Unplugged by Steve Antony is a picture book that follows Blip, a robot who enjoys being plugged in to her computer. One day she experiences a blackout and ends up outside. When she finally returns, she discovers she enjoys being unplugged. I’ve created a few resources you can use with your students while reading this story.

COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY

Like many of my other picture book companions, you’ll find resources to support comprehension and vocabulary. There are 8 discussion questions – some of these questions are text-dependent and others will help your students connect with the text and help guide them to think beyond the text. These questions come in a card format. You can place these on a ring and keep them close to the book. The questions are also included on a page where students can write their responses to the questions. There are also a few graphic organizers included to support comprehension.

I have chosen 10 vocabulary words from the text. You can print out the vocabulary cards and place them in a pocket chart or add them to your wall or board. Once you have read the book and discussed the meaning of the words in context, students can complete a vocabulary match-up activity to demonstrate understanding of the words.

ROBOT CRAFT

Your students can also create their own Blip using the craft templates in this book companion. I have included three writing templates (primary lines, intermediate lines, and a picture/writing combination). There are a few writing suggestions included with the craft, but I have left the papers simple so you can choose your own writing prompt. Here are just a few examples of what students can create:

EXTENSIONS AND EXTRAS

Finally, I have added a few extra activities your students will enjoy. Since the story focuses on Blip’s adventures both inside and outside, you can use this graphing activity:

The words in the story are very simple and straightforward, but the illustrations add so many details. Since students LOVE to point out things they notice about the illustrations, I have included this activity. Students can identify two of the illustrations in the story and write what information they have gathered from the picture.