Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Lesson plans and teaching resources

Creative writing prompt: "I walked across the bridge and ..." The photographs of real bridges on this page are astonishingly beautiful. However, the page also carries ads that may not be appropriate for the classroom. Consider copying the photographs into a new file for classroom use.

This unit plan includes 5 lessons designed for 5th grade. Access to student handouts requires (free) registration. CCSS.

Synopsis, lesson on foreshadowing and flashback, lesson on setting, and printable handouts for both lessons. Adobe Reader required; 8 pages.

A rich resource: Author biography and background information, vocabulary, graphic organizers to support active reading, questions for discussion and analysis, writing tasks. This 22-page guide requires Adobe Reader.

Summary and 10 discussion questions.

Summary and 4 activities to support the book.

This lesson plan helps students visualize the setting and "hear" the dialogue. Scroll down for a second activity involving a field trip.

Author interview, making predictions, writing task. 5 pages; Adobe Reader required.

Eleven activities to support the 2007 film version. The 34-page discussion guide requires Adobe Reader. It is designed for students ages 9-12.

Students make predictions about the book and its main characters, complete character studies as part of an in-depth look at Jess and Leslie's friendship, and relate the characters' experiences to their own as they define friendship and identify ways to make and keep friends.

Students make predictions, write a summary, and analyze. 1 page; Adobe Reader required.

Commentary on the book and the movie.

Character analysis activity. 1 page; Adobe Reader required.

Words organized by chapters and presented in context with definition. Click on the word for pronunciation, examples of recent use, more.