Classroom Activities for “Every Night at Midnight” by Peter Cheong

Peter Cheong’s enchanting tale, “Every Night at Midnight,” is one of the standout selections from the 2024 Book Week Shortlist. This magical journey captivates young minds and ignites their imaginations. This beautifully crafted story provides a rich tapestry of themes and characters, making it an ideal choice for classroom exploration. To help you bring this story to life for your students, I’ve created a comprehensive book companion resource designed to enhance their learning experience and deepen their understanding.

“Every Night at Midnight” transports readers to a world where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary at the stroke of midnight. Through evocative prose and stunning illustrations, Peter Cheong weaves a tale that is both whimsical and profound. The story’s themes of adventure, discovery, and self-reflection make it a perfect tool for fostering critical thinking and creativity in the classroom.

To support your teaching of “Every Night at Midnight,” I’ve developed a resource packed with 20 engaging worksheets and activities. Here’s how you can use this resource to enhance your students’ exploration of the story:

• Story Maps: Guide your students through the narrative arc, helping them identify key plot points and understand the story’s structure.
• Retell Worksheets: Reinforce comprehension by having students summarize the story in their own words, enhancing their recall and sequencing skills.

• Character Trait Activities: Dive deep into character analysis with activities that explore the traits, motivations, and development of the story’s characters. These exercises encourage students to think critically about character behavior and relationships.
• “Me at Midnight” Writing Activity: Spark creative expression with the “Me at Midnight” writing activity, available in three versions to cater to diverse learners. This activity invites students to imagine their own midnight transformations, fostering imaginative thinking and personal connection to the story.
• Vocabulary Word Searches and Dialogue Activities: Expand vocabulary and reinforce word recognition skills with engaging word searches. Dialogue activities help students understand character interactions and the importance of dialogue in storytelling, enhancing their comprehension and analytical skills.
• Comprehension Worksheets: A variety of comprehension worksheets focus on key skills such as predicting, making connections, and questioning. These exercises deepen understanding and promote critical thinking, encouraging students to engage with the text on a deeper level.
• Wolf Description Activities: Delve into the story’s enchanting creatures with description activities that encourage detailed observation and creative writing. These exercises help students develop their descriptive language skills and enhance their ability to visualize and articulate ideas.

“Every Night at Midnight” is a treasure trove of literary magic, perfect for captivating young readers and sparking meaningful discussions in the classroom.