A girl smiling holding an iPad of six other kids smiling
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Infographic,

How to Stay Connected

You may not be able to see all your friends and family in person. But you can still show them your ❤. Here are five fun ways to keep in touch.

From the February 2021 Issue
Featured Skill: Main Idea and Supporting Details,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.1, R.2, R.7, W.2
  • Grade 4
    RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.7, W.4.2
  • Grade 5
    RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.7, W.5.2
  • Grade 6
    RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.7, W.6.2
TEKS Standards
  • Grade 4
    4.9f; 4.12c
  • Grade 5
    5.9f; 5.12c
  • Grade 6
    6.8f; 6.11c

Presentation View
See Student View

1) Start a Book Club

Brainstorm book ideas with friends and family, then vote on your favorite—and get reading! You can meet over video chat to discuss your favorite parts and characters.

2) Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Make a list of items to find around your home or neighborhood. Ask your friends or family to do the same. Combine your lists, and then it’s time to start searching!

3) Hold a Dance Party

Studies show that dancing can help you beat stress and bond with other people. Start by making a playlist of everyone’s favorite songs. Then dance the day away over video chat!

4) Write a Letter

Show someone you care the old-fashioned way—by sending mail! You can write a letter, design your own postcard, or even start a short story for the other person to finish.

5) Drop Off a Surprise

Surprises come in all shapes and sizes: freshly baked cookies, a homemade art piece, a poem. Create a surprise for someone you know, and have a parent or guardian help you drop it off or mail it.

Write to Win

Write a journal entry that explains your plans for keeping connected with your friends and family while you’re apart. Use ideas from the infographic. Send your journal entry to “Connected Contest” by April 1, 2021. Five winners will each receive a Storyworks prize. See our Contest Page for details. 

This infographic was originally published in the February 2021 issue.


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Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
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Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

More About the Story

Skills

reading for information, evaluating    

Complexity Factors

Purpose

The infographic provides five ideas for staying connected with people you cannot see in person due to Covid-19.

Structure

Information is presented using text and images in five separate boxes around a central image.

Language

The language will be mainly familiar.

Knowledge Demands 

The text refers to video chat and a scavenger hunt, which students will probably by familiar with.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

1. Reading and Discussing 

Project the infographic as students follow along in their magazines.

Prompt students to use the headline, subhead, and central image to identify the topic of the infographic.

Ask: Is the purpose of the infographic to

  • explain something to you?
  • convince you of something?
  • tell you how to do something?

Have students look over the labels and images surrounding the central image. Ask:

  • How are they related to the central image? (They provide details about the main idea.)

Break students into groups to read each section of the infographic and discuss what they find interesting, surprising, or convincing.

Come back together as a class and ask volunteers to summarize the main idea and supporting details from the infographic.

2. Writing

Preview the writing prompt in the “Write to Win” box.

Download and distribute the guided-writing activity that goes along with the infographic (available in your Resources tab).

Have students respond to the writing prompt. If you wish, send their responses to our infographic contest. 

Ideas to Engage and Inspire

Have students create their own infographics! Download our “Make Your Own Infographic” activity from Storyworks Digital.

Text-to-Speech