Title: A Season of
Gifts (Peck, R. (2009). A season of gifts. New York: Dial Books for
Young Readers.)
Author: Richard
Peck
Copyright 2009 by Richard Peck
Published by: The
Penguin Group
Reading level: ages 10 and up, Grade level
equivalent: 4.3, Lexile level 690L
Suggested Delivery:
Read aloud
Uplifting,
Suspenseful, Encouraging, Fascinating, Engrossing
Electronic resources to support reading:
a. This
website will provide students and teacher with a word wall to focus on vocabulary
words throughout the text students will encounter. A daily reading journal specific to the text
is also provided for teachers to print up to share with the students. Students can paste this handout into their
daily journals to further digest and reflect on the text.
a. This
is a website for students to learn more about the author, Richard Peck, through
a page dedicated to his biography. It is
important students learn about popular writers, such as Peck, an established author,
playwright, and retired academic who has written many popular novels, including
the 2000 Newbury medal winner A Year Down
Yonder and 1998 Newbery Honor winner A
Long Way From Chicago. Students can
write their own one paragraph interpretation of Pecks biography, using this
website as a guide for facts and relevant information, to look at Pecks’ life
and how he became such a well-known author.
Teaching suggestions:
1. Vocabulary:
a. Arsenal
(pg3)
b. Parsonage
(pg 7)
c. Sieve
(pg 8)
d. Consolation
(pg 13)
e. Sentry
(pg 47)
f. Staggered
(pg 132)
2.
a. Before
reading: Students could be asked to write a short paragraph about what it would
be like to move to a new town and school where they do not know anyone. They will be asked to think about what the
first day of school would be like, if they think it would be difficult or easy
to make new friends, and what life would be like in a new and unfamiliar neighborhood. This will give students insight into what it
would be like for the Barnharts in A
Season of Gifts prior to reading the novel.
b. During
reading: A discussion guide could be provided
to the students to complete during and post the read aloud. A discussion guide which could be printed out
in the form of a worksheet can be found on the following website: http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/penguin/season-of-gifts_dg.pdf Some of these questions can be asked orally by
teacher throughout the read aloud to engage student’s comprehension. Some great questions for oral engagement
throughout read aloud:
i. What
does Bob think of Mrs. Dowdel when he first moves in next door?
ii. How
does his opinion of her change?
iii. Why
does Ruth Ann idolize Mrs. Dowdel?
iv. What
does Ruth Ann learn from Mrs. Dowdel and what does Mrs. Dowdel gain from having
Ruth Ann around?
v. How
have the Barnharts changed by the end of the story as a result of their interactions
with Mrs.Dowdel? (http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/penguin/season-of-gifts_dg.pdf)
c. After
reading: Students can create a graphic
organizer to become more aware of sequence of events throughout the text. They will be asked to outline the sequence of
significant events in the order that they happen in the text. Students will be
asked to look at their outline and describe which events are cause and effect
relationships (i.e.: Cause: Barnhart family
moves to an unknown neighborhood and Ruth does not have any friends in town. Effect:
Ruth Ann takes an interest in Mrs. Dowdel and spends a great deal of
time with her throughout the novel.)
3. Writing
activity:
a. Students
will be given the following prompt for writing a one page typed narrative essay:
i. Who
are the Cowgills, the Flukes, the Leapers, and the Burdicks? How do their interactions
with the Barnharts, Mrs. Dowdel, and the rest of the town shape the story? What
is Mrs. Dowdel’s relationship to the other families in the neighborhood and how
does Mrs. Dowdel give them all what they deserve? Modified from: (http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/penguin/season-of-gifts_dg.pdf)
Students can complete this essay following the outline of sequence of events
activity described above, which can be used as a guide for this essay.
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