Novel Study Homesick: My Own Story by Jean Fritz

Item description

Jean Fritz’s classic autobiographical novel recounts the story of the author’s sojourn in the Chinese city of Hankow (modern-day Wuhan) as a young girl in the 1920s.

Add depth to your students’ understanding of the novel Homesick: My Own Story (860L) by using this 3-week unit plan replete with reading comprehension and discussion questions (as well as suggested lesson plans for each chapter of the novel).

F&P Level: X

Classroom Grade Levels: 4 – 6

N.B: Suitable text for middle and high school English Language Learners

Published: 1982

Lexile Level: 860L

Awards: Newberry Honor Book

3 Weeks Worth of Material in a Comprehensive Seven Chapter Bundle:

• Includes 114-page Workbook for Chapters 1-7

• 7 Word Lists for Chapters 1-7 (including character names, geography, phrases and idioms, and vocabulary lists)

• 117 Text-Based Questions for Reading Comprehensions (includes answer key)

• 45 Discussion Questions (for the whole class and group discussion — or use as a prompt for a writing activity)

• 4 Colorful Maps + 1 Black and White Map

• 5 Extension Activities and Project Ideas

• 21 Day Unit Plan for Teaching Chapters 1-7 + Pre-Reading

• 7 Answer Keys and Teacher Guides for Discussion Questions

• Google Forms Links for Each Chapter (Use for assessments)

• Bibliography

Students will enjoy reading this story, especially as it relates to the time-honored theme of needing to belong. As a teacher, I have taught this novel to English Language Learners. It is perfect for Mandarin and Cantonese EFL speaking students.

Other Uses for this Resource:

for Fourth Graders Going into Fifth Grade – Summer Reading

Middle School Language Arts Curriculum (5th and 6th Grades)

Suitable Text for Middle and High School English Language Learners

Since the novel is based on a true story, Humanities teachers will find this resource valuable since the story aligns well with modern Chinese history, colonialism, and Communist rebellion that shook the young Republic of China.

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