Loser Lit Link Gr. 4-6

Donald Zinkoff is called a loser by his peers because he's just a little bit different than everyone else. He falls down laughing at the sound of a word and wants to be a mailman like his father when he grows up. Follow Donald's adventures as he attempts to make friends, writes 100 letters, and goes out into a winter's night to save a young girl. You'll make up your own mind about whether Donald really is a loser - or not. Children will relate to the themes of being different and mocked in Loser while finding the writing thoroughly entertaining. The activities in this Lit Link will guide their learning through chapter-by- chapter questions. Additional activities in vocabulary, word study, and personal development are designed according to research-based education principles to improve literacy skills in communication, critical thinking, and more. 64 pages including an answer key. The students will: - be able to develop their skills in reading, writing, listening, and communicating orally - use good literature to develop skills required by curriculum expectations: reasoning and critical thinking, knowledge of language structure, vocabulary building, and use of conventions - enjoy and be excited about literature through a variety of types of questions and activities - identify summarize and describe story elements (plot, characters, story line, and setting) - learn and review many skills to develop good reading habits - provide clear answers to questions and well-constructed explanations - organize and classify information - learn the importance of dealing with adversity and tolerance - take control of their learning List of Skills Before You Read Activities: - make predictions and connections Vocabulary Activities: - identify new words and definitions - use compound words - use word play (fun with letters) - identify synonyms and antonyms - identify adjectives and adverbs - use comparative and superlative suffixes - identify verb tenses - identify root words - determine alphabetical order Setting Activities: - change season and rewrite story Plot Activities: - identify the main ideas - predict outcome of events and foreshadowing - determine the role of others in one's personal growth - summarize events and details - relate novel to one's life - create a plot line for the major events in the story Character Activities: - determine character traits - understand concepts such as individuality, stereotyping, and discrimination - relate to personal experience - identify character motivations Creative and Critical Thinking: - research - write letters - ask questions - write different outcomes - create races (plan) - research and find recipe - give advice - write a welcome speech - use Pig Latin - invent a game - write a weather report - create a get-well card Art Activities: - create a missing person poster - create a card - create a sign