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Can You Relate?

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Melinda Miller

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Relate-and-Reflect Plan

Students will strengthen reading comprehension and social-emotional skills by making text-to-self connections, relating story events to personal experiences through guided questions and mapping.

Encouraging students to connect text events with their own feelings boosts engagement, empathy, and deeper understanding, supporting both academic and social-emotional growth.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

10 minutes

Approach

Guided questions, discussion circle, mapping, and reflection.

Materials

  • Can You Relate? Slides, - Text-to-Self Circle Discussion Guide, - Connection Map Worksheet, and - One-Word Wrap-Up Prompt

Prep

Teacher Preparation

5 minutes

  • Review Can You Relate? Slides.
  • Print enough copies of Connection Map Worksheet.
  • Familiarize yourself with the questions in Text-to-Self Circle Discussion Guide.
  • Prepare slips or digital cards for the One-Word Wrap-Up Prompt.

Step 1

Introduction

2 minutes

  • Display Slide 1 from Can You Relate? Slides.
  • Tell students we’re looking for moments in stories that feel like real life.
  • Ask: “Have you ever felt like this before?” for quick pair-share.

Step 2

Guided Connection

4 minutes

  • Show story event slides from Can You Relate? Slides.
  • Use Text-to-Self Circle Discussion Guide to ask: “How does this event make you feel?”
  • Students share brief personal connections in a circle.

Step 3

Connection Mapping

2 minutes

  • Hand out Connection Map Worksheet.
  • Students draw the story event in the center and write or sketch their personal connection around it.

Step 4

Wrap-Up Reflection

2 minutes

  • Distribute the One-Word Wrap-Up Prompt.
  • Students write one word that describes their connection, then volunteers share their word and a quick explanation.
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Slide Deck

Can You Relate?

Today we’ll look for moments in stories that feel just like real life. As we read, ask yourself: “Have I ever felt this way?”

Welcome students and introduce the goal: to connect story moments to our own lives. Prompt them: “Have you ever felt something in a story that reminded you of a real feeling?” Do a quick pair-share.

Story Snapshot: First-Time Nerves

"Sara felt her heart pound as she stepped onto the stage for the first time."
Question: Have you ever felt nervous like Sara?

Display the snippet. Read aloud: “Sara felt her heart pound as she stepped onto the stage for the first time.” Ask students to turn to a partner and share: “Have you ever felt nervous in front of others?” Use questions from the Text-to-Self Circle Discussion Guide to deepen the share.

Story Snapshot: Rainy Day Blues

"Carlos watched the rain pour down and felt trapped inside his room."
Question: When have you felt stuck or bored like Carlos?

Read: “Carlos watched the rain pour down and felt trapped inside his room.” Invite pairs to discuss: “When have you felt stuck or restless like Carlos?” Refer back to the discussion guide for follow-up prompts.

Connection Mapping

Grab your Connection Map Worksheet.
• Draw the story moment in the center.
• Around it, sketch or describe your own related experience.

Distribute the Connection Map Worksheet. Instruct students to choose one story moment (Sara or Carlos) and draw it in the center. Around it, sketch or write how that moment connects to their own experience.

One-Word Wrap-Up

Think of one word that describes your personal connection.
Write it down and get ready to share!

Hand out slips or digital cards for the One-Word Wrap-Up. Ask each student to write one word that captures their connection, then invite a few volunteers to share their word and why they chose it.

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Discussion

Text-to-Self Circle Discussion Guide

Overview

In this discussion, students sit in a circle to share quick personal connections to story snippets. The goal is to deepen comprehension by relating text events to their own experiences.

Structure & Timing (4 minutes)

  1. Prompt Introduction (1 minute)
    • Teacher reads the selected story snippet aloud and poses the initial question.
  2. Partner Share (2 minutes)
    • Students turn to a neighbor and take 30 seconds each to share their personal connection.
  3. Circle Share (1 minute)
    • Volunteers briefly share highlights of their partner discussion with the whole group.

Initial Prompts

  • “How did this moment make you feel?”
  • “Have you ever experienced something similar?”

Follow-Up Prompts

  • “What made that experience memorable?”
  • “Did your feelings about it change over time?”
  • “If it happened again today, how might you react differently?”

Facilitation Tips

  • Model a personal connection first to set the tone.
  • Use a talking piece (e.g., a small object) to manage speaking turns if needed.
  • Encourage concise shares to include as many voices as possible.



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Worksheet

Connection Map Worksheet

Objective: Visually map a story event to your own experiences by drawing and writing connections.

Instructions:

  1. Choose one story moment from the slides (either Sara’s first-time nerves or Carlos’s rainy-day blues).
  2. In the center circle below, draw or write that story moment.
  3. Around the circle, identify four personal connections. For each, sketch or write a brief description in the spaces provided.

1. Story Event (Center):
(Draw or write the chosen story snippet here)












2. Personal Connections

Connection 1:






Connection 2:






Connection 3:






Connection 4:






Use this map to reflect on how the story moment mirrors your own feelings or experiences. Be ready to share one of your connections with the class!

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Cool Down

One-Word Wrap-Up

Instructions: Think of one word that describes your personal connection to the story moment. Write your word below.




Share: Be ready to explain why you chose your word.

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