Category: Book Units

Welcome to my index blog page, where I share book units for 3rd through 6th graders! Reading novels helps students develop their literacy skills, imagination, and critical thinking abilities. I create resources to help teachers and parents guide students through studying books in a fun and engaging way.

Each post on this blog page includes novel study samples and teaching ideas with various activities, such as printable handouts, YouTube videos, and hands-on projects like recipes and art activities. On my blog page, you can find many options for novel studies to do with your child at home or in the classroom.

Learning should be enjoyable, and I design my book units to be educational and entertaining.

I hope this index blog page will inspire and motivate you to explore the wonderful world of novels with your readers. Happy reading!

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Wishtree

Fans of The One and Only Ivan and Crenshaw are going to love Katherine Applegate’s newest novel Wishtree. The story is told from the perspective of Red, a 216-year-old red oak tree living in a suburban neighborhood. Red is one special tree. Every May Day, people in the area tie pieces of fabric with wishes all over Red. Because Red …

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I Survived the American Revolution, 1776

I Survived the American Revolution, 1776

Lauren Tarshis writes the fifteenth book in her popular I Survived Series – I Survived the American Revolution. The series began with I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 in 2010. Since then, two books each year have been published. Readers can experience both natural and man-made disasters through this series. Fire, war, storms, and even shark attacks will …

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Wish by Barbara O’Connor Activities

Wish

After seeing a cardinal, close your eyes, spit three times, and make a wish. — You can make a wish if you clap three times before crossing a state line. — You can make a wish if you see a camel-shaped cloud. These are just a few of Charlie’s superstitions in Wish by Barbara O’Connor. The Story …

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Number the Stars Activities

Number the Stars

Number the Stars is a phenomenal story of courage. This makes it a great book for students to use as a writing prompt. Number the Stars begins in September 1943. Nazis occupy Copenhagen, Denmark. Annemarie and her best friend Ellen see German soldiers on the street corners. They play the part of silly school girls to keep …

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Refugee by Alan Gratz Teaching Ideas

Refugee

Refugee by Alan Gratz is a book your students will beg to keep reading. Three stories are twined together. Told in alternating chapters, one story builds to a cliffhanger. The chapter ends leaving the reader on edge. The book continues with the next story, and [You guessed it.] builds to a cliffhanger. This repeated pattern continues …

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The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden

The Announcement I’m excited to announce that each Monday over the next 27 weeks; The Secret Garden Book Unit will be featured in weekly blog posts. Because many schools are going digital, I have made some changes to this unit. The weekly blog posts are student-friendly. Reading the Chapter The full text for each chapter will …

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The People of Sparks Teaching Ideas

The People of Sparks

In The People of Sparks, the sequel to The City of Ember, the Emberites leave their cave home. After journeying for a couple of days, they come to a village called Sparks. Here they find a group of people who although aren’t openly hostile are certainly not welcoming. The two groups of people must learn to get …

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