After the Fall Activities and Comprehension Questions
Do your students struggle with developing a growth mindset? Read on to find After the Fall activities and comprehension questions to promote perseverance, courage and overcoming fears.
After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat is a wonderful book to promote being yourself. It is a particularly good choice to read at the beginning of a new school year to:
- promotes self-esteem
- show that it’s okay to fail
- highlight the importance of determination and perseverance
- show how we can overcome our fears by trying again
- growth mindset
- overcoming adversity and fears
- mental health issues
Scroll down for After the Fall activities, discussion questions and videos.
After the Fall Synopsis
The After the Fall book is the continuation of Humpty Dumpty, from the egg’s perspective. The book promotes themes of determination, a growth mindset, perseverance and courage.
After his fall from the top of a wall, Humpty Dumpty is put back together at King’s Men Hospital. However, “there were some parts that couldn’t be healed with bandages and glue” and Humpty suffers from anxiety and a fear of heights. This fear prevents him from enjoying his bird watching hobby from his favourite spot on top of the wall. He knows accidents can happen.
One day, Humpty sees a paper plane flying above him. He decides to make his own. After many failed attempts he makes his own plane only for it to land on top of the wall.
Humpty Dumpty finds the courage and determination to climb back up the wall and overcomes his fears. “I didn’t look up. I didn’t look down. I just kept climbing. One step at a time… until I was no longer afraid.” Once he reaches the top, he has defeated his fear of height. As he stands on top of the wall, Humpty’s egg cracks and he transforms into what he was always meant to be, a bird.
Dan Santat Official Website
Related Books
- How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham
- The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
- Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
- She's Got This by Laurie Hernandez
- Emmanuel’s Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson
- Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle
- Ruby’s Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges
- The Good Egg by Jory John
- The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashley Spires
- The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Santat
- The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett
After the Fall Activities & Resources
I have created a bundle of literacy graphic organizers for After the Fall. You can find them at my Teachers Pay Teachers store. There are many activities for each literacy area to differentiate depending on your student’s ability/age. They include activities for:
- Cause & Effect
- Character Traits and Analysis
- Making Connections
- Point of View
- Problem and Solution
- Retelling, Sequencing and Summarizing
- Inference and Prediction
*Click on these links to discover book recommendations on these topics.
External After the Fall Activities & Links
- Quebec Reading Connection: After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again
- STEM Read: Dan Santat’s After the Fall and Failure-Based Learning
- School Library Journal: After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again Teaching Ideas
FREE After the Fall Activities
Would you like free graphic organisers for After the Fall?
I have a freebie that is part of this larger resource so you can try it out before buying anything!
Fill in the form below to get access to the FREE pack. Click on the image to see the full pack on Teachers Pay Teachers.
After the Fall Read-Aloud Questions
Read aloud sessions are a wonderful way for children to understand the connection between written text and spoken language. You can model reading habits and strategies, reading fluency, tone and eye contact. You can also introduce different genres, authors and illustrators.
- What do you already know about Humpty Dumpty?
- Who is telling the story? How do you know?
- What did Humpty mean when he said not all his parts would heal?
- Why do you think Humpty Dumpty had birds on his wall?
- Why did Humpty sleep on the floor?
- What do you notice about the cereals? How do they change from the top to bottom?
- What do you think Humpty Dumpty’s idea is?
- What happened when he reached the top of the wall?
- Why did Dan Santat call the book After the Fall?
- What do you think is the most important part(s) of the story? Why?
You can find a full set of discussion cards in the After the Fall Literacy Bundle or as a separate pack.
After the Fall Book Videos
Books by Dan Santat
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