Are you looking for a great novel to read with your students? The Tiger Rising is one your students will love. Like all of Kate DiCamillo’s novels, this one has rich characters and an interesting story plot.
In the novel, twelve-year-old Rob walks through the woods near his Florida home, he stumbles upon a caged tiger. The same day, he meets a girl named Sistine Bailey. Rob is full of bottled-up emotions. Before long, he begins confiding his feelings with Sistine. Rob even shows Sistine the tiger. When she sees it, she insists they let it go. This leads to tragedy.
Activities for The Tiger Rising
Book Unit Samples
Check out The Tiger Rising Book Unit with these free samples including:
- Vocabulary Practice for Chapters 1-3 [harbor and astounded]
- Comprehension Questions for Chapters 1-3
- Constructed Response Question – Symbolism
You can get the free book unit sample by clicking the button.
Activity #1 – Writing and Discussion Topics
Have students research tigers and their habitats. Encourage them to consider how the environment and the actions of humans affect tiger populations.
Have students engage in a class debate about a specific aspect of the book, such as the treatment of animals in captivity or the importance of preserving habitats for endangered species. This will give students an opportunity to practice critical thinking and communication skills.
Activity #2 – Resources on the Web
3D Tour of the Sistine Chapel
Sissy was named after the Sistine Chapel. Have students ‘visit’ the Sistine Chapel using this virtual tour.
Online Tiger Printables and How-Tos
- Dover Publications
- Tiger Origami
- Bookmark
- Corner Bookmarks
Online Teaching Resources
Activity #3 – Correcting Run-on Sentences
Students practice correcting run-on sentences using four methods. All sentences contain interesting facts about tigers.
- Make separate sentences.
- Link the sentences or clauses with coordinating conjunctions making a compound sentence.
- Join the two clauses with a semicolon.
- Make one of the clauses dependent by adding subordinating conjunctions such as since, which, that, although, because, or while making complex sentences.
You can get this practice exercise by clicking on the button.
Here is a sample activity from the handout. Challenge students to take one run-on sentence and correct it using all four methods.
Tigers eat until they are full then they cover the carcass with leaves and dirt to save for later.
Method Complex Sentence
Since tigers eat only until they are full, they must cover the carcass with leaves and dirt to save for later.
Method Compound Sentence
Tigers eat until they are full, and then they cover the carcass with leaves and dirt to save for later.
Method Two Sentences
Tigers eat until they are full. Then they cover the carcass with leaves and dirt to save for later.
Method Semicolon
Tigers eat until they are full; then they cover the carcass with leaves and dirt to save for later.
Activity #4 – Videos
Behind The Book – Kate DiCamillo
Official Trailer for the Movie The Tiger Rising
Audiobook
See the product that inspired this post.
The Tiger Rising Book Unit contains vocabulary, comprehension, constructed response writing, and skill practice.
