INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD
SPARK CONVERSATIONS & BUILD CONNECTIONS
Read Aloud Questions
Literacy
Social emotional
Let's Read!
1. "Benjamin’s Thunderstorm" celebrates nature, family traditions, and the Cree language. Before you get started, turn to the back of your book to discover a pronunciation guide that will help you say the Cree words throughout the story.
2. Do you see any clues on the first page that show Benjamin’s love for the rain?
3. Benjamin was jumping in the puddles, kicking and splashing the water, and listening to the droplets as they fell.
→ Do you remember a time when you splashed in a puddle?
→ What did it sound like?
4. Splish, splash, crash! Benjamin said that he could make it rain.
→ Was he really making it rain?
→ What do you think he meant when he said that?
5. The sound of thunder reminded Benjamin of both the sound of his grandfather playing the drum and the sound of his heartbeat.
→ Can you put your hand on your heart and feel it beating inside of you?
→ Why do you think it was special for Benjamin to feel the sound of his grandfather’s drum in his heart?
6. Can you pronounce the Cree word for thunder, ‘Piyêsiwak,’ by saying, “pee YAY sew wuck”?
7. Why do you think Benjamin was scared of the lightning?
8. When Benjamin was reminded of his family’s tradition of powwow dances and drumming, he began to dance!
→ Do you have any memories of your family’s traditions that make you feel strong, brave, or happy?
→ If you were going to do a dance that reminds you of your family, what would it look like?
9. When the thunder stopped, Benjamin stood still, holding a big, strong pose to show how powerful he felt inside!
→ Can you strike a pose to show how powerful you are?
10. At the end of the story, Benjamin and his mother made a drawing about how he feels connected to nature, especially the thunder.
→ Is there something in nature that you feel connected to?
→ Would you like to draw a picture of it?
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