One of my favorite parts of teaching first grade is how quickly students open up when we connect stories to their own lives. Module 1 of HMH Into Reading is full of opportunities to build community, talk about friendship, and explore what it means to try new things.
Over the years, I’ve found that my students engage most when they’re not just answering questions about the text but doing something with it — writing, creating, or acting out the big ideas. Here are a few activities that my students have loved and still tie in CCSS!
A Few of My Activity Ideas for Module 1
1. Class Book (Try This!)
Creating class books are always a go-to for me. In this case, after reading Try This!, we create a class book called Our Book of New Adventures. I like to have students complete their page in the writing center during center time. For their page, each student writes and draws something new they’ve tried and something they’d like to try. The finished book becomes a favorite read-aloud for the class library and students love seeing their work as part of a “book.”
2. Friendship Role Play (A Kid’s Guide to Friends)
I hand out simple role cards like “Invite someone to play” or “Ask a classmate if they are okay.” Students act out the scenarios in pairs and then illustrate what happened. It’s a fun way to model social skills and spark meaningful conversations while connecting it back to the text.
3. Kimono Design (Suki’s Kimono)
My students absolutely loved this one! Students design their own kimono using colors and patterns that represent who they are. This activity is such a beautiful way to explore identity and celebrate differences.
4. Missing Poster (Big Dilly’s Tale)
When Dilly disappears in the story, my students make “Missing Posters.” They draw Dilly, add descriptive words, and even come up with a creative reward. This is such a fun way to work on describing characters!
Why These Activities Work
These projects are more than just busy work. They:
- Encourage student talk and collaboration
- Allow for differentiation (writing, drawing, acting)
- Give students a chance to show what they know in creative ways
- Make stories memorable long after we close the book
Turning These Activities Into Centers
One of the best parts about these activities is that many of them can be adapted for literacy centers or small-group rotations. Here’s an example for a writing center:
- Students watch a video about a butterfly garden (such as this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbZac1uD9Lo)
- Students use what they know about butterfly gardens from the video and My School Trip to write an opinion piece on whether or not they would like to visit a butterfly garden.
- Teacher Tip: Display a rubric or a reference chart in the center for students to refer to for support.
Centers not only give students more independence but also provide natural opportunities for review and practice. Plus, they keep the stories fresh even after you’ve finished the main lesson.
Ready-to-Go Activities
If you’re also using HMH Into Reading in first grade and want print-and-go activities for every text in Module 1 (Weeks 1–3), I’ve created a resource set that does just that. It includes differentiated worksheets, creative projects, and no-prep activities aligned to standards.
Disclaimer: These materials are teacher-created supplements and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Teachers should follow their district’s curriculum guidelines when using these activities.
