Essential Question:
How do life events change a person?
Day- Plan 1
Day- Plan 2
Day- Seed 1
Day- Seed 2
Day- Seed 3
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Unit Overview
Monitoring Templates
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Lesson seeds are ideas that can be used to build a lesson aligned to the CCSS. Lesson seeds are not meant to be all-inclusive, nor are they substitutes for instruction. When developing lessons from these seeds, teachers must consider the needs of all learners. It is also important to build checkpoints into the lessons where appropriate formative assessment will inform a teachers instructional pacing and delivery.
The unifying theme of this unit is CHANGE. The essential question, "How do life events change a person?" will guide the purpose of reading, the examination of text, independent writing, and class discussion.
Students will identify character changes occurring in the anchor text, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane," by Kate DiCamillo. Students will engage in a deep study of the character, the events, and the language the author used to convey meaning. This unit will engage students in a variety of activities that will illustrate how characters change and how the author constructs the events through language and dialogue. The lesson sequence will teach students how dialogue helps readers understand the characters and plot. After examining dialogue, students will apply this knowledge in their own writing. The unit highlights grade three Common Core Standards. Students will engage in routine writing using a journal or simulated character journal.
The lesson models in this unit feature best practices to address Common Core State Standards and will assist students in the process of close reading, critical analysis of text, and will provide opportunities for students to discuss, think, and write about the text. Included are examples of text dependent questions and sample responses to guide instruction. Included in this unit are organizers, resources, and an introductory lesson seed.
Text Complexity
The three aspects of text complexity were applied when selecting this text. The quantitative measure for The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is at a 700 Lexile level, at the higher end range for third graders. Qualitatively, the novel is rich in language, contains relevant themes, appeals to the age and maturity of the reader, and contains many levels of meaning. When considering reader and task, it is important to note that the story is written from perspective of a child's toy, and often requires readers to make inferences about life. The storyline includes topics that may be sensitive to some audiences, specifically, an insensitive father, and the death of a child. While these may be somewhat disconcerting, the storyline also unfolds deeper layers of love, growth, and change. These narrative elements contribute to the emotional appeal of this award-winning novel.
The following adaptations/accommodations are recommended:
Multiple Means of Representation:
Text Models
Book Reviews – These may be utilized, as discussion starters after students delve deeper into the story. Display/introduce these periodically, one at a time, for discussion.
"Kate DiCamillo gives us a fragile and wonderfully human anti-hero, and in this book she delivers a quiet, meaningful, and memorable story with all the markings of a future classic and wonderful sparks of Kate's signature wit." - ALISON MORRIS, CHILDREN'S BOOK BUYER, WELLESLEY BOOKSMITH, WELLESLEY, MA
"This charming book is destined to be read aloud, shared, and savored by young and old alike. It has an old-fashioned quality and the appearance of a classic, and belongs in every child's library." - PAT SCALES, DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY SERVICES, SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, GREENVILLE, SC
"Edward Tulane does go on a miraculous journey, but the real miracle is how he is changed. From the bottom of the sea to a dump and beyond, this once glorious and much-loved china rabbit captured my attention immediately and took me with him on his amazing travels. With him I felt elegant, broken, frightened, hopeful, lonely, and ultimately happy. I was sad each time Edward lost someone and moved by what he learned about caring and love. I want to read this enchanting tale out loud to someone sitting on my lap, and together we will predict what the next adventure will be as we look at the charming pictures that introduce each chapter. This beautiful treasure, with the creativity and artistry of Kate DiCamillo and illustrator Bagram Ibatoulline, is a story for readers of all ages, who will be reminded about what it means to be human." - CONNIE S. ZITLOW, PROFESSOR, OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY; EDITOR OF LOST MASTERWORKS OF YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE; PAST PRESIDENT OF A.L.A.N
"The melody and rhythm of life's lessons about friendship and love are captured in this timeless story by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, whose artwork is incredible. I think we have a new classic." - JOCI TILSEN, VALLEY BOOKSELLER, STILLWATER, MN
"This tender story, with truly lovely art, will resonate with all of Kate DiCamillo's fans." - MARGARET BRENNAN NEVILLE, THE KING'S ENGLISH BOOKSHOP, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
"Exquisite language, inventive plot twists, and memorable characters." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"This achingly beautiful story shows a true master of writing at her very best." - SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Somewhere between fairy tale and fable, DiCamillo spins the tale of Edward, transformed by the lives he touches. The reader will be transformed too." - KIRKUS
"The story soars because of DiCamillo's lyrical use of language and her understanding of universal yearnings. This will be a pleasure to read aloud." - BOOKLIST
"Perhaps no other current American children's book writer has appeared on the scene so quickly or so brightly as Kate DiCamillo. . . . DiCamillo's latest novel, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, may well be her best. . . . One reading is hardly enough to savor the rich philosophical nuances of DiCamillo's story. I think I will go read it again right now." - NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
Optional Texts
Additional Resources
