Description

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling is such a great novel for kids. This book explores the realistic fiction genre while teaching kids about the power of kindness and love. You’ll meet Aven, a girl with a disability, who defies the odds to find out more about a secret in her life. This guide will help your students process this novel in a way that meets your ELA Standards!

Teaching is time consuming, so I have created this NO PREP resource to make your planning easier! This unit is truly print-and-go ready!!!

This BUNDLE includes both the Novel and the Vocabulary Study. By purchasing this bundle, you’ll save 25%!!!

This unit was designed with you, the teacher, in mind. This unit will allow your students to access this novel in a deep and meaningful way. At the same time, this resource will save you time and energy. You’ll be able to spend more time connecting with this story along with your students!

In addition, the questions and activities posed to the students are not fluffy; instead, they challenge the thinking of your students and engage your class in Reading Standards.

THIS PRODUCT INCLUDES:

➠ Comprehension questions for students. Each chapter has three or four questions, all of which are short answer. The questions range in difficulty from DOK 1 to DOK 4. If you are following my unit plan, this novel study will take place in 30 days. Each student will have their own “Aven’s Journal”, and the copying and set-up could not be easier! Simply follow the printing instructions included with this product. There are also answer keys!

➠ Read-aloud questions for you! While I encourage you to read the novel ahead of your students, I’ve also taken the work out of this unit and created read-aloud questions to guide each day’s read-aloud. These questions (3-5 per chapter are included) range from DOK 2-4.

➠ Journal entries for your students. I’ve included six meaningful reflection journal opportunities, plus an end-of-novel reflection. All seven journal entries will allow your students to think critically about the novel and process what they are reading.

➠ Colorful posters. I have included posters for each of the main characters in the novel.

➠ Enrichment activities. I’ve included directions for six enrichment projects that will extend your students’ learning even further for your students!

• Research a Condition: Research one of the medical conditions we hear about in the book.
• Light The Way: Using inspiration from this novel, develop a presentation for others on the effects of being kind to one another.
• Entrepreneur Status: Just like the Greens, design a business plan for your own company. What kind of business would you run?
• Eight Hairy Legs: Research tarantulas and create a presentation to highlight all of the qualities of the tarantula.
• Character Playing Cards: Create playing cards for each main character in the novel.
• Phocomelia Study

➠ Vocabulary Study. This resource includes word lists, definitions, and content-based vocabulary questions for 30 days. Students will define words using context clues (page numbers for the words’ locations are included), and there are critical thinking questions that students can respond to based on their new vocabulary. In addition, three vocabulary activities are included:

• Semantic Maps (Traditional & Synonym/Antonym)
• Greek/Latin Word Maps
• Act it Out! Strategy

✨ Enjoy this journey with your kids – they will absolutely become invested in Aven, Connor, Zion, and the rest of the characters in this book!

Make sure to ✅ click the preview button above ✅ to check out the preview for a look inside this product!

⭐ Check Out My Other Novel Studies! ⭐

• Fish in a Tree Novel Study

• The One and Only Ivan Novel Study

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus is a registered trademark of Dusti Bowling and Sterling Children’s Books.

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