One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn Novel Study

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This bundle of activities is for the novel One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn -- a historical fiction AND paranormal book that should be quite popular with your students. 

The set includes the chapter questions and flipbook of literary elements.

Chapter Questions:

 There is a question for each chapter of the book, for a total of 25 questions.

-The questions are a mixture of higher level thinking questions and are intended to be short answer, with one or two paragraphs for each response. They are NOT multiple choice, and would NOT be as helpful for a quick check for understanding.

In this resource, you will find three version of the questions. Use the directions included to pull out the version you need.

1. Printable version - student packet with a cover sheet and three questions on each page. Lines for each answer.

2. Student questions with no lines. Teachers or students can add text boxes to the PDF for typing if your technology allows that.

3. The entire list of questions on just three pages so that students could write their answers in a reading journal they already have or type their answers separately and submit them electronically.

-For each question there is also a model answer included in the file. While answers may vary in your classroom, these sample pieces would be a good place to start, especially if you are leading a class discussion.

Click on photos for more info.

Topics include:

Comparing and contrasting characters, settings, situations, etc.

Descriptions, processes, details from history.

Changes, motivations, and being in a character's shoes.

Summarizing, positives and negatives, and unknowns.

Designing a better solution, and point of view.

Students can write on the pages, type on a computer, or write in a journal.  Lots of flexibility!!

Flipbook of Literary Elements:

This FLIP BOOK is for One for Sorrow. Use it as an on-going check for literary understanding, an end of the unit assessment, or a simple book report. Great for Literature Circles.

-You should be able to print this out, fold, and go. No cutting necessary. Save paper!! (Black and white version also included to save on ink.) Includes directions if you need help folding. 

Click on photos for more info.

Each panel discusses a different literary element.

-Characters – Who are the main ones and then choose one to dig a little deeper.

-Setting – Thinking about the time and the place, describe two different settings from the book and decide if the setting influences other elements.

-Conflict – Character vs Character, Character vs Nature, Character vs Self, and Character vs Society.

-Summary – Using the Somebody Wanted But So Then technique, summarize this novel.

-Theme – What is the topic of our book? How is that different than the theme?

-Also places for some sketches or drawings, just to keep it interesting.

This entire bundle would be perfect for something spooky to read or a unit on paranormal stories.

Merci Suarez Changes Gears Novel Study

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This BUNDLE of activities is for the novel Merci Suárez Changes Gears By Meg Medina, a realistic contemporary fiction novel.

-The set includes the chapter questions (and answers), the flip book of literary elements, and the creative connections booklet.


Chapter Questions
The chapter questions have a total of 38 questions for this novel.

-The questions are a mixture of higher level thinking questions and are intended to be short answer, with one or two paragraphs for each response. They are NOT multiple choice and would NOT be as helpful for a quick check for understanding.

In the file, you will find three version of the questions. Use the directions included to pull out the

Click on photo for more information.

version you need.

1. Printable version - student packet with a cover sheet and three questions on each page. Lines for each answer.

2. Student questions with no lines. Teachers or students can add text boxes to the PDF for typing if your technology allows that.

3. The entire list of questions on just five pages so that students could write their answers in a reading journal they already have or type their answers separately and submit them electronically.

-For each question there is also a model answer included in the file. While answers may vary in your classroom, these sample pieces would be a good place to start, especially if you are leading a class discussion.


Flipbook
The FLIP BOOK (flipbook)for the novel Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina can be used as an on-going check for literary understanding, an end of the unit assessment, or a simple book report. Great for Literature Circles.

-You should be able to print this out, fold, and go. No cutting necessary. Save paper!! Directions included if you need help folding.

-Each panel discusses a different literary element.

Click on photo for more information.

-Characters – Who are the main ones and then choose one to dig a little deeper.

-Setting – Thinking about the time and the place, describe two different settings from the book and decide if the setting influences other elements.

-Conflict – Character vs Character, Character vs Nature, Character vs Self, and Character vs Society.

-Summary – Using the Somebody Wanted But So Then technique, summarize this novel.

-Theme – What is the topic of our book? How is that different than the theme?

-Also places for some sketches or drawings, just to keep it interesting.

Updated to add a black and white version to save ink!


Creative Connections
The Creative Connections are meant to help students connect with the novel (its setting, characters, and plot) in a more creative way than simple questions to check for understanding. Use this as part of a daily warm up, an end of the unit book report, or a supplement for literature circles.

-In this file, you will also find three version of the questions. Use the directions included to pull out the version you need.

1. Printable version - student booklet with a cover and one question on each page. Lines for each

Click on photo for more information.

answer where needed.

2. Student questions with no lines. Teachers or students can add text boxes to the PDF for typing if your technology allows that. One question per page.

3. The entire list of questions on just one page so that students could write their answers in a reading journal they already have or type their answers separately and submit them electronically.

-The topics include making a timeline, creating an award, devising an online ad, sketching a scene, planning a menu, writing a text exchange, designing a logo, writing a poem, casting a movie, writing a letter, and redesigning a cover. You will like the clean format. The packet and booklet both include a cover with space for a student name.

This entire bundle would be perfect for National Hispanic Heritage Month  -- September 15 thru October 15.

Things Seen from Above novel study

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This bundle of resources is for the novel Things Seen from Above by Shelley Pearsall, a realistic contemporary fiction novel centered around a sixth-grade girl volunteering on the elementary playground.. Use these for a novel study, read aloud activities, literature circles, or individual reading comprehension.

There are three sets included here: The Chapter Questions with answers, the Creative Connections activities, and the One Pager book report. All files are either printable OR teachers or students can add text boxes to the PDF for typing if your technology allows that.

Chapter Questions:

There is a question for each chapter of the book, for a total of 65 questions!

The questions are a mixture of higher-level thinking questions and are intended to be short answer, with three to four sentences for each response. They are NOT multiple choice and would NOT be as helpful for a quick check for understanding.

In this file, you will find three version of the questions. Use the directions included to pull out the version you need.

Click on photos for more info

1. Printable version - student packet with a cover sheet and three questions on each page. Lines for each answer.

2. Student questions with no lines. Teachers or students can add text boxes to the PDF for typing if your technology allows that.

3. The entire list of questions on just six pages so that students could write their answers in a reading journal they already have or type their answers separately and submit them electronically.

For each question there is also a model answer included in the file. While answers may vary in your classroom, these sample pieces would be a good place to start, especially if you are leading a class discussion.

Topics included in the questions:
Descriptions                 Inferences
Point of view                Alliteration
Similes                         Cause and effect
Metaphors                    Flashback
Summarizing               Setting
Process                        Making connections
Dealing with problems
Allusions                     Predictions
Contradictions            Analyzing quotes
Ethics                         Creativity
Hypothesizing            Personification
Empathy                     Giving advice
Avoiding people          Opinions
Analyzing emotions
Life Motto                  Foreshadowing
Perspective                 Irony
Plot twists                   Defining leadership
Opinions on the ending

Creative Connections:

This set is meant to help students connect with the novel (its setting, characters, and plot) in a more creative way than simple questions to check for understanding. Use this as part of a daily warm up, an end of the unit book report, or a supplement for literature circles.

-In this file, you will find three version of the questions. Use the directions below to pull out the version you need.

1. Printable version - student booklet with a cover, uses three sheets of paper. Just print, fold, and go.

2. Student questions with no lines on a full sheet. Teachers or students can add text boxes to the pdf for typing if your technology allows that.

3. The entire list of questions on just one page so that students could write their answers in a reading journal they already have or type their answers separately and submit them electronically.

Click on photos for more info

-The topics include making a timeline, creating an award, analyzing a quote, personal similarities, evaluating the title, writing a text exchange, designing an advertisement, writing a poem, planning a day, writing a letter, and redesigning a cover. You will like the clean format. The packet and booklet both include a cover with space for a student name.

One Pager:

There are three different versions of the One Pager to be used for differentiation.

-The first option is a sheet with 11 spaces, each labeled with a specific element about the book. The title space has been filled in. Students should be able to fill in the other spaces.

-The second option has the shapes, but students need to use a list of the book elements and they decide which piece would fit best for what they want to write.

-The third option is using a list of the requirements and students must design their own shapes to answer the question. They may choose to use plain paper or perhaps design something online.

-There is an optional attached rubric for this project.

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Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop book study

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These activities are for the book Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop – the Sanitation Strike of 1968 by Alice Faye Duncan, a historical fiction piece set around a 9-year-old girl who whose father went on strike during this time. This resource is perfect for Black History Month or Martin Luther King Day. There are two different products in this small bundle: the book Discussion Questions and the Creative Connections activities.

Book Discussion Questions:

The discussion questions can be used for a book study, read aloud activities, literature circles, or individual reading comprehension. There is a question for each vignette of the book, for a total of 18 questions.

The questions are a mixture of higher-level thinking questions and are intended to be short answer, with three to four sentences for each response. They are NOT multiple choice and would NOT be as helpful for a quick check for understanding.

In this file, you will find three version of the questions. Use the directions included to pull out the project for your group.

1. Printable version - student packet with a cover sheet and three questions on each page. Lines for each answer.

2. Student questions with no lines. Teachers or students can add text boxes to the pdf for typing if your technology allows that.

Click on photos for more info.

3. The entire list of questions on just two pages so that students could write their answers in a reading journal they already have or type their answers separately and submit them electronically.

For each question there is also a model answer included. While answers may vary in your classroom, these sample pieces would be a good place to start, especially if you are leading a class discussion.
Question Topics Include:

Point of view

Metaphors

Summarizing

Descriptions

Vocabulary

Change in atmosphere

Explain dignity

Haiku description

Mood

Opinion on safety

Analyze a quote

Heroism

Motivation

Describing reactions

Benefits to community

Timeline

Illustrations

Overall impression

The file also includes pre-teaching suggestions.

Creative Connections to the book:

This set is meant to help students connect with the book in a more creative way than simple questions to check for understanding. Use this as part of a daily warm up, an end of the unit book report, or a supplement for literature circles.

In this file, you will find three version of the questions. Use the directions included to pull out the version you need.

1.Printable version - student booklet with a cover and one question on each page. Lines for each answer where needed.

2.Student questions with no lines. Teachers or students can add text boxes to the pdf for typing if your technology allows that. One question per page.

3.The entire list of questions on just one page so that students could write their answers in a reading journal they already have or type their answers separately and submit them electronically.

Click on photos for more info.

The topics include considering the text, creating an award, analyzing a quote, retelling point of view, evaluating the title, convincing a teacher, designing a advertisement, writing a poem, composing a diary, writing a letter, and redesigning a cover. You will like the clean format. The booklet includes a cover with space for a student name.

These resources are perfect for Black History Month or Martin Luther King Day.

Tristan Strong Novel Study

These activities are for the novel Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia for a novel study, read aloud activities, literature circles, or individual reading comprehension.

Click on any image in this post for more information.

These resources are for the fantasy book that uses African mythology and African American folklore – similar to Percy Jackson novels -- that should be very popular with your students.

There are four of the original activities plus one FREE BONUS for a total of 97 pages in this bundle.

First, the Chapter Questions:

There is a question for each chapter of the book, for a total of 51 questions!

-The questions are a mixture of higher-level thinking questions and are intended to be short answer, with three to four sentences for each response. They are NOT multiple choice and would NOT be as helpful for a quick check for understanding.

In this file, you will find three version of the questions. Use the directions included to pull out the version you need.

1. Printable version - student packet with a cover sheet and three questions on each page. Lines for each answer.

2. Student questions with no lines. Teachers or students can add text boxes to the PDF for typing if your technology allows that.

3. The entire list of questions on just six pages so that students could write their answers in a reading journal they already have or type their answers separately and submit them electronically.

Click on the image for more info.

For each question there is also a model answer included. While answers may vary in your classroom, these sample pieces would be a good place to start, especially if you are leading a class discussion.

Questions cover:

-First impressions

-Foreshadowing

-Motivations

-Similes

-Descriptions

-Opinions

-Personification

-Point of view

-Conflict

-Process writing

-Analyzing quotes

-Flashback

-Personal sharing

-Compare/contrast

-Vocabulary analysis

-Setting

-Audience

-Mythology and folklore

-Metaphors

-Cliffhangers

-Allusions

-Sarcasm

-Onomatopoeia

-Survivor’s guilt

Creative Connections:

This set is meant to help students connect with the novel (its setting, characters, and plot) in a more creative way than simple questions to check for understanding. Use this as part of a daily warm up, an end of the unit book report, or a supplement for literature circles.

Click on the image for more info.

In this file, you will find three version of the questions. Use the directions included to pull out the version you need.

1. Printable version - student booklet with a cover, uses three sheets of paper. Just print, fold, and go.

2. Student questions with no lines on a full sheet. Teachers or students can add text boxes to the pdf for typing if your technology allows that.

3. The entire list of questions on just one page so that students could write their answers in a reading journal they already have or type their answers separately and submit them electronically.

-The topics include making a timeline, creating an award, devising an online ad, sketching a scene, planning a menu, writing a text exchange, designing a logo, writing a poem, casting a movie, writing a letter, and redesigning a cover. You will like the clean format. The packet and booklet both include a cover with space for a student name.

One-Pager:

There are three different versions of the One Pager to be used for differentiation.

-The first option is a sheet with 11 spaces, each labeled with a specific element about the book. The title space has been filled in. Students should be able to fill in the other spaces.

-The second option has the shapes, but students need to use a list of the book elements and they decide which piece would fit best for what they want to write.

Click on the image for more info

-The third option is using a list of the requirements and students must design their own shapes to answer the question. They may choose to use plain paper or perhaps design something online.

-There is an optional attached rubric for this project.

Click on image for more info.

Two Puzzles:

Includes the traditional crossword puzzle with 26 questions, a version of the same puzzle with a word bank for differentiation, and the answer key.

...And a BONUS file on Point of View.
97 Total Pages!!

Life on Lockdown

In all of my 25 years of teaching, we have never experienced anything like this. Our last day of normal classes was Friday the 13th of March 2020. An ominous date for sure. Since that time, we have been sending out lessons electronically and most of my students have been participating.

When we were first told that we would no longer be meeting, I definitely grieved. There is a strong academic component to my days but more than that I spend time helping them grow into decent human beings. I love hearing then laugh, listening to their stories, and reminding them to make good choices.

Now all of our Interaction is done electronically, online through PDFs, videos, and an occasional email exchange. Definitely not preferred and on some days almost dreaded.

But looking on the bright side, my prayer is that these students are becoming more independent, responsible, and technologically savvy. Sure, they know all about Tic Toc. But can they remember how to submit something on Canvas? Do they know how to comment on FlipGrid? What about looking for their daily work and managing all their deadlines?

What will our life look like in the fall? Nobody really knows. But for now, we need to make the most of our time and count our blessings.

Book on Inventors for Black History Month

To help celebrate Black History Month in February, I am recommending the book What Color Is My World? by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld.  Thirteen-year-old twins are the focus of this small novel as they move into a new house and learn about inventors that share their heritage.

Purchase What Color Is My World HERE

(My disclaimer - I really wanted you to see the cover of the book and the only way I could figure out how to do that LEGALLY was to become an Amazon Affiliate.  I need to include this link where you could buy it if you want and as an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Twins Herbie and Ella move into a new house that is a bit of a fixer-upper.  The handyman their family has hired begins teaching them about African-American inventors who have made things found around the house, like the light-bulb or an ice-cream scoop.  The kids are amazed at how many people they have never even heard about that should be celebrated for their new (or improved) ideas.

photo from Pixabay.com

Mixed within the story of the children and their new house, the authors have included biographies of 16 different men and women from history.  People like Dr. Henry T. Sampson, Joseph Lee, and Dr. Valerie L. Thomas to just name a few.

I found this book to be very reader friendly and not dry like a typical history book, but also not babyish like some of the picture books on the same topics.  This would definitely be a strong fit for a middle school or upper elementary group.

If you decide to try the book for your class, checkout my discussion questions to go with it.

February Sale on Teachers Pay Teachers

If you are an educator at any level, hopefully you have heard of Teacher Pay Teachers.  It's a great website that allows teachers to sell (or give for free) thousands of lessons to be used by anyone else. Search for any subject or grade level.  Often you can just buy, print, and use.  Such a time saver!  And, they are having a February sale this Tuesday and Wednesday so it's the perfect time to check it out.

Click the picture to head to the TPT website.

OR check out my store directly.

Baseball for your Bookshelf

A recommendation for your class library...

I am always on the lookout for sports-related books because they seem to fly off the shelf with my sixth graders.  My son is not in my classroom, but as a middle-schooler I often look at books through his eyes. He is OBSESSED with all things baseball so I was drawn to this book immediately. Soar by Joan Bauer grabbed my attention within the first few pages.

Purchase Soar HERE

(My disclaimer - I really wanted you to see the cover of the book and the only way I could figure out how to do that LEGALLY was to become an Amazon Affiliate.  I need to include this link where you could buy it if you want and as an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Bauer is an award-winning author of 13 books for young readers, including Hope was Here, and Rules of the Road.  In her most recent book, Soar, she writes through the narrator Jeremiah.  He is an adopted child and in the first chapter he retells the story of being left by his mother as a baby and the man who finds him who eventually becomes his dad. Jeremiah and his father Walt are both brilliant and I love their banter back and forth -- they remind me of Sherman and Peabody, if you are old enough to know that reference.  Early in life Jeremiah needs a heart transplant and then finds himself limited in his physical activity. His love of baseball is cut to just watching games and studying the art of coaching.

Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash

Because of a new job for Walt as a technology consultant, Jeremiah and his dad move to Hillcrest, Ohio and are excited to be in a community that has an amazing high school baseball program.  However, soon after they arrive, the high school team is engulfed in a scandal and Jeremiah realizes his baseball dreams will only be fulfilled through the middle school team.

The roster for the middle school team is nothing short of The Bad News Bears, and under the direction of Coach Jeremiah they grow both in skill and confidence.  Several twists and turns along the way make this a captivating and heart-warming novel.

Besides the focal point on baseball, this novel is so much more, including themes about perseverance, living life to the fullest, and overcoming obstacles.  Great lessons for any middle schooler, but especially for those who might also have a physical limitation.

Photo by Bo Lane on Unsplash

While focusing on baseball can bring in reluctant readers, this might also be a negative to anybody who does not follow the sport.  It’s not for everybody, but for those who enjoy the All-American Pastime, this book is a home run!

If you’d like to try this book with your students, here are some FREE discussion questions.  Let me know what you think.

5 Reasons Why Tristan Strong Should Be Your Next Read-Aloud Choice

Anybody that has spent time with upper elementary or middle school students has heard of Percy Jackson. If you haven’t personally read the books yet, you at least know the basics - a young boy finds out he has deep connections with Ancient Greek and Roman demigods and mythology. It’s a very popular series, one that has made millions for Rick Riordan. But a new young teen hero has come on the scene to give Percy a run for his money. Meet Tristan Strong.

Purchase Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky HERE.

(My disclaimer - I really wanted you to see the cover of the book and the only way I could figure out how to do that LEGALLY was to become an Amazon Affiliate.  I need to include this link where you could buy it if you want and as an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

The novel Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia has a similar feel to the Percy Jackson books, but takes things up a notch or two. It should definitely be your next read-aloud choice for your class or maybe even a selection for lit circle groups. Here are my top five reasons.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

1 - Tristan is going through some really traumatic things that students can identify with. He has recently lost his bestie Eddie in a horrible bus accident and keeps having the recurring memory of his friend reaching out to him from beneath the rubble pleading to be saved. It’s truly heart wrenching (but not too graphic) and kids will be drawn to a character that seems so broken. Tristan’s dad and grandfather have also pushed him into the family sport of boxing but when he loses his first match, he fears he will not be carrying on this legacy. To top it all off, he is being sent away to spend the summer living with his grandparents. Is there a worse fate for any 7th grader? Kids will enjoy rolling their eyes with this main character during his car ride to Alabama.

Adinkra symbol from 
African mythology 
from kissclipart.com

2 - The characters in this book are extremely colorful and teach readers about African mythology and African -American folklore. Books about Zeus and Poseidon are a dime a dozen, but when was the last time your students read about people like John Henry, Anansi the spider god, or Brer Rabbit? Maybe they have heard short versions of stories with these characters, but this novel really brings them to life. And I suspect for many students, this will open their eyes to stories from a culture very different than their own. I for one had not even heard of many of these African deities and was fascinated to see them in a story full of so much action. It’s time to put Athena aside!

3. Practically each chapter ends on a cliffhanger so it makes a great read-aloud option to keep your students engaged. Don’t you just love to hear kids scream, “One more chapter!”? You might even find yourself continuing to the next part of the saga because you don’t want to put it down. These cliffhangers don’t leave you hanging for too long either. Many are resolved or answered as soon as you flip the page, but by then you are committed to reading just one more.

4 Kwame Mbalia is an excellent writer from a literary standpoint. This is not full of high-drama fluff to pull in the kids. Readers will see great examples of figurative language and literary elements that can be used for teachable moments throughout the book. Pause and have a debate about the imagery. Talk through the allusion and explain who it is and what it refers to. Who doesn’t love a good discussion on Onomatopoeia? Chapter after chapter offers examples that can truly be used as models for young budding writers.

5. And finally, the book ends with closure but also sets things up for a possible sequel. Loose ends are tied up, bad guys are revealed and punished, and our hero is heroic. No spoilers here, but just know that Mbalia is already working on a #2 so that could set up your classroom for another book to read down the road.

You should totally read Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky with your class. It is a heartwarming novel that teaches about another culture so different from the Greco-Romans many students are already so familiar with. You won’t want to put it down unless it is just for a moment to help the class discuss.

I really think you and your students will love this book. And to help you with those classroom chats, try out these FREE chapter discussion questions.

Click here for FREE Tristan Strong Discussion Questions