🪵 “Why Do People Knock on Wood?” Reading Comprehension & ELA Activity (Grades 6–12)

🪵 “Why Do People Knock on Wood?” Reading Comprehension & ELA Activity (Grades 6–12)

Dive into the origins of the age-old superstition with this engaging, standards-aligned reading comprehension activity! Perfect for grades 6–12, this resource explores the history of “knocking on wood” in a student-friendly, 200-word passage that blends history, folklore, and cultural insight.

Students will read about ancient Celtic beliefs, religious traditions, and modern-day habits, then test their understanding with 5 multiple-choice questions. A printable worksheet and teacher answer key are included for easy implementation. Great for bell ringers, sub plans, literacy centers, or as a quick cultural enrichment activity!

✅ What’s Included:

• 1-page informational reading passage
• 5 multiple choice comprehension questions
• Printable worksheet (DOCX format)
• Teacher Answer Key
• Standards-aligned learning objectives
• Total Estimated Time

📚 Subjects Covered:

• ELA Reading Comprehension
• World Cultures & Folklore
• Critical Thinking

⏰ Total Estimated Time: 25–40 Minutes

✅ Suggested Lesson Breakdown:

1. Introduction & Engagement (5–7 minutes)

• Start with a class discussion or quick poll:
• “Have you or someone you know ever knocked on wood?”
• Invite students to share superstitions they’ve heard.

1. Reading the Passage (5–7 minutes)

• Silent reading, partner reading, or read-aloud depending on grade level and time available.

1. Comprehension Questions (10–15 minutes)

• Students complete the 5 multiple-choice questions individually.
• You can extend this with small group or partner discussion.

1. Review & Reflection (5–10 minutes)

• Go over answers together.
• Ask critical thinking questions like:
• “Do you believe in superstitions?” or
• “Why do some traditions stick around even if we don’t believe in them?”

🧩 Optional Extensions:

• Writing Prompt or Journal Entry (10 minutes):
• “Write about a superstition your family or culture believes in and explain why you think it exists.”
• Cross-Curricular Tie-In:
• Connect to history (Celtic traditions), religion (Christian practices), or sociology (cultural habits).

📚 Common Core State Standards (CCSS):

Reading – Informational Text

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.1 – 8.1:
• Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2 – 8.2:
• Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.4 – 8.4:
• Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.

✍️ Writing

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2 – 8.2:
• Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

🎯 Speaking & Listening

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1 – 8.1:
• Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade-level topics, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

💡 Additional Educational Goals:

• Encourage critical thinking around cultural traditions and superstitions.
• Support comprehension and discussion of non-fiction informational texts.
• Strengthen vocabulary and word analysis through context.
• Spark curiosity about world history, folklore, and belief systems.

✨ Great for introducing superstitions, cultural traditions, or simply sparking classroom discussion!