Group assignments for analysing texts that I had a teacher do for me once:

Word Illustrator: finds words in the text that are descriptive, or call an image to mind.

Text Summarizer: puts together the sum of the message.

Image Designer: draws the scene or action of the text based on its description.

Predictor: makes predictions as the text progresses and at the end of it.

These types of assignments give all students in the group a responsibility, a purpose for the assignment, and helps them feel that the skill they are developing is a talent, not a chore.  I would love to try this with third or fourth graders.