Milkweed - The Book Umbrella Novel Studies

Milkweed
Table of Contents
Novel Study Title Page for Students.............................. 3
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 25 – 30........................ 24
Before Reading....................................................................... 4
Vocabulary Study Chapters 25 – 30............................... 25
Who is Jerry Spinelli?........................................................... 5
Understanding the Story Chapters 25 – 30................ 26
My Character Chart.............................................................. 6
Chapter Summary Chapters 25 – 30............................. 27
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 1 – 6............................. 8
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 31 – 36........................ 28
Vocabulary Study Chapters 1 – 6.................................... 9
Vocabulary Study Chapters 31 – 36............................... 29
Understanding the Story Chapters 1 – 6..................... 10
Understanding the Story Chapters 31 – 36................ 30
Chapter Summary Chapters 1 – 6.................................. 11
Chapter Summary Chapters 31 – 36............................. 31
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 7 – 12.......................... 12
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 37 – 42........................ 32
Vocabulary Study Chapters 7 – 12................................. 13
Vocabulary Study Chapters 37 – 42............................... 33
Understanding the Story Chapters 7 – 12................... 14
Understanding the Story Chapters 37 – 42................ 34
Chapter Summary Chapters 7 – 12................................ 15
Chapter Summary Chapters 37 – 42............................. 35
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 13 – 18........................ 16
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 43 – 45........................ 36
Vocabulary Study Chapters 13 – 18............................... 17
Vocabulary Study Chapters 43 – 45............................... 37
Understanding the Story Chapters 13 – 18................ 18
Understanding the Story Chapters 43 – 45................ 38
Chapter Summary Chapters 13 – 18............................. 19
Chapter Summary Chapters 43 – 45............................. 39
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 19 – 24........................ 20
Time for a Test!....................................................................... 40
Vocabulary Study Chapters 19 – 24............................... 21
Reading Log............................................................................ 42
Understanding the Story Chapters 19 – 24................ 22
Answer Key.............................................................................. 43
Chapter Summary Chapters 19 – 24............................. 23
Common Core State Standards....................................... 61
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Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Who is Jerry Spinelli?
Use the internet and other resources to research the author of Milkweed, Jerry Spinelli.
Before Researching
1. What do you already know about Jerry Spinelli?
2. What do you want to find out about Jerry Spinelli?
After Researching
3. What have you learned from your research?
4. Where did you get your information?
Milkweed
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Name:____________________________________________
Date:_______________________________________________
Dictionary Detective!
Chapters 1 - 6
Using a dictionary, find the definitions for the words below.
nickered
Definition:
gush
Definition:
waspy
Definition:
mobbed
Definition:
hoisted
Definition:
spectacle
Definition:
Milkweed
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Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Vocabulary Study
Chapters 1 - 6
Match Up
Match the words in the left column to their definitions in the right column.
mobbed •
• insect-like
spectacle •
• neighed (like a horse)
nickered •
• lifted or raised
waspy •
• a sudden flow
hoisted •
• a large public show or display
gush •
• crowded around noisily
Fill in the Blank
Complete each sentence by filling in the blanks with the provided vocabulary.
gush
hoisted
waspy
spectacle
nickered
mobbed
1. On the hot summer afternoon, I could hear the ___________________________ buzz of a lawn
mower in the distance.
2. The horse ___________________________ when it heard the farmer enter the barn.
3. Customers were ___________________________ around the store during the sale.
4. During the concert, Ethan’s father ___________________________ Ethan onto his shoulders so
that Ethan could see over the crowd.
5. Paul caught the ___________________________ of water coming from the hose with a bucket.
6. Amy cheered and clapped at each passing ___________________________ during the big parade.
A Little
Extra!
A simile compares two objects by using the word “like” or “as”. In Chapter
4, the narrator uses a simile when describing the fox fur that a woman is
wearing. He says, “The fox’s eyes were like little black marbles.” Find another
simile in this section and explain its meaning.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Milkweed
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Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Understanding the Story
Chapters 1 - 6
Multiple Choice
1. In Chapter 3, Uri decides that
the narrator is a Gypsy because:
2. At the end of Chapter 6, the narrator realizes
that the men with black hair and beards who do
not laugh are:
(a) He has black eyes.
(a) Jackboots.
(b) He has dark skin.
(b) Gypsies.
(c) He wears a yellow stone around his neck.
(c) Jewish.
(d) All of the above.
(d) Gentiles.
Short Answer
3. In Chapter 2, why does the narrator tell Uri that his name is “Stopthief”?
Long Answer
4. In Chapter 5, the narrator comes face-to-face with a parade of Jackboots. How does he react?
How do the others in the crowd react? Why do you think this is?
A Little
Extra!
Milkweed
In Chapter 5, the narrator says that he and Uri are able to simply walk
into shops, take whatever they please, and walk out. Why do you think
that so many shops are empty?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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Name:____________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________
Chapter Summary
Chapters 1 - 6
1. If you were to give a title to this section of the book, what would it be?
2. What happens in these chapters?
3. What is your favorite part of this section of the book?
4. What new words did you learn
in these chapters?
Milkweed
5. Draw a picture of something you think
represents these chapters.
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Common Core State Standards
This novel study is aligned to the Common Core State Standards (U.S.)
Grade 4
RL4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing
inferences from the text.
RL4.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
RL4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the
text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).
RL4.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to
significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean).
L4.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade
4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
L4.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Grade 5
RL5.1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing
inferences from the text.
RL5.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a
story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.
RL5.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
RL5.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language
such as metaphors and similes.
L5.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade
5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
L5.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Grade 6
RL.6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn
from the text.
RL.6.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a
summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
RL.6.3 Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the
characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
RL.6.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and
connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone
RL.6.5 Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and
contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.
RL.6.6 Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.
Novel Study
Milkweed
by Jerry Spinelli
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