Character Education Novel Unit Wonder by RJ Palacio

Character Education Novel Unit

Wonder by RJ Palacio

Day 1: Bellringer

Assemble Your

Learning Journal

Essential QuestionsWhat can we do to be more accepting of

differences?How can we show others “respect?”What is the impact of bullying on the victim?

Day 1: Pages 3-14 Learning Targets

Write your learning targets on the LEFT side of your learning journal.I can use active reader strategies to gain meaning

from the text. (predicting, questioning, clarifying, connecting, commenting, inferring, etc.).

I can determine the point of view of a text.Are there any words that you do not understand in

the learning targets?

• Inside your Learning Journal, assess yourself on each of these learning targets.

• Here is an example…

Day 1: Say Something Strategy

Read as much as your hand will cover, then “Say Something” (see below) about what you just read before moving on.Make a predictionAsk a questionClarify your thoughtsMake a commentMake a connection

If you can do one of these things about what you read, then keep reading. If not, then re-read.

Day 1: Pages 3-14Listen as I read Page 3 aloud to you.

Purpose for Reading: Through which character’s point of view is the story

told?What is so different about the narrator of this story?

Your Job: Think about the purpose question.Try to identify when I use the “Say Something”

Strategy. Make a note in your Learning Journal when you hear me

do one of these things.

Day 1: Pages 3-14Read Pages 4-5 with a partner* or independently

Practice using the “Say Something” strategy as you read.

Purpose QuestionsWhy did Mom and Dad lie? Why do they want him to go to school?

Day 1: Pages 3-14Read 6-14 independently

Practice using the “Say Something” strategy as you read. Try stopping at the end of each paragraph, page, or chapter.

At the end of each chapter, “Say Something” about what you read to your partner. Then continue reading independently.

Purpose QuestionsWhat is going to happen next?

Learning Target(s) Revisited

Look back at your daily learning target(s) that you recorded at the beginning of class today.

Code the targets based on your ability to master that target.Check= I got it!Star= I’m getting there.Circle= I need help with this one.

Day 1: HomeworkRead Pages 15-34

Purpose for Reading: What does August think about the school so far?

What do other students think about August?

Day 2: Bellringer Write your learning targets

on the LEFT side of your learning journal. I can determine the point of

view of a text. I can use evidence from the

text to support my answers. I can write to reflect and

explain my thinking. Are there any words that

you do not understand in the learning targets?

Write the ACES acronym into your learning journal underneath your learning targets.

Day 2: Pages 15-34Since August is the narrator, what does that

allow the reader to know? We do not know how the other characters feel or

what they are thinking. What information does the author give the reader to help the reader figure out how the other characters feel or think?SpeechBody languageActions

Day 2: Pages 15-34“If you could create a collage of images that

represent what Charlotte, Jack, or Julian is thinking, what would that look like inside her mind?”

Day 2: Pages 15-34 “What is this character

feeling or thinking during the school tour? How do you know?”

Example: A= August is feeling self-

conscious. C= During the tour, August

mentions numerous times that the others are “staring at me” or “looking directly at me” (pg. 27-29).

E= Usually people are hyper-aware of when people are staring at them if they are uncomfortable with something about themselves.

S= Therefore, it is evident that he is feeling self-conscious while he is on the school tour.

Day 2: Pages 15-34Think-Pair-Share

Share ACES paragraph with a partnerWhat is the author trying to tell the reader so far?

Exit Ticket (sticky note)What theme (message) is the author trying to

communicate?




Day 2: HomeworkRead Pages 35-53 (Don’t forget to use the “Say

Something” Strategy!)Purpose for Reading:

What does the September precept have to do with the developing theme of this novel?

Day 3: Bellringer Write your learning

targets on the LEFT side of your learning journal. I can use evidence from

the text to support my answers.

I can analyze how the author develops the narrator’s points of view.

I can write to reflect and explain my thinking.

Are there any words that you do not understand in the learning targets?

Today’s Quick Write: September Precept-

"When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind" (pg. 48). What does this mean? Why does August say

that he thinks he will like school after hearing this precept?

Day 3: Pages 35-53“I Am” PoetryCreate an “I Am” Poem (from August’s Point of View)

Page # as evidence Must reflect the theme

Synthesize it!Chalk Talk





Something” strategy while you read.)Purpose for Reading:

What does Jack Will do that is so surprising to the reader?

Day 4: BellringerLearning Targets

Write your learning targets on the LEFT side of your learning journal. I can summarize the

text. I can analyze how the

author develops the theme through lines, scenes, or chapters.

I can write to reflect on and explain my thinking.


Today’s Quick WriteOctober Precept- "Your deeds are your monuments" (pg. 65).

What does this mean? How does this precept

relate to the developing theme of this novel so far?

Day 4: Pages 54-80Somebody wanted, but so… (a summarizing

strategy)Somebody- characterWanted- goalBut- conflictSo- resolution

Day 4: Pages 54-80Poll Everywhere

On a scale of 1-10 (1= not bad at all, 10= worst thing ever), how would you rate what Jack Will did to August in these chapters?

Self-AssessmentRevisit your learning targets for today.

Check = I got it!Star= I’m getting there.Circle= I need help with this one.

Exit TicketReflection on your self-assessment.

What has changed? What do I still need to work on?

Day 4: HomeworkRead Pages 81-117 (Don’t forget to use the “Say Something”

Strategy while you read.)Purpose for Reading: How does Via feel about

August?

Day 5: BellringerQuick WriteRe-read pg. 81 and the first eight lines of pg. 82

What does the David Bowie quote have to do with how Via feels about her “universe?”

Learning Targets Write your learning

targets on the LEFT side of your learning journal.I can analyze a

character using the FAST approach.



Day 5: Pages 81-117

Day 5: Pages 81-117

Day 5: Pages 81-117





Something” Strategy while you read.)Purpose for Reading:

Why does Summer hang out with August?

Day 6: BellringerQuick WriteRe-read the Christina Aguilera quote on pg. 118

Why would the author choose this quote to start the chapter from Summer’s perspective?






Day 6: Pages 81-117Expert Groups

Use the FAST approach to analyze a character (see handout).FYI:

Feelings/Thoughts must come from the character’s point of view, but Actions/Saying can also be observed by other characters.

Use text evidence (quote or example from the text; page number included) to support your analysis.

Use the back of the character map to write explanations using text evidence (quotes or examples).You will use the back page as your present your

character to another group.

Day 6: Pages 81-117Jigsaw Groups

Reorganize into assigned groups.Share your Character Map with the group.Use your thinking sheet on the back to help you

with the presentation.As a group:

Write an ACES paragraph to answer these questions: After reading the story from three points of view, what

is the theme (this could be the same as before or you could identify another one)?

How did reading the novel from a different point of view have an impact on the theme?

Day 6: Pages 81-117Self-Assessment Chart

Go to the Learning Target Self Assessment chart in your learning journal.

Put today’s date in the column that best describes your ability to do that learning target.

Exit TicketWrite a sentence to reflect on your self-assessment.

These questions may guide your thinking. What has changed? What do I still need to work on?



Does Jack make a good decision?

Day 7: BellringerQuick WriteRe-read the quote on pg. 133

Why would the author choose this quote to start the chapter from Jack’s perspective?

Learning Targets Write your learning targets

on the LEFT side of your learning journal.I can analyze how the

author develops the theme through lines, scenes, or chapters.



Day 7: Pages 133-185Steps for Decision-Making

1. Alternatives: Think of many, varied things you could do.2. Criteria: Think of the varied questions you need to ask

about these things you could do. Samples are below:3. Weighing: Use your answers to help you make a

decision.Is it safe?Will anyone get hurt?What does my conscience say?What would my parents think?

4. Decision: State your final decision.5. Reasons: Give many, varied reasons for your decision.

Day 7: Pages 133-185Create a decision making foldable to help

analyze Jack’s decisions. Did he have any alternatives? What would have been the best decision?

DiscussHow does the author use Jack’s decision to

communicate the theme?






What does Justin do for Jack?


Why would the author choose this quote to start the chapter from Justin’s perspective?


targets on the LEFT side of your learning journal.I can summarize the

text.I can write to reflect

and explain my thinking.


Day 8: Pages 186-204Visualize!

Choose 4 important events from the chapters you read last night.

Sequence them in the correct order (first, next, then, last)

Accordion-fold your paper into four parts.Create a comic strip of the 4 events you identified.Switch comics with a partner and allow the partner to

summarize the chapters using just the events in your comic.

Is this an accurate summary of what happened?Compare comics and put them in your learning journal.

Day 8: Pages 186-204Revisit the Learning Targets


Code the targets based on your ability to master that target.

Check= I got it! Star= I’m getting there. Circle= I need help with this one.

Exit TicketWrite a summary paragraph on an index card or

sticky note by sequencing the events included in your comic.

Day 8: Homework Read Pages 205-234 (Don’t forget to use the “Say

Something” Strategy while you read.)Purpose for reading:

How did Daisy bring August and Via closer together?


Why would the author choose this quote to start the chapter from August’s perspective?


on the LEFT side of your learning journal.I can determine the

theme (author’s message) in a paragraph, chapter, and novel.



Day 9: Pages 205-234

Day 9: Pages 205-234Exit Ticket: Answer Garden

Go to this site and type your answers to this question:After comparing and contrasting Via and August, what is

one word that you would use to describe the author’s message?

__http://answergarden.ch/view/63029__

http://answergarden.ch/view/63029


Something” Strategy while you read.)Purpose for reading:

How did Miranda’s decision about the play further support the theme?


Why would the author choose this quote to start the chapter from Miranda’s perspective?






Day 10: Pages 235-248

Day 10: Pages 235-248FAST Character Analysis:

Justin, Jack, or Miranda

Day 10: Pages 235-248 Hosted Gallery Walk

Host- stays to share Character Map with visiting classmates Reporter- roves around to other groups that had the same

character assignment to get ideas Return to your partner and “report” what you heard others

say about the character

Revisit the Learning Targets Look back at your daily learning target(s) that you recorded at

the beginning of class today. Code the targets based on your ability to master that target.

Check= I got it! Star= I’m getting there. Circle= I need help with this one.


Something” Strategy while you read.)

Purpose for reading: How has life at school changed for August?


Why would the author choose this quote to start the chapter from August’s perspective?


on the LEFT side of your learning journal. I can use evidence from the

text to support my answers. I can analyze how the

author develops the narrator’s points of view.



Day 11: Pages 249-280“I Was” PoetryCreate an “I Am” Poem (from August’s Point of View)

Page # as evidence Must reflect the theme

Self-Assessment Chart Look back at the Learning

Target Self-Assessment Chart in your learning journal.

Put today’s date in the appropriate column that best describes your ability to do each learning target.

Day 11: Homework Read Pages 281-310 (end) (Don’t forget to use the

“Say Something” Strategy while you read.)

Purpose for reading: Using a sticky note, mark ONE significant

sentence, paragraph, or page. Significant = important, profound, thought-

provoking, and interesting Come prepared to share it with a small group

tomorrow


Write your learning targets on the LEFT side of your learning journal. I can determine the theme (author’s message) in a paragraph, chapter,

and novel. I can analyze how the author develops the theme through lines, scenes, or

chapters. I can use active reader strategies (predicting, questioning, clarifying,

connecting, commenting, inferring, etc.). I can write to reflect and explain my thinking.


Quick Write- Re-read the first paragraph on pg. 300 How does the author use this paragraph to communicate the theme

to the reader?

Day 12: Pages 281-310Final Word Protocol Using sticky note with significant part from last night’s

readingStudent 1 will read aloud the passage to the group

(passage and page #).Student 1 will share why you chose this passage.Students 2-3 will take turns sharing their thoughts about

Student 1’s passage.Student 1 will have the “final word” to reflect on what

was shared about the passage after Student 2-3 have shared their thoughts.

Repeat above steps for Students 2 and 3.

Day 12: Pages 281-310Chalk Talk

Respond to these questions by writing your answer or responding to another. Why would the author title the book this way?What does it mean to be a “wonder?”Who was a “wonder” in this novel?What does “wonder” have to do with the theme of

this novel?

Day 12: Pages 281-310Self-Assessment Chart

Look back at the Learning Target Self-Assessment Chart in your learning journal.

Put today’s date in the appropriate column that best describes your ability to do each learning target.

Mark all except the last one.


Write your learning targets on the LEFT side of your learning journal.I can determine the theme (author’s message) in a

paragraph, chapter, and novel.I can analyze how the author develops the theme

through lines, scenes, or chapters. Are there any words that you do not understand in the

learning targets?

Day 13: After ReadingWatch this video clip

http://bcove.me/yk738xzr

Types of BullyingRelational

trying to destroy a person’s relationship with other by effecting how others feel about that person

Verbalbullying by relentless teasing and insults

Physicalbullying with physical violence




Day 13: After ReadingNovel Hunt

Find examples of your assigned type of bullying in the book.

Post your examples on your class Padlet.Label the examples into the three different types

of bullying.RelationalVerbalPhysical

Day 13: After ReadingThink-WRITE-Pair-Share

Write answers to these questions in your learning journal:How did this make August feel? Jack?

How did it make the reader feel?

How does the author use these feelings to further communicate the message to the reader?

Pair with a classmate to share your thoughts.




Day 14: Performance Task

Learning TargetsWrite your learning targets on the LEFT side of

your learning journal.I can explain, examine, and exhibit the theme of

“respect others” as I work on a project with a small group of peers.




Work with your “Agency Partner” to complete this performance task.


Learning TargetsWrite your learning targets on the LEFT side of

your learning journal.I can explain, examine, and exhibit the theme of

“respect others” as I work on a project with a small group of peers.




Work with your “Agency Partner” to complete this performance task.

Documents

Character Education Novel Unit Wonder by RJ Palacio