Making Text Connections Worksheet

This worksheet helps 8th-grade students practice making text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections to deepen their reading comprehension.

Grade 8 ELA ReadingReading Comprehension StrategiesMaking Text Connections

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Text3 Short AnswerFill in the Blanks

Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.1CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.2CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2

Topics

ELAReadingReading ComprehensionText ConnectionsGrade 8

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Making Text Connections

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Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow. Practice making text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections.

Passage: The Old Willow Tree

Elara loved the old willow tree at the edge of the creek. Its long, weeping branches had been a part of her life since she was a toddler, providing shade for her picnics and a secret hideout for her adventures. She'd carved her initials into its trunk, a small, almost invisible mark among the countless others left by generations of children before her. The tree had seen everything – laughter, tears, whispered secrets, and the quiet passage of seasons. Sometimes, when the wind rustled through its leaves, Elara felt as if the tree was sharing stories of all the lives it had touched, a living library of memories.

1. Text-to-Self: Does the passage about the willow tree remind you of any personal experiences or memories you have with a special place or object? Explain your connection.

2. Text-to-Text: Have you read any other books, stories, or poems that feature a significant natural element (like a tree, river, or mountain) that holds special meaning for the characters? How does the willow tree in the passage compare to that element?

3. Text-to-World: The passage describes the willow tree as a 'living library of memories' that has 'seen everything.' How does this idea connect to real-world concepts or observations about nature, history, or community? Think about how natural landmarks can hold cultural or historical significance.

Read each statement and identify if it is a Text-to-Self, Text-to-Text, or Text-to-World connection.

4. Reading about a character who struggles with stage fright reminds me of a time I had to give a presentation in class. This is a connection.

5. This story about a dystopian society makes me think of the novel 'The Giver' because both explore themes of individuality and conformity. This is a connection.

6. The article discussing climate change and its impact on polar bears makes me consider the current events reported on the news about melting ice caps. This is a connection.