The Miracle Worker - Literature Kit Gr. 7-8


Book Description

Experience the miracle of understanding that we all take for granted. An ideal play for students with a low reading level. Gain insight into the difficulties of being blind and/or deaf. Put events from the novel in order as they happened when Annie and Helen were eating dinner. Students attempt to understand the motivations of the characters in the play. Find the synonym of the vocabulary word from the text. Explain the event in Helen's past that made it possible for her to realize what 'water' was. Research the real-life location of Ivy Green and plan a field trip to this important location. Identify all the problems and their solutions in a chart. Aligned to your State Standards and written to Bloom's Taxonomy, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: This story is an emotional and vivid portrayal of the relationship between a child and her teacher. Helen Keller is rendered deaf and blind at an early age, and by the time she is six years old, her behavior becomes completely unmanageable. In desperation, her parents send for teacher Annie Sullivan to bring some discipline into the spoiled child’s life. Helen and Annie become locked in a ferocious battle of wills, but Annie is determined to bring a sense of discipline into Helen’s life. Annie teaches Helen words by constantly spelling them into Helen’s palm. Although Helen can spell them back, she doesn’t understand that these words actually represent things. At the water pump Annie spells “water” into Helen’s hand and suddenly the miracle happens—Helen understands.




Cheaper by the Dozen - Literature Kit Gr. 7-8


Book Description

Become part of the Gilbreths and experience what it's like to be part of a large family. The pre-reading and vocabulary sections prepare students for the upcoming chapters. Get an idea of what an efficiency expert is like by brainstorming what their goal might be. Identify statements about the Gilbreth's car as true or false. Describe how the children convinced their parents to buy a family dog. Explore the Gilbreth's life view by finding more efficient ways to do things in the classroom. Investigate the life of F.W. Taylor, whose achievements influenced the Gilbreth's work in efficiency. Using a chart, compare the traits of Mr. Gilbreth with another character in the novel. Aligned to your State Standards and written to Bloom's Taxonomy, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: A classic story of a family of twelve children and their adventures while growing up together. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were renowned efficiency experts, who often practiced their many different theories and experiments on their large family. Written with wit and humor, the book documents a multitude of humorous and touching vignettes–some hilarious and others nostalgic and heart-warming. Family adventures include the family car, a vintage Pierce-Arrow, which is used by the parents for Sunday drives and causes the children no end of embarrassment. As well as a trip out west to visit Mother’s straight-laced family. It is a story in which most families will readily identify, and keep the reader turning the pages to the very end.




The Westing Game - Literature Kit Gr. 7-8


Book Description

Unravel the secrets at the center of an intriguing murder mystery game. Activities are meant to excite students throughout the reading. Using the chapter titles as clues, predict what might happen in each one. Identify elements of foreshadowing from the novel, and imagine what will take place. Follow the clues in the story to solve the game before any of the characters. Identify cause and effect by explaining why each event happened. Keep track of the variety of characters with comprehension questions. Students will write their own prologue and epilogue at the completion of the reading. Compare two different character's perspectives of the same event from the novel. Aligned to your State Standards and written to Bloom's Taxonomy, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: The Westing Game is a Newbery Medal winning story about a group of people playing the game of who killed the millionaire. Samuel W. Westing, owner of Westing Paper Products, has died. Sixteen heirs are invited to live in the Sunset Towers apartment building. These heirs come together to read the will of the late self-made millionaire. The will challenges them to solve the murder of Sam Westing by splitting up into eight pairs. Each pair is given a set of clues and $10,000 dollars to play the game. The winner will inherit the $200,000,000 fortune and unravel the secret behind the old man's death.




The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - Literature Kit Gr. 7-8


Book Description

Experience this powerful story about childhood innocence, friendship and suffering set at Auschwitz Concentration Camp during World War II. Assess students' comprehension of the novel and explore their personal reactions to the events of the book. Imagine what Bruno sees from his bedroom window that makes him feel cold and unsafe. Explore Bruno's state of mind by detailing the lesson he learns from his conversation with Maria, and what experiences he thinks he shares with her. Identify statements about the story as either Bruno or his mother's description of Herr Roller. Match vocabulary words from the novel with their meanings. Describe how Bruno's perspective is different from Gretel's because he is getting to know Maria, Pavel and Schmuel. Aligned to your State Standards and written to Bloom's Taxonomy, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a classic story told from the point of view of a young German boy as he befriends a Jewish boy at a concentration camp. Nine-year-old Bruno lives with his family at Auschwitz Concentration Camp. They move there when Bruno's father is prompted to Commandant. While at his new home, Bruno meets and befriends a young boy named Shmuel who lives on the other side of the wire fence that surrounds the camp. One day, Bruno's mother convinces his father to let the family move back to Berlin. Before they leave, Bruno disguises himself and sneaks into the camp to help his friend find his missing father.




Number the Stars - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6


Book Description

Experience the fear and danger of World War II as one girl risks her life to save her Jewish friend. High-quality, detailed questions and support materials go beyond the typical drill questions. Find proof from the text that shows Mama is determined and quick-thinking. Put events at the end of World War II in order that they happened in the novel. Find examples of foreshadowing in the story and explain what it may be hinting at. Match vocabulary words to their underlined synonyms in the sentences. Create questions for the game Jeopardy using information from the story. Conduct an interview with one of the characters from the book with questions and the character's response. Aligned to your State Standards, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: A story of a ten-year-old girl, her family and their courageous journey to save the lives of their Jewish friends. During the darkest days of World War II living in Copenhagen, ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen is caught up in these unfolding historical events when she learns that the life of her best friend—Ellen Rosen—is in danger. The Rosens go into hiding and Annemarie’s parents volunteer to take Ellen into their home until the voyage to the safe country of Sweden can be arranged. Annemarie is thrust into several perilous adventures as she does the utmost to save the lives of the Rosens. Annemarie’s courage and ingenuity are severely tested as she is forced to confront German soldiers intent on killing her friend.




Gregor the Overlander - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6


Book Description

Fall underground to a magical land where a prophecy is soon to come true. Surpass all expectations with thought-provoking activities. Students give meaning to sentences from the novel. Write the true version of false statements from the book. Determine what a metaphor is and find an example from the story. Recall in detail the complete prophecy as told to Gregor. Choose the definition that matches the underlined vocabulary word from the text. Students explore the concept of betrayal and reflect on a time in which they experienced this. Students create their own Underland and write a short story about how to get there. Compare the Overland and Underland in a graphic organizer. Aligned to your State Standards, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: Gregor the Overlander is a story of a fantastical world deep beneath the surface of the earth. Gregor is home alone in New York City watching his baby sister and grandmother. After his sister falls through a grate in the basement, Gregor follows her deep underground into a new world. The Underland is filled with humans whose skin is almost see-through, giant bats, rats, mice, and fireflies. A conflict between the human city of Regalia and the rats is creating panic among the inhabitants. It's not until a prophecy is revealed that Gregor finds himself involved in plans to save the Underland. Gregor the Overlander is an epic story of fantasy and destiny.




The Lightning Thief - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6


Book Description

Be encouraged to rise above failure and show just what you're made of. The provided Before and After reading activities really help to build student's reading comprehension. Make connections between the novel and well-known Greek myths by identifying the significance of the three old ladies Percy sees knitting. Make predictions about the plot by deciding whether Percy will find out about his parentage. Go back through the novel and make a list of clues that show the author's use of foreshadowing. Put key events from the novel in the order they occurred as Percy learns about his quest. Compare the Greek gods from the novel with their Roman counterparts. Detail some of the ways the gods of Olympus influenced events in the story, and how these influences impacted plot development. Aligned to your State Standards, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: The Lightning Thief follows the mythical adventures of a young boy with a legendary destiny. Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is close to being kicked out of another boarding school. But his real concern is the figures from Greek mythology who seem intent on killing him. On a school trip, Percy is attacked by one of his chaperones. He learns this person is really a Fury—a Greek deity of vengeance. With a magic sword tossed to him by his Latin teacher, Percy successfully kills the creature. He soon learns that he is, in fact, a demigod—half human and half Greek god. He makes his way to a summer camp for other demigods. Here he learns of his true parentage and why he struggles so much in school. Things get even stranger for Percy when he is thrust into a quest that can either save the world, or doom him forever.




Through the Looking-Glass - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6


Book Description

Travel to a strange land and find out what it's like to be a piece in a chess game. A variety of question styles ensure students stay engaged with the novel and better enjoy the story. Compare Alice's movements in the mirror world to that of a pawn in the game of chess. Answer a series of multiple choice questions to show comprehension of Alice and the Queen's interaction. Using details gathered throughout the novel, draw a map of the looking-glass world. Become familiar with synonyms by finding words that mean the same as the underlined words found in the text. Compare the real world to the looking-glass world by describing events and actions that take place in both. Aligned to your State Standards and written to Bloom's Taxonomy, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: Through the Looking-Glass is a fantastical story about a mirrored world beyond the reflective glass. The story follows Alice six months after her adventures in Wonderland. This time, Alice climbs through the mirror on top of her mantelpiece and finds herself in an alternate world from her own. Alice soon becomes part of a large-scale chess game, where she meets strange and interesting characters through her journey. Traveling the land, Alice meets Tweedledum and Tweedledee, learns of the Walrus and the Carpenter, runs into the Red and White Kings and Queens before being crowned Queen herself. Through the Looking-Glass is a strange tale of chess, strategy, and imagination. A great companion to the Disney movie, Alice Through the Looking Glass with Johnny Depp.




The Hundred Penny Box - Literature Kit Gr. 3-4


Book Description

Students gain a new sense of respect for age and the treasures that accumulate with it. Helpful outlines of activities makes this resource easy to implement into any classroom. Find facts about the city of Atlanta, Georgia. Draw and color a picture of what the penny box may look like. Students explain the sentence "you worry me to death to play" in their own words. Complete a chart by matching vocabulary words to their meanings. Predict what like will be like for Michael with Aunt Dew for the next few months. Write a story describing Aunt Dew's move to Michael's home in her own point of view. Aligned to your State Standards and written to Bloom's Taxonomy, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: The Hundred Penny Box is the Newbery Honor-winning story of a boy and his great-great aunt. Michael has a 100-year-old great-great aunt who keeps an old wooden box full of 100 pennies, one for each year she's been alive. Attached to each penny is a memory of what happened in Michael's aunt's life the year each coin was minted. Born in 1874, her first coin represents the Reconstruction. The 1930 penny represents the death of her husband. Michael enjoys to hear the stories attached to each penny, but soon finds that his great-great aunt is as old and feeble as the box that carries them.




Little House on the Prairie - Literature Kit Gr. 3-4


Book Description

Find out what life on the prairie was really like with this retelling of actual events. The thorough and comprehensive questions are great for small group work. Students put themselves in Laura's shoes as she experiences the hardships of living on the prairie. Test student comprehension of key vocabulary words found in the novel. Students explore what they learn about life on the prairie, particularly with how Pa builds the log cabin. Challenge students to describe Laura's surroundings while living on the prairie. Reenact your favorite scene from the novel in small groups. Complete a story map graphic organizer, following the events that take place during Laura's time on the prairie. Aligned to your State Standards and written to Bloom's Taxonomy, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: Little House on the Prairie follows one family's journey to a new home and new beginnings. Laura lives in a house in the Big Woods. But the area is becoming too crowded. Her father decides to uproot and move out to the prairies, where the land is vast and plentiful. On their journey, the family must cross two great rivers before the ice melts. They camp out alone with very little between them and their harsh environment. Soon they arrive on the prairie and choose a place to settle. But their hardships don't end there. While they build their new log cabin and get used to their surroundings, the family must survive illness, fires, wolves, and an increasing native population. As they finally settle in and prepare to plant their first crop, the family's year living on the prairie comes to an end. Little House on the Prairie is an educational story about what life was like in the American Midwest during the 19th century.