Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Great Gilly Hopkins - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6
    The Great Gilly Hopkins - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6
    The Great Gilly Hopkins - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6
    Ebook120 pages35 minutes

    The Great Gilly Hopkins - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6

    By Marie-Helen Goyetche

    4/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Discover the importance of family, friendships, and what it means to be loved by those around. Present new vocabulary words in a variety of ways to ensure students are excited to expand their literacy skills. Find the antonym for each word. Match words to their definitions, then identify their part of speech. Explore character motivations by stating why Gilly didn't tell Trotter who the visitor was. Explain the expression "demon possession" by writing a story based on this idea. Write a personal reflection on the poem found in the story. Conduct a class survey on things considered to be important in daily life. Aligned to your State Standards, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included.

    About the Novel:
    A story about a bold and brazen eleven-year-old girl–and foster child–who has great expectations about life. Gilly runs away from her foster home looking for her real mother. Not finding her, she begins to adjust to life with the foster family. On Thanksgiving weekend, while Gilly is busy taking care of everyone with the flu, Gilly’s grandmother shows up. She has come to take Gilly to live with her in Virginia. Gilly must move to a new home against her will. She realizes how she is loved at the foster house, and learns many valuable life lessons, relationships and prejudice.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCCP Interactive
    Release dateJan 11, 2006
    ISBN9781553198727
    The Great Gilly Hopkins - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6

    Read more from Marie Helen Goyetche

    Related to The Great Gilly Hopkins - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6

    Titles in the series (56)

    View More
    View More

    Related ebooks

    Vocabulary For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Great Gilly Hopkins - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6

    4/5

    472 ratings53 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Tough foster kid Gilly is not interested in making friends when she is placed in a new home. All she wants, all she's wanted her whole life, is for her mother to come for her -- or for her, Gilly, to find some way of getting to her mother. Will Gilly find a way to make her dreams come true -- or will foster mother Mamie Trotter be able to win Gilly over to a different idea of family?I had read this before, but it's been at least ten years. This time, I listened to the audiobook. I had forgotten that this book is, in its own way, nearly as emotionally evocative as Bridge to Terabithia. Gilly is a complex and initially unlikable character, judgmental and racist, and her development over the course of the story is impressive.
    • 3/5
      *Warning! Spoilers! DO NOT READ if you don't want to know about the ending! Warning!*I really don't know what to say about this book. One thing's for sure: It sent me on a roller-coaster ride, emotionally. The first few chapters had me fighting not to skip over paragraphs, it was slow and boring and out of date. Then I really warmed to the plot (if not exactly to Gilly herself), and I was turning pages faster and faster to get to that happy ending that i just knew was coming.Only it didn't. The happy ending never happened. Neither the one Gilly envisioned, of her real mother "rescuing" her, or the one I figured was most likely, where she stays with Trotter and becomes a real part of that family. No, no happy endings here. I knew Courtney wouldn't rescue Gilly. I've read too many of these foster kid books to think that. Which is why it was so frustrating (and, for me, tear-jerking) when Gilly really DID start liking Trotter and WE, and because of her stupid rash letter to her mother, she gets taken away from the only people who've actually loved her. That last chapter had me bawling. I've said this in other reviews, I'll say it again, I cry easily. It's not uncommon for me to cry during a book. Even so... Up to that very last page I was so sure Gilly would end up back with Trotter, especially after her heartsinking realization that Courtney actually wasn't going to save her or even stay with her. I mean, I do understand the whole "moral" behind the ending, and Trotter's words to Gilly on that last page... But man what a letdown. To go off with a grandmother you don't know and a mother who doesn't want you, instead of being with the family who loves you and who you want to be with.... Dang.
    • 5/5
      This fits into the genre of Realistic Fiction because it is convincingly true to life and allows children to see into to the life of someone else, and in turn examine their own lives. They are able to see the complexity of human interaction. A variety of people are present in the story who are unique.
    • 5/5
      There's no feeling more worse than to know your not wanted by family. I like this book and felt every emotion Gilly felt. Paterson use of descriptive language in this book takes readers on an emotional roller coaster experiencing the high and low moments in Gilly life. I hoped for a happy ending, but instead, reality presented itself. Life does not always go the way we want it to go and that was Paterson purpose for writing. Sometimes we just have to accept things the way they are, make the best of it, and live our lives.
    • 3/5
      I had mixed feelings about this book. The first reason I liked the book was because it was about a young girl who learns to let herself be vulnerable and open up to others. I like the fact that at first she wants to be called by her real name, Galadriel, but when her teacher wants to call her Galadriel, she yells and says that her name is Gilly. I think it's funny and something readers can sometimes relate to in school. I also liked that Gilly did not want to let Trotter get to know her, but by the end she didn't want to leave and told Trotter that she loved her. It was shocking that Gilly didn't want to go live with her grandmother after all this time of only wanting to be with her real family. One thing I didn't like about the book was how slow the story progressed. I got a bit bored in the middle of the book and kept waiting for something big to happen. Another thing I didn't like was that Gilly was portrayed as a mean girl and didn't listen to anyone or follow the rules. That is not a good message to have in a book because kids are more likely to follow what they read. Overall, the big idea of the book was to be yourself no matter the obstacle.
    • 3/5
      It had a good moral and the story/characters were interesting, but something about this felt incredibly dated. I can't put my finger on it, but it felt like it took place in the 70s or 80s.
    • 4/5
      The main character of this book is Gilly a foster child who has been moved around a lot. She struggles with fears, anger, and feeling alone and unloved. She lies, steals, bullies other kids, is prejudiced, and uses profanity. She learns to eventually trust and love her foster family before being removed to live with her grandmother. At the end of the book, she finally meets her biological mother only to find that her mother does not love her and is not interested in living with her.This is a great book for discussion but it may be disturbing for kids reading it on their own. I think it is most appropriate for kids over 13. Kids ages 11-12 may or may not be okay reading it due to its themes, but I think the profanity is inappropriate for children. Kids 10 and under will probably be disturbed by the themes unless they have a troubled past. My 10 year old was uncomfortable after she read it on her own. She did feel better after we discussed it. I wish that she had read it at an older age and that we had read it together and discussed it throughout.I personally enjoyed the book and think it is a good book to discuss with youth 13 and older. It's a wonderful book for developing empathy and understanding how anger and fear affect people. It shows the affects that out-of-wedlock pregnancies can have on the children born and how the lack of good parenting affects young children. It also teaches how to love those who are deeply wounded. It's a good jumping off point for discussing how to deal with tough situations (when life isn't fair).
    • 5/5
      Gilly is a independent over confident girl. she is a foster kid and she really wants her real mother back. she hates all of her foster parents and she has had a lot of foster parents. then she meets the Trotters at first she hates them then she doesn't know it but she starts to like them but she is still trying to get her mom. When she starts to really like them her mother comes and she go's with her mom. I think Katherine Paterson did a really good job on this book because it has a lot of detail so you know what is going on. I recommend this book to you if you like books that you cant put down. and if you like books with emotion.
    • 5/5
      The story of Gilly Hopkins seemed as though it could be real. There were details provided to produce a great setting and I felt as though I were reading the story of a child who went through the foster care system. The setting of the house where she was living seemed so real. I could see all of the books in Mr. Randolph's house going every which way on the shelf and the dust that would be in the house of a blind man. These details made the story come alive for me. This story however, was not based upon a real story, so it is realistic fiction.
    • 5/5
      Gilly Hopkins is a foster child who has been moved from home to home. At the place where she expects to cause more trouble then ever, she discovers that it is actually the best place for her, and regrets a mistake she makes that takes her away.
    • 4/5
      This book is very emotionally affecting, so much so that it may be too much for some readers. This story of a bounced-around foster child might be triggering to those who have lived through similar circumstances, and the book's portrayal of race has not aged well. While I don't condone shielding children from all serious issues, I would be careful about recommending this book without carefully considering the audience.
    • 5/5
      Genre: Realistic Fiction - This book is a good example of realistic fiction because it is a made up story but it is true to the everyday occurrences of life. Since the main character of this book is a young girl, the students will be able to relate to her . If a student who was also adopted has read the book they can relate to her as well, but if they have not been adopted they can just feel sympathy for her. It helps the reader to see into different perspectives of the world outside of readers life. We also see into what the human social behavior is like. This is a great story, and a lot of students can relate to this book because it is something that could really happen.Characters: The main character Gilly Hopkins is the protagonist of the story but I would also say she is the antagonist at the same time. She is starts off by being a brat and is mean to everyone and not thankful at all. She even starts stealing from people so she can get away. As the story continues, she begins to realize she is wrong and changes her attitude and starts to help people. She loves the family she lives with and wants to stay but it forced to leave, and finds something good out of that experience. She was a very well rounded character and she grew a lot through her experiences. Art Media: NoneStyle: While I was reading the book I could really visualize what was going on, because the author was using a lot of imagery. It was really helpful and it made the story more interesting. The author described a lot of the surroundings which I also liked too. It helped me to use my creativity as well to visualize what was going on.
    • 4/5
      Gilly Hopkins has been shuttled around to several different foster homes since her mother left, and Gilly's perfected the art of not caring about anyone. When she arrives at the house of a new foster mother Mrs. Trotter, Gilly's certain she can drive Trotter crazy and break free to join her mother in California. But things don't turn out the way she planned. I read this book when I was in grade school and loved it, so I wanted to see how it would hold up. Parts of it felt dated (references to The Electric Company, Walter Cronkite, etc. - do today's kids know who/what those are?), but the spirit of the text still shone through. Red flag for language - Gilly uses the word "damn" several times throughout the book and some parents might find that objectionable (especially in the audio). Alyssa Bresnahan is one of my favorite narrators and I always enjoy her work.
    • 4/5
      Read for class...Gilly (Galadreil) Hopkins is a kid stuck in the foster system, convinced that her mom will come to reclaim her some day soon. She is full of anger and deceit, until she meets Mamie Trotter and learns that family comes in many shapes and sizes. I really enjoyed this book, the writing is excellent and the frustrations of Gilly's life feel very real yet not too over done.
    • 5/5
      This was a good example of realistic fiction because the events and characters in the story were true to life as there really are foster kids who travel from place to place and have behavior problems as Gilly does throughout the book. As in realistic fiction books, we are able to see the complexity of human interaction as we watch Gilly go from hating the Trotters, to wanting to live with them.
    • 5/5
      Gilly has been bumped from one foster home to another, and has learned the hard way to stay tough and not get too attached to anyone or anything while she waits for her mother to decide that she wants her daughter. Then she gets landed in a home that she thinks is the worst yet, but she eventually realizes it's where she belongs and want to be.From the author who broke my heart with The Bridge to Terabithia, I should have known that I'd love this one, even though I started the thing really not liking Gilly at all. That's as Paterson wants it, of course, and then she makes you fall in love with the girl and her story. Very well done.
    • 5/5
      Gilly is known as the toughest girl in school and is living with an large, religious woman and her annoyingly shy son. Gilly who is in foster care gets placed with this family and immediately starts day dreaming ways to make their lives miserable. The affection the woman shows Gilly softens her heart, and Gilly will always love them for loving her. Based on plot I rate this novel a 5 star. The beginning chapter were engaging and strong reeling the reader in. The character of Gilly is humerous and keeps the atmosphere of the book light even with a heavy topic. The resolution at the end with Gilly meeting her mom and living with her grandmother is an okay resolution but what really yanks the readers heart is the change in tone, vocabulary and attitude. Gilly gives up having dreaming of the perfect ending for that perfect ending never came and will never come. The story ends suddenly allowing the reader to understand where Gilly, Mrs. Trotter and her mom are at but imagin where the rest of Gilly's life will lead her.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed reading The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson, because of its well-developed characters with strong personalities and well-paced plot that kept the reader interested the entire time. The author was able to create a strong sense of who each character was, especially the main character, Gilly, through unique, expressive language. For example, Gilly's confident, bold comments throughout the book such as "I am too clever and too hard to manage. Gruesome Gilly, they call me" created a strong sense of self in Gilly, giving the reader the feeling they knew exactly who she was. Also, the author kept a nice pace throughout the story of Gilly's adventure through the foster care system, and kept the story interesting with new, unfolding events. This was utilized throughout, but some examples were Gilly coming to her new foster home and meeting her "foster mom" and "foster brother", and then having her real Grandmother come and gain custody of her and letting Gilly meet her real mother. As the story unraveled, the reader got more enthralled in the plot with the different relations between all of the characters, creating a great story that was always engaging. The story told the idea of having to be strong and take on whatever life throws at you, because surviving life is "tough but makes you happy".
    • 4/5
      A brilliant girl is forced to understand that family is defined in multiple ways, by what you think you want (ideal), by what you have (comfort) and by blood. The story of a foster child, who has grown up thinking she can't trust anyone but herself is the main character of this young adult novel focusing on what it means to be satisfied with what life has given you.While the moral of this story is a bit pat, and I hated that it was so contritely summed up in the final two pages through a telephone conversation, I have to admit that I loved the development of Gilly Hopkins throughout the novel. She is a girl who wants to be able to take care of herself, forgetting everything else around her until it is a bit too late to change any of her past actions.While it might not have worked as a young adult novel being stretched out into the following years and the experiences Gilly has with her biological grandmother and mother, these are the scenes that I think might be the strongest in the story. Yes, connections with William Ernest and Mr. Randolph were necessary in getting Gilly to understand that relationships are about what you make of them, not what is simply given to you, they don't finish the story in a satisfying way for me.
    • 4/5
      Critique: Genre: This example of a child in foster care could easily happen because she has a desire to be loved and wanter by her mother. She deals with intense feelings that most children in foster care or orphans would deal with concerning bitterness, the lack of feeling love, and the need to feel worthy. Through her family she is with, she is able to break down these barriers and realize that she loves them and that she has room in her heart to forgive, move on, and love other people. Not all children could initially relate because they may not be adopted or being a foster child. However, many children can relate to the feelings that Gilly experiences. Character: William Ernest is a dynamic character in this book. He is a main character, though we don't know as much about him like Gilly, because it is not written through his point of view. He is initially extremely shy and scared of anyone and hides behind Trotter. However, after Gilly befriends him and shows him how to defend himself, he becomes more confident in who he is. His character is mostly revealed through his interaction and conversations with Gilly. We observe him through her point of view. Media: Mixed media
    • 4/5
      Gilly Hopkins has been passed around from foster home to foster home for pretty much all of her eleven years. She's determined to keep control of her life by keeping everyone else off balance. Gilly's determined love for the mother she hasn't seen in forever, and her determined hate for her latest foster family make her tough but also unhappy. This exploration of what happens to a child who doesn't have someplace to call her own is poignant. Trotter's words to Gilly at the end, "Nothing to make you happy like doing good on a tough job, now is there?" sum up what Gilly learns - happy isn't some fairytale ending, but making the choices that respect yourself, and caring about others.
    • 5/5
      Gilly pushes away all people who try to get close to her as a method of self-preservation. She has been abandoned so many times, she tries to believe that she doesn't need anybody and that her biological mother will love her if given the chance. Finally Maime and William Earnest give her a home with unconditional love and acceptace. Gilly's previous search for more, however, leads to her maternal grandmother finding her and removing her from the system. Gilly ultimately accepts that, while this might not be the place that will bring her the most happiness, she must represent Maime and all Maime taught her well and be there for her lonley grandmother.
    • 5/5
      This wasn't as exciting as a lot of stories. It wasn't as emotionally powerful, or at least not in the same way, as a lot of stories but when I finished there was never any question or debate as to what I would rate it. It was exactly what it needed to be and I loved the characters and the writing. Gilly is alive and real and I miss her already.
    • 4/5
      I liked this book for three reasons. One reason why I liked this book was because of the written text. In the beginning of the book, Gilly reads a poem to Mr. Randolph. I really liked the words the author used to describe Mr. Randolph's rendition of it by saying he recited the poem "powerfully and musically, on his own favorite lines." You could hear Mr. Randolph reciting these lines like you were sitting next to them reading the book. Another reason why I liked this book was the plot. The whole time you felt everything that Gilly was going through, like you are a foster child yourself. Especially the part where Gilly steals money from Mrs. Trotter and she says that she can go "all the way to Courtney Rutherford Hopkins, all the way home." You not only feel what Gilly is feeling but you feel hurt for Mrs. Trotter because she is trying so hard to make her home a home for Gilly. Another reason I liked this book was the realistic characters. Throughout Gillys stay at Mrs. Trotters, you can see her growth into a young adult. At the end when she calls Mrs. Trotter from the airport and tells her she loves her is the part when you can actually see Gilly grow up right before your eyes. The big message that I got from this book was that even though you may not have your biological family, you will always have a family that loves you.
    • 4/5
      This book is about a girl named Gilly. She is a foster child. Gilly hates being a foster child! She believes that her mom is going to one day pick her up from her foster home and take her home to her mom's house. She makes a plan to have her mom come rescue her by sending her a letter, but, the plan doesn't turn out the way she planned it. If you like books about foster children, naughty children, and if you want to find out what is in the letter, I think this book is for you.
    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Great Gilly Hopkins." One reason I enjoyed the book was because of the realistic, well-developed characters. Gilly's stubborn, witty and clever personality was intriguing to me and I found her to be very funny. In the beginning of the story when Gilly is on her way to meet the Trotters, she says, "But I am not nice. I am brilliant... I am too clever and too hard to manage." Gilly's bold and confident comments and thoughts truly helped to develop her character and allowed the reader to really get inside of her head. Another reason I enjoyed this book was the plot itself. It made you want to keep turning the page and see what kind of adventure (and sometimes trouble) Gilly got into next. Gilly's character developed a great deal as the plot unfolded which was also very interesting to see. She went from a stubborn, closed-off girl to someone who was finally able to develop a bond and relationship with a family, which is what she had always wanted. I believe the big idea of this book is to cherish what you have while you have it and to stay strong during tough times and you will come out even stronger and happier.
    • 3/5
      The author has the unique honor of receiving two Newbery Medals, one for The Bridge to Terabithia and another for Jacob I have Loved. The Great Gilly Hopkins is a 1979 Newbery honor book.It is obvious that Paterson knows the heart and soul of young adults. Her writings provide clear insights into children facing troubled situations.Galadriel (Gilly) Hopkins is an angry, manipulative 11 year old. Shuffled from many foster homes, she flips a cold, nasty attitude to anyone who dares to walk in her path. No one is spared -- Teachers are mocked and tested; foster parents are driven to the edge in trying to reach her and children on the playground are beaten.When Gilly is placed in the home of the Trotters she decides it is time to run away from what she calls the fat woman and her retarded foster child William Earnest.When her scheme to connect with her biological mother nets the result she had not planned, Gilly learns an important lesson in realizing her biological mother is not the wonderful person she imagined and the Trotters aren't so terrible after all.Recommended.
    • 5/5
      Readers can relate to this story in many different ways, the events are also very believable. These factors make this book a good example of realistic fiction. There is also wonderful character development in this book. In the beginning of the book, Gilly, the main character, is mean and avoidant of any kind of love or kindness. However, through her time with her new foster family she realizes that she can let her guard down. By the end of the story, Gilly is loving and she expresses that love. This is a huge change for the great Gilly Hopkins.
    • 4/5
      Galadriel "Gilly" Hopkins is one of those protagonists that I immediately despised and grew to dislike more as the book went along. It was clear from the beginning that she would learn some life lessons and be a better child in the end, but it was rough getting there for a reader like myself, who particularly enjoys liking the main character.Gilly is in foster care and has been passed from family to family. Nobody manages to keep her very long because she is just awful, and since no one seems to want her, she doesn't want anybody. But then she is placed with the old and obese widow Mrs. Trotter and her other foster child, a younger boy who Gilly suspects is mentally handicapped. And next door lives an ancient blind black man with a penchant for fine poetry, who always eats dinner with Mrs. Trotter and her foster children. Gilly, who is completely unreligious (Mrs. Trotter is a faithful baptist) and who is also rather racist in her attitudes, thinks this is the worst house she's ever been put in.Around the half-way point of the book, she starts turning the corner and improves. The ending was not at all what I expected or what I hoped it would be. But it was the perfect ending for the book all the same.
    • 2/5
      I was interested in reading this chapter book just by the short description on the back cover. I thought this book was going to be a lot different. The first two chapters struck me as misleading in relation to the blonde haired girl on the cover. I had mixed feelings of this book after I completed reading it. I found that it was very hard to like the main character, Gilly. This is because she was prejudice towards African Americans and she swore as an 11 year old. Not forming a liking towards the main character made it difficult for me to get to the climax of the novel. I did like how the author made so many relationships between different characters. For example, The relationship between Trotter and W.E. was a mutual love and appreciation. The giving of those emotions were evident from Trotter to Gilly but were not given in return. I also enjoyed that Miss. Harris was able to make a connection with Gilly and explain how she deals with all of her built up anger.I think this story was very realistic and I appreciated how the author had multiple climaxes to lead to Gilly's epiphany at the end. I also liked how the reader can see how GIlly transformed from the beginning of the book to the end and it was all because of the positive influences from Trotter, Mr. Randolph, and Ms. Harris. These positive mentors guided Gilly in realizing that she needed to change her perspective of others and life. The overall theme is to appreciate someone who loves you. Gilly found that Trotter's love for her was greater than anyone in the past, even though Gilly was mean and disrespectful towards her. She developed a sense of belonging and desire that she had never felt with previous foster families and her own birth mother. I did not like how misleading the content of this book was in relation to the cover and description. I did like the lesson that the book portrayed, however, I do not think it should be read in school because of the prejudice remarks and reference to stealing, lying, and bullying as a 11 year old, no matter the background of that child or circumstances.

    Book preview

    The Great Gilly Hopkins - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6 - Marie-Helen Goyetche

    A Literature Kit™ FOR

    The Great Gilly Hopkins

    By Katherine Paterson

    Written by Mary-Helen Goyetche

    GRADES 5 - 6

    Classroom Complete Press

    P.O. Box 19729

    San Diego, CA 92159

    Tel: 1-800-663-3609 / Fax: 1-800-663-3608

    Email: service@classroomcompletepress.com

    www.classroomcompletepress.com

    ISBN-13: 978-1-55319-336-4

    ISBN-10: 1-55319-336-9

    eISBN: 978-1-55319-872-7

    © 2007

    Permission to Reproduce

    Permission is granted to the individual teacher who purchases one copy of this book to reproduce the student activity material for use in his or her classroom only. Reproduction of these materials for colleagues, an entire school or school system, or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited. No part of this publication may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) for our publishing activities. Printed in Canada. All rights reserved.

    Critical Thinking Skills

    The Great Gilly Hopkins

    Based on Bloom’s Taxonomy

    Contents

    Assessment Rubric

    The Great Gilly Hopkins

    Teacher Guide

    Our resource has been created for ease of use by both TEACHERS and STUDENTS alike.

    Introduction

    The Great Gilly Hopkins is one of several and award-winning novels written by Katherine Paterson, and has proven to be tremendously popular with young people. Recognized as a Newberry Honor Book, this is the highly entertaining story of a bold and brazen eleven-year-old girl – and foster child – who has great expectations about life; she dreams of finding her

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1