Reading with Arthur is a complete author‑study resource built around Marc Brown’s popular Arthur chapter books. Students explore fifteen engaging stories, each with a detailed summary, vocabulary list, and comprehension activities. The resource supports early chapter‑book readers by modelling how to respond in complete sentences, how to track ideas across chapters, and how to participate in small‑group discussions. The included teaching suggestions emphasize guided reading, collaborative work, and fluency development, making this unit ideal for Grades 2–4.

The resource also includes individualized reading cards, creative writing prompts, art and research activities, evaluation sheets, and student tracking pages. These components help teachers differentiate instruction and monitor progress while students build confidence with longer texts. Because the stories cover a wide range of themes of friendship, honesty, responsibility, teamwork, these lessons can easily extend lessons into social‑emotional learning. This author study provides everything needed for a rich, structured, and engaging reading program.

Learning Expectations

1. Develop new reading skills.
2. Reinforce previously learned reading strategies.
3. Build creative thinking and writing skills.
4. Become familiar with Marc Brown’s writing style.
5. Develop fluency strategies to obtain meaning from print.
6. Engage in group reading and discussion.
7. Track progress using evaluation sheets.

Introduction Includes

• Overview of author study
• List of Arthur chapter books
• Teacher notes
• Story summaries for each book
• Vocabulary lists for each book
• Teaching suggestions
• Evaluation sheets
• Student tracking sheets
• Individualized reading cards
• Creative writing activity cards
• Art activity cards
• Research activity cards
• Reproducible blanks

Canadian Curriculum Standards Alignment

Ontario Language Curriculum (Grades 2–4)

• Reading:
• D1.1–D1.4: Comprehension, making inferences, identifying text features, extending understanding.
• D2.1–D2.3: Vocabulary strategies, literary devices, text patterns.
• Writing:
• E1.1–E1.4: Developing ideas, organizing information, voice, revising.
• Oral Communication:
• C1.1–C1.5: Active listening, group discussions, expressing opinions.
• Media Literacy:
• F1.1–F1.3: Interpreting media forms (Arthur TV episode suggestion).

British Columbia ELA (Grades 2–4)

• Comprehend and connect (reading strategies, making meaning).
• Create and communicate (written responses, creative writing).
• Collaborate and discuss texts.
• Expand vocabulary and language features.

Alberta ELA (Grades 2–4)

• 1.1–1.3: Explore and understand texts.
• 2.1–2.4: Respond, interpret, and express ideas.
• 3.1–3.3: Collaborate and manage information.
• 4.1–4.3: Enhance vocabulary and language use.

Saskatchewan ELA (Grades 2–4)

• CR (Comprehend & Respond): Reading strategies, text features.
• CC (Compose & Create): Written responses, creative tasks.
• AR (Assess & Reflect): Tracking sheets, evaluation records.

Manitoba ELA (Grades 2–4)

• Reading comprehension strategies.
• Personal responses to literature.
• Vocabulary development.
• Group discussion and collaborative learning.

Atlantic Provinces (NB, NS, PEI, NL)

• Reading for meaning and enjoyment.
• Responding personally and critically to texts.
• Writing for various purposes.
• Oral communication and group collaboration.

Common Core ELA Standards (Grades 2–4)

• Reading Literature: RL.2.1–2.7, RL.3.1–3.7, RL.4.1–4.6
• Reading Foundational Skills: RF.2–4 (fluency, decoding, vocabulary).
• Writing: W.2–4 (responses, narratives, opinion writing).
• Speaking & Listening: SL.2–4 (group work, discussions).
• Language: L.2–4 (vocabulary, conventions).

Reading Activities for Each Book

Students will need a dedicated place to record their answers, as the chapter‑question pages are not designed for writing directly on them. Before beginning the author study, set students up with a workbook or folder system so all their responses, vocabulary work, and creative tasks stay organized and easy to assess. Answer Key included.

1.  Arthur's Mystery Envelope
2.  Arthur and the Scare-Your-Pants-Off Club
3.  Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest
4.  Arthur Makes the Team
5.  Arthur Accused!
6.  Locked in the Library
7.  Buster's Dino Dilemma
8.  The Mystery of the Stolen Bike
9.  Arthur and the Lost Diary
10.  Who's in Love with Arthur?
11.  Arthur Rocks with BINKY
12.  Arthur and the Popularity Test
13.  King Arthur
14.  Francine, Believe It or Not
15.  Arthur and the Cootie Catcher

Extension Activities

These half‑page activity cards are designed for flexible classroom use and work best when prepared ahead of time. Colour, mount, and laminate the cards to create durable centre materials that can be placed on tables, tucked into literacy bins, or handed out individually. Because the cards do not include writing space, students will need a notebook, workbook, or reading folder to record their responses. Setting this up before beginning the author study ensures that all comprehension, creative writing, and reflection tasks stay organized, easy to assess, and ready for conferencing.

Creative Writing Activities

1. Write a jingle for a commercial for cereal
2. Write a story
3. Complete a journal entry of when you told a lie
4. Write a summary of your three favorite Athur books
5. Write a letter to Marc Brown
6. Write a letter to one of the characters in the books you have read
7. Draw a picture of your favorite character
8. Prepare a speech about your favorite book
9. Write the message from three of the books you read
10. Write a journal entry describing what you would if locked in a building.

 Art Activities

1. Design a bookmark
2. Make a cootie catcher
3. Make a poster
4. Paint your favorite scene

Research Activities

1. Who was Joan of Arc?
2. What were the Middle Ages
3. Who was King Arthur?
4. What is your favorite dinosaur?

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