The Houdini Box By Brian Selznick Day 1 Day 4 Day 2 Day 5 Day 3 Vocabulary Definitions Vocabulary Sentences Additional Resources

Study Skills Genre: Historical Fiction Comprehension Skill: Compare and Contrast Comprehension Strategy: Predict Review Skill: Plot and Character Vocabulary: Synonyms/Antonyms

Genre: Historical Fiction Historical fiction has characters and events based on real people and events in history.

Skill review – Plot and Character The main character’s problem often drives the plot. The plot begins when a character has a problem or conflict. Main events usually focus on the character’s efforts to solve the problem. Plot (problem) builds up during rising action, is met directly at the climax, and comes to an end, as the action winds down, during the resolution.

Plot and Character Cindy was trying out for a dance group. Problem Rising Action Climax Resolution Cindy waited for her turn. Cindy danced. Cindy made it into group. Cindy cheered.

Day 1 - Question of the Week Can you always believe what you see?

appeared crumbled monument vanished magician escape bustling Vocabulary - Say It appeared crumbled monument vanished magician escape bustling

engraved unexplainable invisible pretending judge More Words to Know engraved unexplainable invisible pretending judge

Comprehension Strategy Predict Good readers think about what will happen next. Patterns in the information in a graph or chart can help you predict.

Listen to the Story

A comparison tells how two or more things are alike. Compare and Contrast A comparison tells how two or more things are alike. Comparisons use like or as. A contrast tells how they are different Contrasts use but or unlike.

Reading WB

Special Effects Magic Tricks Compare and Contrast Special Effects Magic Tricks Alike Different How they work to fool the eye: computer vs. hands seem real new practice vs. old fool the eye one is harder to figure out takes hard work

1. Whens the magic show! 2. Bill think its’ at seven o’clock.

A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun or another pronoun. What is a pronoun? A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun or another pronoun.

1.Marge went for a walk. She went for a walk. *Brainpop Video Let's see an example! 1.Marge went for a walk. She went for a walk. *Brainpop Video

Spelling Words- Contractions haven’t when’s we’ve it’s they’re aren’t hadn’t where’s couldn’t shouldn’t

Spelling Words Contractions we’re there’s wouldn’t won’t don’t wasn’t here’s I’ve doesn’t you’re

it’ll who’ll might’ve mustn’t we’d CHALLENGE it’ll who’ll might’ve mustn’t we’d

Day 2 - Question of the Day Why do you think Houdini is able to escape and seems to walk through walls, but Victor cannot?

Vocabulary Skill: Synonyms and Antonyms Sometimes the author will use a synonym or an antonym as a clue to the meaning of the word. Synonyms are words that mean almost the same thing. Antonyms are words with opposite meanings.

disappeared, especially suddenly vanished disappeared, especially suddenly

magician person who entertains by art or skill of creating illusions, especially a sleight of hand

to get out and away; to get free escape to get out and away; to get free

being noisily busy and in a hurry bustling being noisily busy and in a hurry

appeared was seen; came in sight

fell to pieces; decayed crumbled fell to pieces; decayed

monument something set up to honor a person or an event. A monument may be a building, pillar, arch, statue, tomb, or stone.

cut deeply in; carved in; carved in an artistic way engraved cut deeply in; carved in; carved in an artistic way

unaccountable; without apparent cause or reason unexplainable unaccountable; without apparent cause or reason

pretending making believe

Not visible; not capable of being seen invisible Not visible; not capable of being seen

form an opinion or estimate about judge form an opinion or estimate about

Weekly Fluency Check - Emotion You need to read with emotion to help listeners understand characters and events better and to make the story more enjoyable. Read Pg. 402, paragraphs 2-3, expressing Victor’s excitement and impatience.

3. He pulled a rabbit out of a hat and then putted them back again. 4 3. He pulled a rabbit out of a hat and then putted them back again. 4. Harry Houdini performed on stage, she also performed in movies.

Singular and Plural Pronouns

Singular Pronouns I, me you she, he, it him, her, it

Plural Pronouns we, us you they them

Jose loves to play baseball.

He loves to play baseball.

Does Adzie Healy play for the Stockdale Bulls?

Does he play for them?

That mother seems excited.

She seems excited.

Did Jose cheer another boy up?

Did Jose cheer him up?

The fans are cheering.

They are cheering.

Jose grabs the fly.

Jose grabs it.

Group Work Readers & WB 154 Language Arts WB 61 Spelling WB 62 Tri-fold section 2 Word Find- SmartBoard

Day 3 - Question of the Day Why do people enjoy watching magic tricks so much?

Review Questions How can you tell Houdini and Victor were both kind people? Why did Mrs. Houdini cry when she read Victor’s letter? What did Victor try to do after he learned about Houdini’s tricks? Describe Victor’s character.

Review Questions Why didn’t Victor tell his wife and son about the box? Why did Houdini promise to write Victor a letter? What was important about reading Houdini’s monument? What was in Houdini’s box? When did Victor find Houdini’s box?

The wound was invisible underneath the bandage.

The wound was invisible underneath the bandage.

Victor was looking around the huge, bustling train station when he saw Houdini.

Victor was looking around the huge, bustling train station when he saw Houdini.

The king learned to judge people by their good work and not how they complimented him.

The king learned to judge people by their good work and not how they complimented him.

The weavers were only pretending to weave cloth .

The weavers were only pretending to weave cloth .

The children like Houdini because he could do the unexplainable.

The children like Houdini because he could do the unexplainable.

Houdini could escape from an iron milk can in under 20 seconds.

Houdini could escape from an iron milk can in under 20 seconds.

Victor wanted to be a magician when he grew up, just like Houdini.

Victor wanted to be a magician when he grew up, just like Houdini.

Mrs. Houdini vanished up the staircase into the library.

Mrs. Houdini vanished up the staircase into the library.

The initials E.W. were engraved on the bottom of the box.

The initials E.W. were engraved on the bottom of the box.

They found the ball lying by the corner of a dark monument in the graveyard.

They found the ball lying by the corner of a dark monument in the graveyard.

Two smaller words appeared directly below “Houdini”.

Two smaller words appeared directly below “Houdini”.

The lock was so old that it crumbled when Victor brushed his hand across it.

The lock was so old that it crumbled when Victor brushed his hand across it.

5. People were amazed by houdini’s incredible escape’s. 6 5. People were amazed by houdini’s incredible escape’s. 6. A century ago he will perform magic on stage. With his wife.

Personal pronouns refer to specific persons or things. Types of Pronouns Personal pronouns refer to specific persons or things. Karen ate pizza. She was hungry.

Bob finished the homework himself. Reflexive pronouns are personal pronouns that have "-self“ or "-selves" added to the end. Bob finished the homework himself.

Someone stole my wallet! Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not refer to a specific person or thing. Someone, anybody, and, everyone are indefinite pronouns. Someone stole my wallet!

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask a question. Who, whom, and which are interrogative pronouns. Which shoes are mine?

Ours, his, theirs, and hers are possessive pronouns. Possessive pronouns are used to show ownership, but they never have an apostrophe. Ours, his, theirs, and hers are possessive pronouns. Those are his pencils.

SmartBoard- Reading Review Group Work Partner Read & WB 157-158 Language WB 62 Spelling WB 63 Tri-fold Section 4 SmartBoard- Reading Review

Day 4 - Question of the Day What are some things you would and wouldn’t like about being an illusionist?

7. Pick a card and tell me what they is. 8 7. Pick a card and tell me what they is? 8. I thinks you chosed the ace of spades.

____ brought her little brother with her. Fill In The Blank Kris went to the game. ____ brought her little brother with her.

little brother with her. Answer Kris went to the game. She brought her little brother with her.

Randy left ____ baseball glove at home. Fill In The Blank Randy left ____ baseball glove at home.

Randy left his baseball glove at home. Answer Randy left his baseball glove at home.

_____ left a book on the playground. Fill In The Blank _____ left a book on the playground.

Someone left a book on the playground. Answer Someone left a book on the playground.

_____ pair of shoes belongs to James? Fill In The Blank _____ pair of shoes belongs to James?

Which pair of shoes belongs to James? Answer Which pair of shoes belongs to James?

That beach blanket is ____. Fill In The Blank That beach blanket is ____.

That beach blanket is ours. Answer That beach blanket is ours.

Group Work Reading Computer Test Tri-Fold Section 4 Language WB 63 Essay Questions Compare and Contrast 2 characters from your favorite story. Make a T–chart using complete sentences.

Essay Questions

Day 5 - Question of the Week Can you always believe what you see?

Research/Study Skills – Instruction Manuals A manual usually takes the form of a booklet or handbook. It contains a written set of instructions that help the reader understand, use, or build something. Take note of illustrations, diagrams, headings, labels, and sections (including index and table of contents).

Research/Study Skills –Instruction Manuals Procedures and instructions are directions for using something. Instructions are given in order and often included numbered steps. Read through the instructions before you begin. Then do what is directed, one step at a time.

9. I seen a circus performer hang from her teeths. 10 9. I seen a circus performer hang from her teeths. 10. Has you ever tryed a magic trick?

Group Work Tri-fold Section 5 Language WB 64 Writing Assignment SmartBoard- Synonyms Antonyms Reading WB 159-160

Write a Science Log Entry Think of something in nature that interests you. It might be a garden, a snowstorm, a river, or a season. Write a description using exact nouns and powerful verbs. Write in a way that allows your personality to shine through.

Additional Resources Reading Review Vocabulary A Review: Houdini in Children’s Literature Harry Houdini Time Line Teacher Guide Synonyms Antonyms Plural Pronouns Hyperbole Contractions Contractions Online Interactive Practice Internet 4 Classrooms Compare & Contrast Author's Purpose Pretest Scavenger Hunt