1. The House of Dies Drear By Virginia Hamilton
A Mystery Novel Unit
7th/8th Reading
Mrs. Olson
Introduction to the unit. Overview of the book, timeline, assignments, projects, grade rubrics,

2. Unit Overview Timeline Reading Assignments
Vocabulary & Unanswered Questions
Personification, Similes, Metaphors
Characterization
Sketching, Sculpting, Scenes

3. Timeline Week One Week Two Week Three Week Four Chapters 1 - 5

4. Reading Assignments In-class Reading Independent Reading
Group Discussion
Discuss the # of chapters daily, Friday group discussion, etc.

5. Vocabulary ! Find a new word in each chapter.
Define
Illustrate
Use in a sentence
Frame for bulletin board display
Do the vocabulary words on computer, print and add to bulletin board

6. Unanswered Questions
I wonder why…
At the end of each chapter, write down something you are wondering about…

7. Personification
“Time marches on.”

8. Comparison using “like” or “as.” Dad’s snoring was like a lawnmower.
Similes
Comparison using “like” or “as.”
Dad’s snoring was like a lawnmower.

9. Metaphors
Direct comparison.
"Life is a maze.”

10. How does the author develop the characters?
Characterization
How does the author develop the characters?

11. Sketching
Draw a scene from the story.

12. Sculpting
Carve a house from a bar of soap.

13. Scenes Act out a scene from the story. Create a storyboard.
Video-tape a scene.
Audio-tape a scene.

14. In Conclusion… Quizzes Tests Projects Rubrics Grades
What have you learned?

15. Web Pages www.inspiration.com www.kidspiration.com www.technospud.com
Inspriation.com to do the mapping of the characters
Kidspiration.com to do the states internet research. See technospud.com newsletters for great 30 minute teaching tips activities on the home page of each newsletter
(Grammar Gorillas) For parts of speech Kids identify the part of speech of the highlighted word

16. The End