Looking for an engaging novel study for 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade? Hank Zipzer: Niagara Falls, or Does It? by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver is a funny, relatable chapter book that gives students plenty to talk about while opening the door to meaningful conversations about learning differences, friendship, perseverance, and self-confidence.
And if you’re looking for a Hank Zipzer novel study that makes teaching the book easier, I’ve created a complete, no-prep Hank Zipzer: Niagara Falls, or Does It? book unit with printable and digital resources.
About Hank Zipzer: Niagara Falls, or Does It?
Niagara Falls, or Does It? is the first book in the popular Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver. The series was inspired in part by Winkler’s own experiences growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia.
Hank is bright, creative, funny—and frequently finds himself in trouble at school. His learning challenges affect the way he approaches assignments and schoolwork, but they don’t define his intelligence or his potential.
That makes Hank an especially relatable character for many elementary students.
As students read about Hank’s adventures, they can laugh at his mishaps while also thinking about what it feels like to struggle with something that seems easy for everyone else.
Why Teach Niagara Falls, or Does It? in Your Classroom?
This entertaining novel provides much more than a fun story. It gives students opportunities to practice important reading comprehension and literary analysis skills while discussing meaningful themes.
1. A Relatable Main Character
Hank isn’t a perfect student—and that’s part of what makes him so appealing.
Students can connect with his frustrations, mistakes, friendships, and determination. His experiences can also help open classroom conversations about the fact that people learn and solve problems in different ways.
2. Opportunities to Discuss Perseverance
Hank encounters plenty of challenges throughout the story. Rather than giving up, he keeps trying to figure things out.
This makes the novel a natural fit for discussions about perseverance, resilience, problem-solving, and learning from mistakes.
3. Meaningful Conversations About Learning Differences
Because Hank’s character is connected to Henry Winkler’s experiences with dyslexia, the book can provide an accessible way to discuss learning differences and individual strengths.
Students can consider questions such as:
- Why might something be easy for one person but difficult for another?
- How can the way we respond to mistakes affect us?
- What strengths can people have that aren’t always reflected in schoolwork?
- How can classmates support one another?
4. Strong Connections to ELA Skills
Niagara Falls, or Does It? provides plenty of opportunities for students to practice reading comprehension, vocabulary, character analysis, writing, and critical thinking.
Students can examine Hank’s decisions, identify important events, make predictions, support their thinking with evidence from the text, and explore how the characters change throughout the story.
Use a Complete Hank Zipzer Novel Study
If you want to teach Niagara Falls, or Does It? without spending hours creating comprehension questions, vocabulary activities, assessments, and writing assignments, my Hank Zipzer: Niagara Falls, or Does It? Novel Study is ready to use.
The unit is designed for Grades 3-5 and can be used for whole-class instruction, small groups, literature circles, independent reading, or homeschool.
This novel study includes:
- Chapter-by-chapter comprehension activities
- Vocabulary and spelling activities
- Writing and extension activities
- Assessments
- Teacher lesson plans and pacing information
- Answer keys
- Common Core alignment
- Printable resources
- Google Drive™ resources
The goal is simple: give you a complete Hank Zipzer book unit so you can spend less time planning and more time teaching.
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A Great Choice for a 3rd-5th Grade Novel Study
Whether you’re planning a 3rd-grade novel study, 4th-grade novel study, or 5th-grade novel study, Hank Zipzer: Niagara Falls, or Does It? can be an engaging addition to your reading curriculum.
The humor keeps students interested in the story, while Hank’s experiences provide opportunities for deeper conversations about friendship, perseverance, empathy, confidence, and learning differences.
And once students finish the first Hank Zipzer book, there are plenty more adventures waiting for them in the series!
Ready to Teach Hank Zipzer?
If you’re looking for a Hank Zipzer novel study, Niagara Falls or Does It? book unit, reading comprehension activities, or a no-prep ELA resource for Grades 3-5, take a look at the complete novel study.
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