assign a STEM project: model how wildfires spread or how animals adapt to fire.
- Encourage students to present a fact or myth about wildfires to the group.
Horse-Themed Activities
- Assign students to explore horse care, breeds, or behavior using Young Rider or agricultural education resources.
- Host a “Horse Fact Showdown” where students share the coolest fact they found.
- Encourage students to create a poster or digital slide about a horse breed or famous horse.
Reading Engagement Strategies
- Have students try active reading strategies from Scholastic or ReadWriteThink (like sticky notes, questions, or predictions).
- Assign a reading buddy or small group to discuss favorite parts of the story.
- Challenge students to create a book trailer or “sell” Ember’s Gallop to a friend.
Character Analysis & Cross-Curricular Connections
- Assign students to analyze a character using ReadWriteThink’s character maps or teacher resources.
- Challenge students to connect the story to another subject (science, social studies, art).
- Have students present a “character interview” or write a diary entry as Ember or another character.
Dive into research and become an Ember’s Gallop expert!
Librarian Assignable Tasks: Highlights of the Expansion Plan
Comprehensive Educator Guide
- Share the step-by-step educator guide with teachers and staff.
- Assign students to help create “how-to” videos or posters for using the kit.
- Practice using assessment rubrics with sample activities.
Deeper, Differentiated Activities
- Assign activities for different skill levels (easy, medium, advanced).
- Encourage students to choose their favorite way to learn (drawing, writing, acting, researching).
- Offer bonus “challenge” tasks for those who want to go further.
Cross-Curricular Connections
- Link activities to science (wildfires, animal senses), art (comic strips, posters), technology (digital comics, research), and social studies (community pledges).
- Collaborate with different teachers for a full learning experience.
- Host a “STEAM Day” where students rotate through themed stations.
Digital Alternatives for Tech Integration
- Offer digital versions of comic strips, survival guides, and pledges.
- Assign students to create a class website or blog to showcase their work.
- Encourage use of online tools for collaboration (Google Docs, Canva, Padlet).
Pre- and Post-Reading Activities
- Assign pre-reading research (wildfires, horses, animal senses).
- Have students predict story outcomes or create “before reading” mind maps.
- Use post-reading reflection journals or creative writing prompts.
Family Engagement & Community Partnerships
- Send home family activity sheets or reading guides.
- Invite families to a library showcase night to see students’ work.
- Partner with local organizations (animal shelters, fire departments) for guest speakers or projects.
Standards Alignment & Assessment Rubrics
- Review Common Core and NGSS standards with students.
- Use rubrics for self-assessment and peer feedback.
- Assign students to create their own “success criteria” for a chosen project.
Extra Printables & Book Recommendations
- Assign students to explore the library’s animal, adventure, and eco-fiction sections.
- Provide extra worksheets, graphic organizers, and creative templates for practice or enrichment.
- Create a “recommended reads” display with student reviews and staff picks.
Librarian Assignable Tasks: Expanded Guide Structure Breakdown
I. Introductory Materials
- How: Give students a brief overview of the kit and its purpose. Share a summary of Ember’s Gallop, explain the timeline for the activities, and review the materials checklist. Post the checklist in the library and let students help gather supplies!
II. Standards & Objectives
- How: Introduce the learning goals for each activity. Show how the activities connect to Common Core (reading, writing), NGSS (science), and SEL (social-emotional learning). Create a “goal board” where students can track which objectives they’ve met.
III. Pre-Reading Activities
- How: Assign students to research wildfires and horse facts, make predictions about the story, and learn key vocabulary. Use videos, quick web quests, and group brainstorming to build excitement before reading.
IV. During-Reading Activities
- How: Guide students through the five main activities (senses, survival guide, comic strip, pledge, debate). Offer choices for how to complete each one, and provide support for students who need extra help or want extra challenges.
V. Post-Reading
- How: Invite students to complete a culminating project (presentation, art, or creative writing). Connect the story to real-world issues and encourage students to share what they learned with their family or community.
VI. Assessment Tools
- How: Use formative rubrics for check-ins and summative rubrics for final projects. Let students self-assess their work and keep a portfolio of their best activities. Hold a “reflection circle” to discuss what they learned.
VII. Differentiation
- How: Offer choices for reading level and project type. Provide extra support for English language learners and enrichment for advanced students. Use visuals, audio, and hands-on activities to reach all learning styles.
VIII. Resources & Extensions
- How: Assign students to read from the recommended book list or explore digital links. Encourage them to try family activities at home or participate in community projects. Share favorite resources on a library “extension wall.”
IX. Printables
- How: Print and distribute worksheets, graphic organizers, and visual aids. Show students how to use each printable for their projects. Create a “printable station” in the library where students can grab what they need anytime.
Follow each step and build your own adventure with Ember’s Gallop!