Book of Diversity

Wonder
by R.J. Palacio 
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Copyright 2012

Suggested Delivery: Read aloud, independent read

Reading Level: Lexile level 790L, guided reading level U

Vocabulary: alignment, exasperated, horrific, jumble, illuminate, dissed, forewarned, roam, sympathetic, apprentice,precept, retrospect, meticulously, pretrified, anomalies, schlep

Awards: New York Times Bestseller, Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, 2012 BookBrowse Best Book for Young Readers Award, 2012 Booklist Best of Children's Books Award,  

"I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse."

"August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance."- Amazon.com



This book is a rich, memorable, engaging, page turning novel filled with unforgettable characters, touching the hearts of every reader in unexpected ways.

Pre Reading Activity: Before reading this book, students should have some knowledge about Treacher-Collins syndrome. Should know that it is genetic and it causes structural damage to one's face. Students should also know that although there is permanent damage to the face, the child's intellectual and emotional levels function normally. It is only a physical adnomality.


During Reading Activity: While reading the story students can use the following question in a bookmark or just as a thought provoking question, "Have you ever felt different from others? In what way? How did others around you treat you? Do you feel as if Auggie deserved the treatment he received from his peers? Why or why not?"

Post Reading Activity: After reading the novel students can be divided into small groups. Each group can be assigned an important character from the story (Via, Jack, Summer, Justin, Mr. Tushman). After assigning the characters, students can discuss with their groupmates about how each character reacted and acted towards Auggie's deformity. Did their character help Auggie? How? Groups can then share with the whole class about their group's opinions of their assigned character.  

Writing Activity: After students read the story they can answer the following question in 1-2 paragraphs, "Throughout the book, Auggie describes the way that many people react to seeing his face for the first time: by immediately looking away. Have you ever been in a situation where you have responded like this to seeing someone different? Now that you have read this novel, how do you feel about having those types of reactions now?" 

Electronic Resources: 

Wonder Book Trailer
This video is a good hook for students to
spark more interest in the story. The video
includes music, real kids, and an interesting
hook to make students think the book is 
almost like a movie. This video can also be 
used as a pre reading activity.



Stop Bullying for Kids
This website is a good resource for students
to become more informed on what they can do
to stop bullying in their communities. Auggie
experienced a lot of bullying in his school and 
community. This website can help students feel
like their imputs and opinions do matter and that 
they can make a difference in others' lives. There
are messgage boards, games, and informational
links on how they can become more involved in this
national conflict. 

Book of Diversity

Holes
by Louis Sachar
Published by
Copyright 2000

Reading Level: Lexile Level 660L, guided reading level V

Suggested Delivery: Read aloud

Vocabulary: perserverance (8), desolate (11), deftly (32), excavated (34), upholstery (44), evict (75), callused (80), drawl (113), revving (147), increments (167), precipice (171) 

Awards: 1999 John Newbery Medal, 1999 National Book Award, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, ALA Quick Pick, 1998 ALA Notable Book Award

"The winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award features Stanley Yelnats, a kid who is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the warden makes the boys "build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes: five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption."- Amazon

This book is a humerous, imaginative, creative, action filled, page turning story with new adventures on every page!

Pre-Reading Activity: Disney came out with the movie Holes in 2003 based off the book. The students can watch the trailer as a hook for the story. Seeing the characters and storyline played out in reality can help students create a better picture in their minds of the plot, thus comprehending the text much more smoothly. 

During Reading Activity: Since this is a book of diversity, student should focus on characters other Stanley Yelnats. While students read they can ask themselves the following comprehension question, "What does Zero have trouble with? Does he feel different because of that? Is he more connect with others than he thinks he is? Why or why not?" Students can also discuss whether or not Sam was treated nicely back then. Students can relate Sam's treatment to the way the kids at Camp Green Lake were treated. "Students can answer the following questions while reading, "How were their treatments similar  Different? Why were they treated this way?"This and other questions similar to it can be included in a bookmark for the novel."

Post Reading Activity: Students can have a class discussion about the three different stories in the one book. Students can discuss with the teacher and with their classmates about how the three stories (Stanley at Camp Green Lake, the curse put on Stanley's great-great-grandfather, and Kissin Kate Barlow) and how they're all connected.  Students can give their opinions about whether or not one, or all, of the stories belonged in the book. 

Writing Activity: Students can write a paragraph or two about this question, "How is Stanley's friendship with Zero similar to Kate Barlow's friendship with Sam? In each case why don't people approve of the friendship?"

Electronic Resources: 

Holes Online Games and Activities

This website provides many different activities

to further students' interests in the novel. If they

click the "Explore" tab on the screen an interactive

warden will talk to the viewer, giving them instructions 

about the activites and even cracking a few Holes related

jokes. Some activities also provide seperate tabs to 

websites such as the biography of Louis Sachar, 

other books he has written, and even a recipe for 

Kissin' Kate Barlows' Spiced Peaches!

Yellow Spotted Lizard

This website is very informational about

the yellow spotted lizard in the story. This page
gives all the descriptions of the lizards habitat, 
physical features, diet, and other information. 
The website also includes pictures of the lizard as 
well as how to take care of one if you were to buy 
one in a pet store. It can be very helpful
for students if they did a science project
on animals and their habitats.

Choice List 2005

The Giver
by Lois Lowry
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company
Copyright 1993

Reading Level: Lexile Level 760L, reading level 6

Suggested Delivery: Independent read, read aloud

Vocabulary: palpable (3), transgression (9), droning (22), chortled (33), prodded (41), buoyancy (47), aptitude (52), benign (59), throng (65), admonition (89), daub (109), wisp (125), horde (133), ruefully (141), imploringly (142), languid (166), taut (168), flagging (172)

Awards: 1994 John Newbery Medal, ALA Notable Children's Book, ALA Best Book for Young Adults 

"'It was almost December, and Jonas was beginning to be frightened.'"
Thus opens this haunting novel in which a boy inhabits a seemingly ideal world: a world without conflict, poverty, unemployment, divorce, injustice, or inequality. It is a time in which family values are paramount, teenage rebellion is unheard of, and even good manners are a way of life.
December is the time of the annual Ceremony at which each twelve year old receives a life assignment determined by the Elders. Jonas watches his friend Fiona named Caretaker of the Old and his cheerful pal Asher labeled the Assistant Director of Recreation. But Jonas has been chosen for something special. When his selection leads him to an unnamed man -the man called only the Giver -he begins to sense the dark secrets that underlie the fragile perfection of his world.
Told with deceptive simplicity, this is the provocative story of a boy who experiences something incredible and undertakes something impossible. In the telling it questions every value we have taken for granted and reexamines our most deeply held beliefs."- Amazon. com

The Giver is challenging, mysterious, and an unforgettable read. The book leaves an open mind for the reader to fill in the structure because the concepts are never really explained. This keeps the reader hooked and excited to read on to find out why.  


Pre-Reading Activity: Make a list on chart paper or on the board of what the students believe are elements involved in a eutopia. After defining that the world means a perfect world the students can each add their one of their own components to what makes up a utopia. Tell the students that their ideas should not just be personal, but should be universal as well. Introduce the story with telling the students that the utopia in the story takes a very wrong turn. 

During Reading Activity: As the students read, they can keep in mind the following key question, "Do you think Jonas could have found a way to share his new experiences with his friends and family? Should he have done it this way? Why or why not?" This question can be asked after the students have read chapter 12.

Post Reading Activity: Jonas's community had roles assigned to each person living in their utopia. Have the students pretend they're in that type of utopia. The students can pick three friends and choose which role to assign to their friend. Students can get into small groups and explain why they chose those roles for their friends. 

Writing Activity: Students can make a small list of four to five choices that are important to them. After making their list students can write a paragraph based off the question, "How would you feel if those choices were taken away from you? What would you do to get them back? Explain why these choices are very important to you."

Electronic Resources:

The Giver Quiz
For students who like a little more
of a challenge, this is a 10 question online 
quiz for students who would like to take it
on their own time. This can also be an electronic
option for students who feel overwhelmed when
taking paper based tests. There are options to take
four different quizzes, summaries of all the chapters, 
and a list of major themes and quotes.

Fake Trailer for The Giver
This is fake trailer created by student in an 8th
grade class. The movie "The Giver" will be released
in 2014 with Taylor Swift playing the role of Rosemary. 
Students can watch this trailer and dicuss whether it was 
accurate or a good prediction for what the movie
might look like. This can be a good pre reading activity
as well to get students hooked in wanting to see the movie
and read the book as well.  


AfDoT  youare his new experiences