The Westing Game

Introduction to the Novel 6th Grade Novel Study Teaching Strategy: Cooperative Lesson Duration: 1 class Goal: The students will make predictions about the novel The Westing Game by llen !askin" 1. #b$ectives%

a. Given the characters names& the student will make predictions about the
individual character traits" Goal: The student will make a book cover design based on their prediction about what the novel story is about" 2. #b$ectives%

a. Given the titles o' the individual chapters and the back cover being read& the
students will design a novel cover based on their prediction o' what the story is about" Standards: A. National nglish Standards a. N() NG"*)1+"1 ! ,-ING .#! / !S/ CTI0 i" Students read a wide range o' print and nonprint te1ts to build an understanding o' te1ts& o' themselves& and o' the cultures o' the 2nited States and the world3 to ac4uire new in'ormation3 to respond to the needs and demands o' society and the workplace3 and 'or personal 'ul'illment" ,mong these te1ts are 'iction and non'iction& classic and contemporary works" b. N() NG"*)1+"5 0,(2,TI#N ST!,T GI S i" Students apply a wide range o' strategies to comprehend& interpret& evaluate& and appreciate te1ts" They draw on their prior e1perience& their interactions with other readers and writers& their knowledge o' word meaning and o' other te1ts& their word identi'ication strategies& and their understanding o' te1tual 'eatures 6e"g"& sound)letter correspondence& sentence structure& conte1t& graphics7" c. N() NG"*)1+"1+ ,//(8ING (,NG2,G S*I((S i" Students use spoken& written& and visual language to accomplish their own purposes 6e"g"& 'or learning& en$oyment& persuasion& and the e1change o' in'ormation7" B. New 8ork State (, Standards

a.

Standard 1 - Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.

i.

As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas, discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.

b.

Standard 2 - Students will read, write, listen, and speak for literary response and expression. i. Students will read and listen to oral, written and electronically produced texts and performances, relate texts and performances to their own lives, and develop an understanding of the diverse social, historical, and cultural dimensions the texts and performances represent. As speakers and writers, students will use oral and written language for self-expression and artistic creation.

Materials: /lain white paper 'or students to create a novel title page /redicting Character traits worksheet 'or each student (ist o' chapter titles Colored pencils or crayons Introduction: 9Today& we will begin a new novel" The novel is called 9The Westing Game": Today& be'ore you get your books& we will take a look at some o' the characters in the book": Development: 1. !ead the back cover o' the novel" 6;e sure to cover the 'ront so students don<t see it7

2. !ead the intro at the 'ront o' the book" 3. =and out the plain white paper" 4. Show the students the list o' the chapter titles" 5. 9;ased on what I read 'rom the back o' the novel and 'rom the 'irst 'ew pages& I want
you to create a book cover based on what you think the novel might be about" 6. 9What do you normally see on the 'ront o' a novel>: I e1pect to hear% a title& the author<s name& a picture" Write the students answers on the 'ront board" 7. 9,'ter you have created your novel cover& make sure your name is on the back" I will collect them": Guided ractice:

1. =and out the 9/redicting Character Traits: worksheet to each student" 2. !ead the top paragraph" 3. 9Character traits are descriptive ad$ectives that tell us speci'ic 4ualities o' a character" 4. (ook at the 'irst name" It is Turtle" -o you think that this might be a girl<s name or a
boy<s name> Why>: (isten to several students responses" 5. 9What do you think o' when you hear 9Turtle:> Give me words that describe what you are thinking": Write the student responses on the board" 6. 9;ased on the words you have given me& what do you think the character named Turtle will be like>: (isten to several students" 7. =ave the students write their answer on the line" Independent ractice: 1. The students will complete the character traits worksheet"

2. Complete at home i' not completed in class"