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.

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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.

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-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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