This is a unit I developed for teaching The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. This unit was developed for a middle school ED/BD classroom and was taught over a period of about a month and a half.
Standards covered:
Standard/Benchmark/Indicator
R.8.1.4.5
▲uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard/Benchmark/Indicator
R.8.1.4.6
▲analyzes how text structure (e.g., sequence, problem-solution, comparison-contrast,
description, cause-effect) helps support comprehension of text.
Standard/Benchmark/Indicator
R.8.1.4.7
▲compares and contrasts varying aspects (e.g., characters’ traits and motives, themes,
problem-solution, cause-effect relationships, ideas and concepts, procedures,
viewpoints, authors' purposes, persuasive techniques) in one or more appropriate-level
texts.
Standard/Benchmark/Indicator
R.8.2.1.1
▲describes different aspects of characters (e.g., their physical traits, personality traits,
feelings, actions, motives) and analyzes how major characters are developed (e.g.,
through their thoughts, words, speech patterns, actions) and how they change over time.
Standard/Benchmark/Indicator
R.8.2.1.2
▲identifies and describes the setting (e.g., environment, time of day or year, historical
period, situation, place) and analyzes connections between the setting and other story
elements (e.g., character, plot).
Standard/Benchmark/Indicator
R.8.2.1.3
▲identifies major and minor elements of the plot (e.g., problem or conflict, climax,
resolution, rising action, falling action, subplots, parallel episodes) and explains how
these elements relate to one another.
Anticipatory Set: What is a Mystery?
Also use a number of lateral thinking puzzles and brain teasers as AS throughout the unit.
Ongoing Projects:
- Predictions - Keep a running poster of students' predictions about the book, section by section:
- Character profiles: Visual organizer for tracking character traits throughout the book:
- Graphic Organizer
- Partnership comparison: A foldable graphic organizer that compares the relationships of the partners in the game: before, at the climax, and at the end of the book:
Chapters 1-4:
- Questions
- Writing Prompts
- Predictions and Opinions
- Compare/Contrast: Angela and Turtle - see power point. Trace Venn diagram on large sheets of butcher paper. Place on floor. Show slides and have students step into the appropriate place in the diagram.
Chapters 5-8:
- Questions
- Writing Prompts
Chapters 9-12:
- Questions
Chapters 13-17:
- Writing Prompts
- Questions
- Predictions and Opinions
- Compare and Contrast: the three gatherings. Write list of events that happened at all three gatherings of the partners. Draw three way Venn diagram on the board. Read off events. Have students take turns coming to the board and writing events in the correct place.
Chapters 18-22:
- Questions
- Compare and Contrast: Angela and Violet. Have a stack of post it notes prepared with characteristics of both girls. Have students work as a group to place notes in the correct sections.
Final Projects:
- Obituary Assignment
- Obituary Assignment Example
- Character Collage:
Assessments:
AR Test
AR Vocabulary
AR Literacy Skills Test
