Online Novel Units

These units were written for the Educator's Reference Desk, and are part of a 2000 online lesson collection.

Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

Link to: A novel unit based on the book by Karen Cushman, Midwife's Apprentice.

Through participation in a mock trial, students will: improve basic skills such as listening, speaking, reading, and reasoning; strengthen skills of critical thinking; strengthen skills of oral advocacy; increase understanding of rights and responsibilities as citizens; strive for accuracy; generate goals and plans for achieving; learn the order of a court case; prepare statements, testimony, and questions; and have a deeper understanding of the story and characters than a discussion could provide.

Responsibiity in Two Novels:

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis and

F is for Freedom by Roni Schotter

F is for Freedom is a novel (and now a play) about two families who meet due to the Underground Railroad. The Breadwinner is about family life under the Taliban in Afghanistan prior to September 11, 2001. The female protagonists display many similarities, and responsibility is demonstrated in many ways by the characters in both novels. The novels make a good compare/contrast unit, including comparing and contrasting with modern student life and responsibilities.

Phantom Tollbooth (Unit) by Norton Juster

Phantom Tollbooth Adapted as a Play By CW

Phantom Tollbooth is a book that helps students understand the interdisciplinary nature of the world. The unit contains several activities to accompany the reading of the novel.