Wonder Seekers Teacher GuideWonder Seekers Teacher Guide: A Reading of 'Awe' by Chana Stiefel Grade Level: 3rd - 4th Subject: ELA / SEL Duration: 45-60 Minutes Learning Objectives Students will define awe as a feeling of wonder and amazement. Students will identify descriptive language (adjectives, sensory details, metaphors) in the text. Students will reflect on personal experiences of awe through writing and drawing. Materials Needed The book: Awe by Chana Stiefel Awe Discovery Slides Awe Journal Worksheets Colored pencils or markers 1. The Hook (5-7 mins) Show the first slide ("What is Awe?"). Ask students: "Have you ever seen something so big, so beautiful, or so amazing that you just had to stop and stare?" Teacher Tip: Share a brief personal moment of awe—like seeing the Grand Canyon, a massive thunderstorm, or a tiny ladybug—to model the feeling. 2. Guided Read Aloud (15-20 mins) Read Awe by Chana Stiefel. Pause at key moments to discuss both the feeling and the language: Language Spotlights: Ask: "What words did the author use here to make this scene feel special? Was it a color? A sound? A comparison?" Connection Questions: "Look at the characters' faces. How do we know they are feeling awe?" "Does awe always have to be something huge, like a mountain? Can it be something small?" 3. Word Detectives (10 mins) Display the "Language Hunt" slide. Together, identify 3-5 descriptive phrases from the book. Write them on the board. Categorize them: Colors, Sounds, Feelings, Action. 4. Reflection & Creation (15-20 mins) Distribute the Awe Journal Worksheet. Students will: Record their favorite descriptive phrase from the book. Write about a personal "Awe Moment." Illustrate that moment with detail. 5. Closing Circle (5 mins) Invite 2-3 volunteers to share their "Awe Moment." End with the takeaway: "Awe is a superpower. It helps us slow down and appreciate the world around us." Differentiation & Support Scaffolding: Provide a "Word Bank" of descriptive adjectives from the book for the worksheet. Allow students to dictate their reflection if writing is a barrier. Extension: Challenge students to write a short poem using three of the descriptive words they found in the text.
Awe Journal WorksheetMy Awe Journal Wonder Seeker Field Notes Name: Date: Word Collecting In the book Awe, the author uses beautiful, descriptive language to help us feel what the characters feel. Choose one of your favorite words or phrases from the book and write it below. Why did you choose this word? Does it sound like a color? A sound? A feeling? My Moment of Awe Think about a time you felt Awe. Maybe you were looking at the stars, watching a giant bridge, or seeing a tiny hummingbird. Describe what you saw, heard, and felt. Sketch Your Wonder "The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."
Awe Discovery SlidesWonder Seekers Exploring the Magic of Awe Inspired by 'Awe' by Chana Stiefel What is Awe? Awe is a super-emotion. It’s that feeling you get when you see something so big, so beautiful, or so amazing that you just have to stop and stare. "It's like your heart is growing bigger to fit all the wonder inside." Amazement Wonder Surprise Magic The Language of Wonder Word Detectives Authors use special Descriptive Language to help us feel awe. Let's look for: Colors Instead of just "blue," is it "shimmering sapphire" or "inky midnight"? Sounds Does it "rumble like thunder" or "whisper through the leaves"? Size Is it "colossal," "gigantic," or "limitless"? Where do you find Awe? In the Gigantic... Soaring Mountain Peaks The Endless Galaxy Ancient Forests In the Tiny... A Single Snowflake A Ladybug's Spots A New Green Leaf Your Turn! 1 Collector Record your favorite Sparkle Word from the book. 2 Explorer Describe a time you felt Awe in your own life. 3 Artist Sketch your wonder with as much detail as you can. "Awe is the beginning of everything." Keep seeking wonder
Gallery of Wonder SlidesA Visual Journey The Gallery of Wonder "Prepare to see the world through the eyes of awe." The Infinite Above "Imagine looking up at a billion shimmering diamonds scattered across an ocean of velvet ink." The Roaring Deep "Hear the thunder of a thousand rivers crashing over the edge of the world, hidden in mist and rainbow spray." Giant Spirits "Stand beneath trees that have seen three thousand winters, their branches touching the clouds and their roots holding the earth." The Tiny Miracle "Look closer. See the perfect crystal patterns of a single snowflake, or the shimmering rainbow on a beetle’s wing." Human Wonders "Behold the stone giants we have built, bridges that span the sky and cities that glow like embers in the night." "Which moment made your heart feel the biggest?" Notice What did you see first? Feel Where in your body did you feel it? Wonder What question did you have?
Grand Canyon Awe Coloring Sheet Space OptimizedGrand Canyon Wonder A Coloring Journey into Awe Name: Date: AWE Word Collector Think of 3 words that describe this magnificent view: 1 2 3 Geologist's Fact The Grand Canyon is over one mile deep! The layers of rock at the bottom are nearly two billion years old. Coloring Challenge: Try using 5 different shades of red, orange, and brown for the rock layers! Seek Wonder Every Day
Grand Canyon Awe Coloring Sheet Space OptimizedGrand Canyon Wonder A Coloring Journey into Awe Name: Date: AWE Word Collector 1 2 3 Fact The Grand Canyon is over one mile deep! The layers of rock at the bottom are nearly two billion years old. Seek Wonder Every Day
