Because of Winn Dixie

The Lesson:

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. 

Student Learning Objective

Students will exemplify an understanding of the text by creating a narrative piece of writing explaining an event in the book. They will write a 1st person narrative, assuming the role of a news reporter.

Assessment

Student assumes the role and writes a piece from the perspective of a character in the book. Students will be graded on accuracy of information, correct grammar, creativity, and completion of their newspaper article. The writing assignment should be rich with details and supported with evidence from the book.

Materials and Resources

  • Access to the internet
  • Newspaper template
  • Book: Because of Winn Dixie

Initiation

Teacher will hold up a copy of Because of Winn Dixie, and make a transition from the previous topic to introduce the activity. The teacher will say, "Now that we've finished reading the book, we're going to become a part of the book." Before proceeding the teacher will clarify, "I expect you to work responsibly and quietly on this assignment. You each will be working at your own computer." 

Lesson Development

  • The teacher will introduce the lesson.
  • The teacher will explain the assignment. She will say, "First, you all should log into the computer and go to our Winn Dixie website. Then, you will visit the Town of Naomi via Google Lit Trips. After, exploring the setting of the book, you will become a news reporter and write about how Opal and Winn Dixie met. Include details from the book, and write as if you were a eye witness character in the book."
  • Students will log into their computers and access the Winn Dixie site.
  • They will visit the "Opal's Adventures" tab to locate the Google Lit Trip.
  • While on the Google Lit Trip, students will be brainstorming what information they will include in their article. 
  • Once they have finished the Google Lit Trip, they will go to the "Because of Winn Dixie" tab.
  • Students will follow the directions on this page, and write their newspaper article. 
  • After completing their newspaper article, they will submit it onto the site.

Closure

Once every student has completed the assignment and submitted their newspaper article, the teacher will close the lesson. The teacher will ask, "Think about some of the things that were difficult while writing this. Was it difficult to write from the perspective of someone in the book?"

The teacher will allow time for students to share their work and explain why they chose to write about what they did.