Do your students struggle with self-esteem and self-expression? Read on to find Red: A Crayon's Story activities and comprehension questions to discuss individuality and how appearances can influence opinions.
In Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall a red crayon struggles to live up to everyone's expectations of being red, until a new friend shows the crayon who he truly is.
- determination and resilience
- self-esteem and self-confidence
- self-awareness and acceptance
- individuality and identity
- how appearances can influence opinions
- self-expression
You can also use the book to teach:
- sequencing and retelling
- character traits
- problem and solution
- making connections
- dialogue
- inference
Red: A Crayon's Story Activities and Resources
Red is a blue crayon with a red label. Everyone calls him Red because that’s what his label says. Everyone expects him to draw in red, but as much as Red tries, he can’t. Whatever his label said or how hard he tried, he couldn’t draw anything in red.
The other crayons think he should draw red strawberries and fire trucks, or make orange when he mixes with his friend Yellow. The crayons and the art supplies want to help. Some crayons say he just needs practice. Others think he is just not that smart. They ignore the fact he may differ from what his label says.
One day Red meets a new friend, Berry. The crayon asks him to draw an ocean for its boat. He is great at it and he discovers he is really blue! Berry can see Red for who he truly is on the inside and helps Red to see this, too.
Red realizes his label is wrong, and he is not broken or lazy. He’s not Red, he’s Blue! The other crayons and Red realize he is more than just his label!
Scroll down for Red: A Crayon's Story activities, discussion questions and videos.
Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall
Illustrator: Michael Hall
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (2015)
ISBN: 9780062252074
Take a look inside
Michael Hall Official Website
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Red: A Crayon's Story Activities and Resources
I have created literacy graphic organizers for Red: A Crayon's Story. 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.
Red: A Crayon's Story Activities and Links
- Harper Collins: Red: A Crayon's Story Teacher’s Notes
- Harper Collins: Red: A Crayon's Story Activities
- Harper Collins: Games
- Michael Hall's Website: Red: A Crayon's Story Book Information
- The Highland Council: Equality and Diversity Lesson Plan
‘Red – A Crayon’s Story’ - Prindle Institute for Ethics:: Guidelines for Philosophical Discussion
FREE Red: A Crayon's Story Activities
Would you like free graphic organisers for Red: A Crayon's Story?
I have a freebie that is part of a larger resource so you can try it out in your classroom today!
Click on the form below to get access to the FREE activities.
Click on the image to the left to see the full resource on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Red: A Crayon's Story 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 think Michael Hall wants us to learn from reading Red: A Crayon's Story?
- How does Michael Hall show Red’s emotions throughout the book?
- What difficulties did Red face?
- What does Berry help Red understand about himself? What does Berry help the other crayons understand about Red?
- Why did Red initially refuse Berry’s suggestion to draw an ocean?
- How did Red feel when Berry helped him see who he was on the inside?
- What expectations were put on Red because of his label? Was this fair on Red?
- How does Red feel about these expectations? How would you feel if you were in Red’s position?
- Why did Red and the other crayons think he was red? Why didn’t they look beyond his label?
- Red could never draw in red. What are some things we can’t change about ourselves? What can you change?
- What is it like to do something that you can’t do, no matter how hard you tried?
- Red’s family, the other crayons and the art supplies try to ‘fix’ Red.
- Why do you think they felt he needed fixing?
You can find a full set of discussion cards in the Red: A Crayon's Story Literacy Bundle or as a separate pack.
Red: A Crayon's Story Video
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