The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

If you have read my previous post all about The One and Only Ivan, you already know how much I love this beautiful novel. I have happy memories of reading this story aloud to my son, and also sharing it with my grade 3 classes. The book is based on a true story, and is told from the point of view of a gorilla named Ivan. It is one of my very favorite novels, and makes a truly wonderful novel study for elementary learners. I am here today to shares some engaging free resources that you can incorporate into your own The One and Only Ivan novel study!

The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

GRACE GORILLA CAM

EXPLORE is the largest live nature cam network on the planet. This YouTube link follows the GRACE Explore.org livestream of one of two forest habitats in the world’s only sanctuary for rescued Grauer’s gorillas. These gorillas are a Critically Endangered subspecies found in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

GRACE provides rehabilitative care for gorillas that have been orphaned due to poaching. They focus on nursing orphans back to health and giving them the chance to be with other gorillas again. 

This livestream is great to put on in the background while students are working. Students can watch the gorillas in their natural environment, playing, foraging, and interacting.

As an additional activity, I sometimes have my students make nature observations while watching the livestream. On a sheet of paper, I have them sketch and record the things they notice and wonder about. This leads to some super class discussions – and is a great opportunity for them to do a little additional research to find the answers to their questions!

The One and Only Ivan Novel Study – Character Description Activities

The characters in The One and Only Ivan are incredibly well crafted. Readers learn about the characters through the eyes of Ivan. Because of this, they often have to make inferences about his descriptions. Ivan is often an animal of few words, but the words he does use to describe his friends are beautiful and heartfelt. Because of this, I like to include a variety of character activities when I teach this novel study. I have included two of my favorite free character activities below.

Character Description Templates

For this activity, students use the FREE character templates to record key details about characters in the novel. This is a great way to encourage students to keep track of the different characters, and also use text evidence to support their answers. It is also a great opportunity for students to work on their descriptive writing skills!

The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

These templates are great for students to work on while listening to the text read aloud or while working independently. When completed, they make great Interactive Notebook additions!

Grab yourself a FREE copy of this resource by clicking here or on the image below!

The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

Character 3-2-1 Activities

This is another fun activity that requires students to pull key facts about the different characters from the text. For each template, students must record 3 key character traits, 2 descriptive words, and 1 interesting fact.

The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

Completed templates make great Interactive Notebook additions!

You can grab a copy of these templates for FREE by clicking here or on the image above.

Word Search and Coloring Pages

Sometimes we just need some fun stuff to add to our learning, am I right? You can download this word search activity and coloring pages for FREE by clicking hereor on the image below.

The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

The word search and coloring pages are great activities for students to work on while listening to the story read aloud or watching the movie. They also make great early finisher activities!

Reading Comprehension Strategy Bookmarks

As teachers, we know that reading comprehension strategies are crucially important for students to master. These bookmarks are a great way to reinforce these skills. They focus on a variety of key reading comprehension strategies like connecting, questioning, and visualizing.

The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

Students can choose a bookmark of their and corresponding strategy to work on while reading independently or listening to the story read aloud.

Snag a full set of these bookmarks for FREE by clicking here or on the image below!

The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

Check out my previous posts here and here if you would like to learn more about incorporating reading comprehension strategies into your ELA lessons.

Group Discussion Cards

These FREE The One and Only Ivan group discussion cards make a fun class warmup or review activity for your novel study! I have used these cards in two different but equally successful ways with my learners. Both ways involve chart paper and markers. Something magic happens when you give a kid a marker and a piece of chart paper – talk about instant engagement!

The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

The first way I have used these cards with my learners involves small group discussion. First, I divide the class into groups.  Then, I give each group a couple of task cards, some chart paper, and some markers.  Groups discuss the answers to the questions, and write their answers down on the chart paper.  When done, student groups present their answers to the class. I love this activity because each group ends up becoming experts on a few select questions, and are able to share their expertise with the entire class.

The second way I use these cards involves an “Around the Room Discussion”. First, I tape each task card to a sheet of chart paper, and hang the chart paper around the classroom (or hallway, or outdoor space).  Students silently and individually walk around and add their answers to the chart paper.  I encourage students to expand on each other’s answers (in an appropriate way).  When done, I bring the class back together and we share the results as a class. If you have students that tend to be too shy to share their thoughts in a group setting, this can be a really great way to encourage them to share their thinking!

Grab a full set of these discussion cards for FREE by clicking here or on the image below.

The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

looking for a complete The One and Only Ivan Novel Study?

Click here or on the image below to head over to my TPT shop to grab my complete The One and Only Ivan novel study! It has 150 pages of resources including comprehension questions, graphic organizers, projects, and activities.

The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

This novel study is a TPT top seller – over 8,500 copies have been sold! To see the resource in action, check out the video below!

Want to read more about The One and Only Ivan Novel Study Activities?

Check out my previous post here.

Want to grab a copy of the novel?

You can grab a copy of this novel, and the two sequels, by following the links below!

The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Bob

The One and Only Ruby

Affiliate links are included in this post for your shopping convenience. If you choose to order any of these diverse picture books through these links, Amazon will provide me with a small kickback (at no additional cost to you) that I will put toward the costs of keeping this blog up and running.

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The one and only ivan reading comprehension questions

What are some questions for The One and Only Ivan?

Questions.
What kind of animal is Ivan?.
What names have humans given Ivan?.
Why does Ivan just call himself by his first name?.
What does Ivan say about gorillas and words?.
What does Ivan say about humans and chattering?.
What does Ivan say about the patience of gorillas?.
What are gorillas skilled at making?.

What is the reading level of the One and Only Ivan?

This acclaimed middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 8, for independent reading, homeschooling, and sharing in the classroom.

What is the main lesson in the One and Only Ivan?

Based on a true story, but told in Ivan's own voice using simple language and short chapters, this is a story about friendship, compassion for animals, the promises we make, and the things we will do to help someone in need. Ivan barely remembers his life before the mall.

What are 3 themes from The One and Only Ivan?

The One and Only Ivan Themes.
Animal Abuse and Human Cruelty. The One and Only Ivan is the story of Ivan, a gorilla who has spent most of his life living in the Big Top Mall. ... .
Kindness. ... .
Art and Self-Expression. ... .
Memory and Storytelling. ... .
Family, Friendship, and Identity..