Dragon Talks: Exploring How to Train Your Dragon Through Lit Circles

Grade Level: 5th-6th Grade
Subject: English Language Arts
Duration: 60 Minutes

Objective

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to engage in literature circle discussions to analyze character development, theme, and plot in How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell. Students will practice active listening, questioning, and supporting their ideas with textual evidence.

Materials Needed

• Copies of How to Train Your Dragon (class set or per group if available)

• Whiteboard or chart paper

• Markers

• Pre-assigned literature circle roles (e.g., Discussion Director, Connector, Summarizer, Word Wizard, Illustrator) written on the board or assigned verbally

Lesson Plan Outline

1. Engagement Activity: Fire Up the Conversation (10 Minutes)

Ask: Begin with an open-ended question: “Imagine if dragons were real and you had to train one. What would be the most important quality in a dragon trainer?”

Do: Record student responses on the board. Encourage quick think-pair-share conversations.

Say: “In How to Train Your Dragon, Hiccup is not the strongest or the loudest Viking, but he finds a new way to approach a challenge. Today, we’re going to explore how the characters, especially Hiccup, grow through their experiences.”

Transition: “Now let’s dig deeper using literature circles to explore different perspectives in the story.”

2. Instruction and Demonstration: Lit Circles in Action (10 Minutes)

Say: “Literature Circles are like book clubs, but with assigned roles that help everyone contribute. Each person in your group will have a job that keeps the discussion going.”

Do: Review and explain the five roles:

• Discussion Director: Asks open-ended questions.

• Connector: Links story events to personal experiences or other texts.

• Summarizer: Recaps the key points of the reading.

• Word Wizard: Highlights powerful or unfamiliar words.

• Illustrator: Describes or draws a scene or character trait.

Ask: “Which of these jobs sounds the most exciting to you?” (Call on a few students to respond.)

Say: “Great! Today you’ll be working in groups to complete one round of your lit circle using a short assigned passage from the book.”

3. Guided Practice: Role Assignments and Strategy Prep (10 Minutes)

Do: Sort students into small groups (4–5 students). Assign each student a role or allow them to choose quickly.

Say: “You’ll have about 20 minutes to read the selected passage together or silently, and then complete your role's task. Remember, good discussions include listening, asking questions, and giving reasons for your ideas.”

Note: If students are already partway through the book, choose a relevant passage from the current chapter. If not, assign the first chapter or a high-interest excerpt (pages can be written on the board).

4. Independent Practice: Literature Circle Discussions (20 Minutes)

Do: Students read the selected passage and perform their assigned roles. They then participate in a 10–15 minute group discussion guided by their role’s task.

Ask: Prompt quieter students with questions like:

• “What do you think this character is feeling right now?”

• “Can anyone relate this to a real-life challenge?”

• “What did you notice about the author’s word choices here?”

Say: “Each group will wrap up by having the Summarizer give a quick recap and the Illustrator (or another member) share something interesting from the discussion.”

5. Reflection and Wrap-Up: From Dragon Tales to Real Lessons (10 Minutes)

Do: Bring the class back together. Ask one volunteer from each group to briefly share:

• A surprising idea that came up.

• One strong theme or character change they noticed.

Ask: “How does Hiccup show strength in a different way than other Vikings? Why do you think that’s important?”

Say: “The great thing about stories like How to Train Your Dragon is that they teach us how to solve problems creatively and see strength in unexpected places.”

Assessment

• Observe student participation and role completion during the literature circle discussion.

• Listen for evidence of critical thinking, textual references, and student engagement.

• Check for role-based contributions, especially how students support their ideas or build on others’ comments.

Extension Ideas (Optional, for Extra Time or Follow-Up Lessons):

• Write a short diary entry from the perspective of Hiccup or Toothless after a key event.

• Create a "Dragon Training Manual" as a class, incorporating lessons learned from the text.

• Role-play a council meeting in Berk debating whether dragons are friend or foe.

Written by Rachel Jones
Education World Contributor
Copyright© 2025 Education World