The Houdini Box Compiled by: Terry Sams PES by Brian Selznick

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

Summary Young Victor wants to be a magician like his hero, famed escape artist Harry Houdini, but his attempts at escape end up as disasters. One Halloween night, he receives a wooden box at Houdini’s house. Victor opens it many years later and discovers Houdini’s secrets.

Genre: Historical Fiction Historical fiction has characters and events based on real people and events in history. As you read, look for historical details. (Different PowerPoint on Genre)

Comprehension Skill Tested: Compare and Contrast – TE392 A Comparison tells how two or more things are alike. A Contrast tells how they are different Clue words such as like or as show comparisons Clue words such as but or unlike show contrasts.

Compare and Contrast PB 153 Special Effects and Magic Tricks Alike Different Both seem real 3. how they work to fool the eye: computer vs. hands 1. Both fool the eye 4. new practice vs. old 2. Both have hard work 5. One is harder to figure out.

Vocabulary Skill: Synonyms and Antonyms TE 394 When you read, you may come across a word you don’t know. 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. Click on the title to practice this skill.

Comprehension Skill review – Plot and Character TE 401 We learn about characters by noticing what they say and do. 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.

Comprehension Skill review – Plot and Character PB193 Problem Rising Action Cory waited for her turn. Climax 3. Resolution 4. 1. Cory was trying out for a dance group. 2. Cory danced. Cory made it into group. Cory cheered.

Comprehension Strategy Predict TE 407 Good readers think about what will happen next. Patterns in the information in a graph or chart can help you predict.

Research/Study Skills – Instruction Manuals TE 415L 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.

Research/Study Skills – Instruction Manuals TE 415L 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).

Weekly Fluency Check - Emotion TE 415a 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. Practice 2 echo readings.

Other Things Character Bookmarks Vocabulary Game A Review: Houdini in Children’s Literature Harry Houdini Time Line Teacher Guide

Question of the Week TE 392L Can you always believe what you see?

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

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

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

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?

appeared vanished crumbled magician monument 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

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

pretending making believe

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

appeared was seen; came in sight

disappeared, especially suddenly vanished disappeared, especially suddenly

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

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

monument

fell to pieces; decayed crumbled fell to pieces; decayed

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

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

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

The clothes were invisible to people who were unfit for their jobs.

The clothes were invisible to people who were unfit for their jobs.

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 in the corner of a dark monument in the graveyard.

They found the ball lying in 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.

Writing Assignment 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.

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

This Week’s Word Wall Words Click and type your own words for this week:

Let’s review our Spelling words Let’s review our Spelling words. Watch carefully because they will flash on the screen for just a moment. We can clap as we spell the word, or we might just practice reading the words.

don’t do not

won’t will not

wouldn’t would not

there’s there is

we’re we are

you’re you are

doesn’t does not

I’ve I have

here’s here is

wasn’t was not

shouldn’t should not

couldn’t could not

where’s where is

hadn’t had not

aren’t are not

they’re they are

it’s it is

we’ve we have

when’s when is

haven’t have not

it’ll it will

who’ll who will

might’ve might have

mustn’t must not

we’d we had