Thursday, May 28, 2020

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.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

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.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

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.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Tristan-Strong-Punches-a-Hole-in-the-Sky-Bundle-of-Resources-Novel-Study-5185941

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!!