Bleachers Literature Guide, John Grisham
Julie FaulknerJulie FaulknerDescription
In this 3-4 week novel unit plan for Bleachers, Grisham's captivating writing style along with the fast-paced plot and richly dynamic characters will captivate even your most reluctant readers.
Whether your students are football fans or not, boys or girls, this literature guide has something for everyone! Grisham has masterfully crafted a text that models writers' techniques so subtly and organically - making this text a beautiful choice as a modern, fictional exemplar. Its narrative is one that certainly speaks to teens today, and this unit is the product of classroom experience and has been years in development.
This unit plan is designed to take your students through Bleachers in a way that the novel comes alive. Students study and dig into the text with the carefully crafted questions on the active reading guides, and you will be confident that key standards are being addressed. From the modern connections provided such as a Tweet for Me summarizing exercise to the informational text readings that bring in the medical and historically significant side of the novel, students will recognize the importance of this text as critical in their world. Several classic poetry pairings drive your students toward thinking about the novel's poignant themes in the characters' lives as well as their own. Various other interactive, hands-on, and creative activities will provide you with many ways to engage your students and have them take ownership of their own learning in this three to four week unit plan. All the basics are here, too: reading quizzes, grammar worksheets, journal prompts, vocabulary, final exam, and final project prompts. You can use it all or just use some. This unit in its entirety touches every CCSS writing standard, many literature and info text standards, digital media standards for speaking and listening, and several language standards. Each resource is matched with its standards throughout the pack. Plus, many of the files are editable format, so you can make this material work for you!
No worries if you don't have a copies of this novel - I've included live links to the text- all for FREE! That's the perfect solution whether you are a paper school or Google Drive school!
Included:
Pre-reading PPT presentation
Vocabulary list, sentences, and quiz for every chapter, editable
Active reading graphic organizers for every chapter, PDF and editable
Pop reading quizzes, editable
Figurative language worksheets for every chapter
Grammar workouts, editable
Characterization worksheets
Close reading with paired ELA skill for every chapter
Role playing prompts, PDF and editable
Four paired info text lessons (Heatstroke, true heroes, Brown v. Board court case, real injured athlete)
Three paired poetry lessons (“To an Athlete Dying Young”; “A Dream Deferred”; “The Guy in the Glass”)
Classroom posters
Interactive Plot Review Game, PDF and editable
Final Exam, editable
Short Research Project and Presentation
Essay Topic, editable
Short Prompts for Each Chapter, editable
Other Bonus activities
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Check out more of my literature units:
American Literature Full Curriculum
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
More Football and Sports Goodies:
Nonfiction Sports Hazing Info Text Article
Nonfiction Coaches Behavior Info Text Article, Included in the Bleachers Unit
Boys of Fall Poetry Lesson, Included in the Bleachers Unit
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