When I first started my Hatchet lesson plans, I knew I wanted some activities that would focus on the author’s craft.  Gary Paulsen’s voice and style of writing are all his own and worth taking note of.  For example, in chapter 14, Paulsen repeats a one word sentence:  Mistakes.  So, written in my Hatchet lesson plans for this chapter, is an activity to have my students take a look at this for meaning.  In groups, students discuss why Paulsen repeats this word and what effect it has on the story and the reader.  Then, I have them try this writing technique themselves.  I give them the following assignment:

Instead of focusing on mistakes, write a few paragraphs focusing on Brian’s successes.  In order to add emphasis, model Paulsen’s writing technique of repetition.  Before narrating each accomplishment that Brian has made while being stranded on the island, first write the word Success.

Hatchet is one book your students will certainly remember.  Scroll down to print free Hatchet Lesson Plans like the one listed above!

 Gary Paulsen wonderfully tells the story of Brian, who is forced to pilot a plane and land it on a deserted island.  There, he must learn to survive. The book is action packed, and your students will not want to stop reading.  This book lends itself wonderfully as a whole-class, literature circle, or independent novel study.

With Hatchet, great opportunity arises to teach students about examining the author’s craft.  We teach our students to pay attention to Gary Paulsen’s word usage, imagery, use of suspense, and even symbolism.  Of course, we also take a look at literary elements too, such as theme, point of view, and setting.  Take a look at our free sample handouts.

Print these handouts and a portion of a test by clicking here for our sample packet for Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.

If you enjoy this free sample, consider purchasing our entire teaching unit for Hatchet.  All of your planning will be complete!  You will simply print and teach!

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos is a lighthearted novel suitable for middle school kids.  Your students will laugh at Joey’s antics yet sympathize with his needs.   If you’re looking for Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key lesson plans, activities, handouts, or tests, check out our free printables in the link below!

Print these handouts and a portion of a test by clicking here for our sample packet for Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos.

We end our seventh grade year with this book. It is short and humorous, so we usually read it aloud to our students.  It is perfect for the last few weeks of school. Our Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key lesson plans include taking a look at the humor and style that the author uses along with the literary techniques that are used throughout the book.

While we use this novel as a whole class read, it could easily be used in literature circles or as an independent read.   We have created some fun, standards-based lesson plans and handouts that we would like to share with you.

Print these handouts and a portion of a test by clicking here for our sample packet for Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos.

If you like these free printables, consider purchasing all of our lesson plans for Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key.  All of your plans will be done, and you will simply print and teach!  Plus, the best part is that you will have them for years to come!

If you enjoy this free sample, consider purchasing our entire teaching unit for Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key.

Rules by Cynthia Lord will keep your middle school students interested as they read about twelve-year-old Catherine and her autistic brother David.  Catherine just wants a normal life, but there is more than her younger brother that complicates that.   If you’re looking to print some lesson plans for Rules by Cynthia Lord, you’re in the right place!

We use this novel as a choice for book clubs, or as some call them – literature circles.  It’s the perfect read for a small group.  Of course, this novel would work well as a whole class novel or an independent novel study too.  When we developed our lesson plans for Rules by Cynthia Lord, we wanted to make sure we included activities that would allow students to analyze literary elements as well as the author’s craft.  We want to share some of these lessons with you!  The free handouts below take a look at the imagery and similes that the author uses in this novel.  There is also a portion of the final test for you to print!

Print these handouts and a portion of a test by clicking here for our sample packet for Rules by Cynthia Lord.

If you enjoy this free sample, consider purchasing our entire teaching unit for Rules.  All of your plans will be complete, and you will have this unit for years to come!

Small Steps by Louis Sachar is a story of loyalty and friendship.  Your students will not want to stop reading this awesome story! They will learn that doing the right thing is never a wrong choice; doing the right thing is a small step in the right direction. Scroll down to print free lesson plans for the novel Small Steps.

In our classrooms, we use this novel as a choice for book clubs, or as some call them, literature circles.  We would like to share a couple of our activities or lesson plans for the novel Small Steps.  After reading chapter three of Small Steps, we have students analyze Ginny and Armpit by taking a close look at this passage:

…A few neighborhood kids called her spaz, and retard, but most treated her with respect because she was a friend of Armpit’s and because she was willing to answer their questions.

Once this analysis is complete, students read an informational passage on cerebral palsy.  This allows students to gain a little understanding of Ginny’s disability.

After chapter seventeen, we take a look at allusion. Students receive a handout that explains this literary device.  Then, they look at some passages from the chapter and identify the allusions.  Finally, students are encouraged to be on the lookout for other examples of allusions as they complete the novel.  We offer bonus points to our students if they jot the allusion down and place it in our “Novel Finds” box!

Print these two handouts for chapters three and seventeen as well as a portion of a test for chapters 1-12 by clicking here for our sample packet for Small Steps.  If you enjoy this free sample, consider downloading our entire teaching unit for Small Steps.