Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice is a historical fiction novel.
After the Removal Act of 1830, the U.S. government hires a man, known as Weasel, to remove the Shawnees from the Ohio Territory. Once all the Native Americans have fled, Weasel stays in Ohio. He then turns on the white settlers.
One of Weasel’s victims is eleven-year-old Nathan’s pa. Nathan struggles between taking the law into his own hands and letting Weasel go,
Read Weasel to see if Nathan seeks revenge or is able to let bygones be bygones.
Weasel Activities
Book Unit Samples
You will find the following in this novel study sample:
- Vocabulary Practice for Chapters 1-2
- Comprehension Questions for Chapters 1-2
- Reading Skill Page on Analogies
- English Lesson on Plurals
Teaching Idea #1 – Great First Lines in Children’s Literature
Weasel has a great opening line:
The dogs were dozing in their usual places by the fire when the knock came.
This free set of cards contains 20 cards with great opening lines from children’s literature. Have students sort the cards by type:
- dialogue
- question
- vivid description
- interesting fact
- sound effect
Teaching Idea #2 – Bringing Ezra Back by Cynthia DeFelice
Cynthia DeFelice reads from Bringing Ezra Back, the sequel of Weasel. The sequel takes place five months after the book Weasel ends. In the next book, Nathan sees a handbill advertising a show with a ‘white injun.’ Nathan plans to save Ezra from being an exhibit in the traveling show. He sets out from Ohio to Pennsylvania with Orrin Beckwith, a peddler. Along the way, Nathan encounters others who are both helpful and mean.
Teaching Idea #3 – Comparing Book Covers
Compare book covers for the book Weasel. Have students select the cover that best represents the story. Ask guiding questions such as:
How did the illustrators portray Weasel on the two covers?
What is the main focus of each book cover?
Which cover makes the reader want to read the novel? Explain why.
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Weasel Novel Study includes vocabulary practice, comprehension questions, constructed response writing, and skill practice.
