Lesson Plan
The Westing Game
40
60
90
Day 1
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
Where is Lake Michigan?
Lake Michigan is one of the United States’ five Great Lakes. It is surrounded by the states of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
exclusive (2) |
moustache (2) |
breathtaking (4) |
specializing (5) |
binoculars (9) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
Start at the beginning and review the story so far
- mention the setting and main character
- point to each timeline item as you quickly review it
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages: 1-9, Chapters 1 through 2
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
A town on the western shore of Lake Michigan |
Otis Amber, Barney Northrup (who doesn’t exist) |
1-2 |
|
Sunset Towers |
Barney Northrup, Jake Wexler, Grace Wexler |
2-3 |
|
Barney Northrup, Sydelle Pulaski |
4-5 |
|
|
The new residents (the chosen ones and the mistake) |
5-6 |
|
|
Sunset Towers driveway |
Sandy McSouthers, Theo Theodorakis, Doug Hoo, Otis Amber |
6 |
|
Sandy McSouthers, Theo Theodorakis, Doug Hoo, Otis Amber, Turtle Wexler |
6-8 |
|
|
Sunset Towers, Apartment 2D |
Chris Theodorakis |
8-9 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Sunset Towers is an apartment building on Lake Michigan that faces east.
- Six families receive letters inviting them to move into Sunset Towers.
- One of the people who has been invited was a “mistake.” Barney Northrup rented an apartment to the wrong person.
- Sunset Towers is right next to the Westing Estate.
- Two restaurants open in the building; a coffee shop on the ground floor, and an expensive Chinese restaurant on the top floor.
- The doorman, Sandy, the delivery man, Otis Amber, and three kids, Doug, Theo, and Turtle, witness smoke coming from the chimney of the long-empty Westing house.
- Otis tells a spooky story of some kids who went into the Westing house, came out saying “purple waves,” and went insane.
- Turtle agrees to go into the house on a dare.
- Chris Theodorakis, a birdwatcher, saw someone with a limp enter the house.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions
Create a map of Sunset Towers on the shore of Lake Michigan. Include Westingtown and Westing House. Add the locations of other places as described in the novel as the story unfolds.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Create an Open Mind Portrait for Chris Theodorakis. Focus on qualities or thoughts that might indicate his potential or ability as a leader.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Where is Sunset Towers located on Lake Michigan? Based on the information you are given, in what state or states does the story take place?
- Why does Raskin begin the story with a description of Sunset Towers and its tenants?
- What do we know about the Wexler family so far? How do you think Turtle feels about her family and her life in general?
- Why do you think Chris Theodorakis is looking out his apartment windows in the middle of the afternoon?
- The author mentions the Westing house several times. What role do you think Westing plays in the story?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph p. 9
They didn’t need drapes on the special glass windows here in Sunset Towers. He could see out, but nobody could see in. Then why did he sometimes feel that someone was watching him? Who could be watching him? God? If God was watching, then why was he like this? (9).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership Requires Engagement in our communities, whatever those might look like. Throughout this novel, we will be discussing the community formed by Sunset Towers, and how that community extends to the outer world within the novel. So far, we know little about the characters in the novel, but the last few pages give us a look into Chris Theodorakis’s mind and talents.
Based on what you know so far, write a paragraph describing Chris’s potential to be a leader. What are his talents? How might he put those talents to use in his community? Does he have any limitations that would inhibit him as a leader? How might he be a leader despite his limitations?
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. Leaders come in a variety of abilities, ethnicities, genders, and sizes. What are some examples of leaders in your community?
Day 2
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is a tenant?
Someone who rents a piece of property for their home or business is a tenant. The landlord, who owns the apartment, house, townhouse, condominium, or business building, is responsible to care for the building and ensure the safety of the tenants. A tenant usually pays for the rental on a monthly basis. The document the tenant signs may be called a rental agreement or a lease, and describes the agreement between the landlord and tenant for the use of the property.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
podiatrist (11) |
queasiness (11) |
amputation (12) |
tinkling (14) |
throbbing (17) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages 10-17
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Sunset Towers |
Flora Baumbach, Angela Wexler, J.J. Ford, Turtle Wexler, Doug Hoo, Jake Wexler, Berthe Erica Crow, James Shin Hoo, Sandy McSouthers, Chris Theodorakis, Theo Theodorakis, Sydelle Pulaski |
10-16 |
|
Westing House |
Turtle Wexler, Doug Hoo |
16-17 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Flora Baumbach, a tenant of Sunset Towers and professional dressmaker, is fitting Angela Wexler’s wedding dress.
- Turtle enters and tries to tell Mrs. Baumbach, Angela, and her mother about the Westing legend, but is ignored by her mother as usual.
- Crow, the house cleaner, is having her corns worked on by Dr. Wexler, the podiatrist.
- Doug Hoo talks with his father about Sam Westing’s corpse rotting in an Oriental rug, but Mr. Hoo tells Doug to go study, but Doug practices his track running, as usual.
- Judge J.J. Ford arrives in her Mercedes on the front drive of the Sunset Towers and talks with Sandy McSouthers about the smoke coming from the Westing chimney and her opinion of Otis Amber.
- Sydelle Pulaski arrives in a cab, takes out her packages, and goes to her apartment upset that nobody notices her.
- On October 31st Turtle enters the Westing house on a dare to get money and discovers what appears to be Sam Westing’s corpse in his bed.
- In these chapters, we find out Turtle has kicked her mother, Grace Wexler, Mrs. Crow, and Sydelle Pulaski in their shins.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions
Add to your map of Sunset Towers and the surrounding community.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Create an Open Mind Portrait for Turtle Wexler. Remember to focus on what you know about her that might indicate her abilities as a leader.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Why does Turtle Wexler get so frustrated with her mother and sister?
- How does Sydelle Pulaski feel about herself?
- What is important to Turtle?
- Doug Hoo and his father clearly have different priorities; what does Mr. Hoo think is important in life, and what is more important to Doug?
- Judge Ford is a successful woman who is in a position of power and influence; what do you think her background might be?
- Describe Theo’s relationship with his brother, Chris.
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph p. 17
Turtle squinted into the blackness that lay within the open French doors. Open, as though someone or some Think was expecting her. There’s no such thing as a ghost; besides, all you had to do was speak friendly-like to them. (Ghosts, like dogs, know when a person’s scared.) Ghosts or worse, Otis Amber had said. Well, not even the “worse” could hurt Turtle Wexler. She was pure of heart and deed; she only kicked shins in self-defense, so that couldn’t count against her. She wasn’t scared; she was not scared (17).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership Requires Engagement. To that end, how does one go about developing one’s talents to promote the common good? Precisely what does that mean for individual, and how might he or she go about developing those ideas?
Write an advice column to Turtle Wexler. Describe the qualities she currently has that can be molded into leadership qualities as she grows and matures. What specific steps can she take to become a leader in her community? How can she engage her focus to better those around her?
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. How can you develop your talents to better your community?
Day 3
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is meant by pyrotechnics?
Whenever there are fireworks, pyrotechnics is involved. The term pyrotechnics speaks to the use of materials to produce a display we call fireworks. Various elements and chemicals are used to produce the varied colors and patterns observed in a fireworks display. The Chinese were the first to create fireworks and are still the world’s largest producer of fireworks. Each color that is produced in a pyrotechnics display on the fourth of July uses a specific combination of elements and chemicals. Some displays are actually a group of shaped pyrotechnics that are packaged together to go off at a specific time and create a specific pattern of specific colors and shapes.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
elaborately (19) |
suspicious (20) |
embroidering (23) |
convulsions (24) |
sporadic (27) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages 18-27
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Sunset Towers apartment tower |
Turtle Wexler, E.J. Plum, Otis Amber, Grace Wexler, Madame Hoo, Chris Theodorakis, Theo Theodorakis |
18-21 |
|
Westing house room for the reading of the will |
Turtle Wexler, E.J. Plum, Otis Amber, Grace Wexler, Doug Hoo, Chris, Theodorakis, Angela Wexler, Berthe Erica Crow, Edgar J. Plum, Flora Baumbach, D. Denton Deere, Mr. Hoo, J.J. Ford, Theo Theodorakis, Sydelle Pulaski, Sandy McSouthers, James Shin Hoo |
22-27 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Turtle reads Samuel W. Westing’s obituary in the newspaper.
- Otis Amber made his rounds the next morning delivering invitations to the reading of Sam Westing’s will to most of the residents of Sunset Towers.
- Grace Wexler convinces herself that Sam Westing was her uncle (or great-uncle,) and that she is about to be very wealthy.
- Turtle sees the coffin with the body dressed like Uncle Sam, with the cross she dropped in the hands of the body in the coffin.
- Judge Ford wonders about the young attorney who is reading the will, and thinks about how Sam Westing is likely playing some kind of game from beyond the grave.
- Sydelle Pulaski arrives with a brightly painted crutch, and announces that she has some kind of horrible wasting disease.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add any new information to your map of Sunset Towers.
KWL
Create a KWL chart about Sam Westing and the mystery surrounding his life and death.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Create an Open Mind Portrait for Grace Wexler. Focus on qualities that may or may not make her a leader.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- What can you infer about Grace Wexler’s worldview based on her assessment of the other heirs as they arrive?
- How would you feel if you were Turtle Wexler with a hand-me-down dress from your older sister that is two sizes too big?
- What does Raskin mean to tell us about when describing Judge Ford’s opinions of the estate lawyer and her thoughts about Sam Westing?
- What is your opinion of Angela’s fiancée, Dr. Denton Deere?
- What did Turtle feel when she saw her mother’s silver cross in the hands of the waxy hands of the body in the coffin?
- Why do you think Sydelle Pulaski is planning to take notes at the reading of the will?
- What did the author do in the novel to create suspense in the reader’s mind in this section on the reading of the will?
- Why does the author describe characters in the novel in relationship to locations and status in life, along with their memories, thoughts, and reflections?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 24
Grace Windsor Wexler was no longer surprised at the odd assortment of heirs. Household workers, all, or former employees, she decided. The rich always reward servants in their wills, and her Uncle Sam was a generous man. “Aren’t your parents coming, she asked the older Theodorakis boy as he wheeled his brother into the library (24).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership Requires positive Engagement. You can be involved in the community for the wrong reasons, and as a result hurt those around you. What constitutes positive engagement as opposed to negative engagement?
Grace Windsor Wexler reveals much of her character through her comments, thoughts, and attitudes toward those around her. Write a paragraph discussing her potential as a leader, focusing on examples of her positive and negative engagement in those around her. Based on what you know so far, would she be a good leader? Why or why not? If not, what would she have to change to become a good leader?
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement? Can you think of any examples in your community of a supposed leader whose engagement in the community is negative? How does this harm the community?
Day 4
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is a will?
A will is a prepared legal document that describes how the estate of a person will be distributed to heirs. The will may distribute real estate, personal property, stock, bank accounts, and anything else of value the person wants to give to somebody. The will may be a part of a living trust or a standalone document. The will may describe how the deceased writer would like the funeral service and burial preparations to be conducted.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
exaggerated (29) |
eccentric (31) |
puckered (33) |
pompous (34) |
indignant (35) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages 28-37
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Westing house room for the reading of the will |
E.J. Plum, Turtle Wexler, Grace Wexler, J.J. Ford, Angela Wexler, D. Denton Deere, Mrs. Crow, Sydelle Pulaski, Chris Theodorakis, Mr. Hoo, Flora Baumbach, Otis Amber, Sandy McSouthers |
28-37 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- The estate lawyer begins to read the will.
- The will includes comments from Mr. Westing that imply he knew how the heirs would respond at the reading.
- The will claims an heir took Sam Westing’s life from him.
- The heirs are paired and told they will play a game to discover the murderer, and win the bulk of the estate.
- Each pair of heirs receives a $10,000 check and an envelope with clues.
- Turtle ate her clues after saying that they were easy to understand.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
From this point on, pair or group students as the characters are grouped in the novel. Today, each group/pair will create two Open Mind Portraits – one for each pair described in the novel. Today’s thoughts might focus on what they think of Sam Westing and his mysterious game. As a reminder, pairs/groups should be as follows:
- Madame Su Lin Hoo and Jake Wexler
- Turtle Wexler and Flora Baumbach
- Christos Theodorakis and Denton Deere
- Alexander McSouthers and J.J. Ford
- Grace Windsor Wexler and James Shin Hoo
- Berthe Erica Crow and Otis Amber
- Theo Theodorakis and Doug Hoo
- Sydelle Pulaski and Angela Wexler
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Why does the author take time to explain each of the heirs’ reaction to the will?
- What does Sandy McSouthers tell his partner about how his past life affecting his present situation with his wife and kids?
- Why do you think the author jumps from the reading of the will to the reactions of the heirs to each part of the reading of the will?
- How did the author let you inside the minds of the various heirs at the reading of the will?
- Why did the author have the young intern comment on a medical issue in relationship to each heir? What does this reveal about Denton Deere?
- What is J.J. Ford’s dilemma with playing the game?
- Why do you think two of the heirs were absent from the reading of the will?
- What do you think made Sam Westing create such an elaborate game that seems eccentric in its method as well as the choice of pairs of heirs?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 36
Only one pair had not yet seen their clues. At table eight Sydelle Pulaski placed one hand on the envelope, raised a finger to her lips, and tilted her head toward the other heirs. Just watch and listen, she meant (36).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
While Leadership Requires Engagement, it also often requires planning and purpose. What else is required to make leadership truly effective? In this chapter, Sydelle Pulaski’s personality and skills begin to emerge, and we see her in a slightly different light.
At the will reading, Sydelle Pulaski emerges as a leader in ways that her fellow tenants probably didn’t suspect. Write a paragraph that claims that Sydelle Pulaski is the strongest leader in Sunset Towers. Be sure to support your claim with relevant evidence showing how Ms. Pulaski has shown leadership thus far in the novel.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. How is having a plan relevant to leadership in the community? Discuss a plan that is being implemented in your school, state, or country – how has its developers engaged society to create a better community?
Day 5
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is a blizzard?
High winds with heavy snowfall that creates a white out are characteristics of a major snowstorm called a blizzard. Low temperatures, heavy snowfall, and high winds resulting in large snowdrifts make up the elements of a blizzard. Blizzards are dangerous for humans and animals that can become lost and die from exposure. Finding warm shelter and waiting out the storm is the best way to survive a severe blizzard that may last for days.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
gibberish (38) |
infirmity (44) |
pretentious (45) |
incriminating (46) |
hodgepodge (47) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages 38-48
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Westing house where the lawyer reads the will and pairs the heirs |
Otis Amber, Angela Wexler, Turtle Wexler, Grace Wexler, Sandy McSouthers, James Hoo, Ed Plum, J.J. Ford, Sydelle Pulaski, |
38-39 |
|
Sunset Towers apartments after a blizzard |
Turtle Wexler, Jake Wexler, Madame Hoo, Denton Deere, Sandy McSouthers, Sydelle Pulaski, Angela Wexler, Chris Theodorakis, Doug Hoo, Theodorakis, J.J. Ford |
39-47 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- The heirs are snowbound in Sunset Towers after a blizzard following the reading of the will.
- Turtle sells her candles at $5 each to the residents to light their homes in the absence of electricity.
- Most of the heirs huddled around the building in pairs, trying to figure out their clues.
- Many of the heirs invite Sydelle Pulaski over to their homes in hopes of seeing her copy of the will, but Ms. Pulaski does not show it to anyone.
- Turtle Wexler thought the clues had to do with purchasing stocks with the $10,000.00 each pair of heirs had received.
- Mr. Hoo is not impressed by his partner, Grace Wexler, especially after some rude comments she makes about his wife and other heirs.
- The judge thinks the will is a hodgepodge of words that implied many things, and that the clues are likely only useful if used all together. She sets her own plan in motion, though we don’t yet know what that is.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Why do you think the author chose to include the musings of the judge about her partner in The Westing Game?
- How do you know that Grace Wexler thinks Sam Westing does not think well of her?
- From inference, why does Turtle think the clues speak to purchase of specific stocks?
- Why do you think the author included so much information about how each character in The Westing Game felt about other heirs playing Sam’s game?
- How does the author weave in information into the novel that helps the reader to understand the various emotions of each character towards the others?
- How would you describe Chris’ efforts to use the clues to solve the riddle of the game?
- Why does Sydelle announce that she is not the murderer?
- What hurts Mr. Hoo’s feelings while working on the clues?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 47
The game: a tricky, divisive Westing game. No matter how much fear and suspicion he instilled in the players, Sam Westing knew that greed would keep them playing the game. Until the “murderer” was captured. And punished (47).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires positive civic engagement; often times, that means ensuring that justice is fairly served to members of your community. In what ways does Judge Ford exemplify that element of positive civic engagement?
Write a paragraph explaining how Judge Ford’s plan to play Westing’s game is an example of exemplary leadership. How is her plan different from the other players’? In what ways is she trying to make her community better through her actions?
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. Like Judge Ford, leaders are often required to carry out justice in the name of protecting and bettering their communities. Do you know anyone in your community whose leadership skills are exemplified in this manner?
Day 6
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is Chinese cuisine?
In America, Chinese cuisine can have a whole range of dishes on the menu. Usually, you hear that it is either Cantonese (Yue) or Szechuan (Chuan), but there are also six other major regional cuisines, including Anhui (Hui), Fujian (Min), Hunan, Jiangsu (Su), Shandong (Lu), and Zhejiang cuisines. Chinese cuisine has many centuries of development and the cultural pride in eating a whole range of foods is seen in the variety of food offered during different periods of history as well as in different regions of China. There always seems to be rice, vegetables, and noodles in each regional cuisine, but seasonings, herbs, method of preparation, and desserts vary by region. Protein came mainly from peanuts and soy, rarely from meat in Chinese cuisine. Hot tea is a primary beverage of choice, with green tea the most popular drink.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
obituary (50) |
impeccable (51) |
frantically (52) |
nervousness (54) |
shorthand (56) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages 48-57
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Sunset Towers apartments |
J.J. Ford, Barney Northrup, Angela Wexler, Sydelle Pulaski, Otis Amber, Grace Wexler, Doug Hoo, Theo Theodorakis, Chris Theodorakis, Turtle Wexler, Flora Baumbach, James Hoo, Denton Deere, Jake Wexler |
48-57 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Angela hunts through Turtle’s desk for what she needed to help her with the clues, but Turtle’s diary is not any help.
- Angela and Sydelle review Sam Westing’s obituary from the newspaper clipping.
- Somebody went into Sydelle’s apartment and stole her shorthand notes on the will.
- The elevator became a place to post notes to residents, including requests to return several missing valuables and an invitation to a party at Judge Ford’s.
- Grace Wexler verbally promised everything she had would go to her favorite, Angela, and not Turtle Wexler.
- Judge Ford contacted a newspaperman who gave her some interesting information about several of her fellow heirs.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- How does the author create vivid visualizations of the various characters in the novel?
- When does Turtle react most strongly to her mother’s continual favoritism?
- Who is the person J. J. Ford is the most upset with in this section of the novel?
- Why would someone steal Sydelle’s shorthand notes about the will?
- Which character or characters are the best leaders, in your opinion?
- How is Madame Hoo treated, and what is her primary goal?
- What can we learn from the notes in the elevator?
- Why does the author spend so much time describing how the characters processed the clues to this stage of the game?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 56
“Angela and I are going together; we’re partners, you know.” Sydelle had it all planned. They were to appear in identical costumes; tonight was the night they would discover if one of the heirs was a twin (56).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership Requires Engagement. In order to be a leader in the community, a person must participate in the events that surround them. If that person is a mere observer, is he or she a leader?
Angela Wexler is still a mystery at this point in the novel. We see in her thoughts that she makes interesting observations about those around her, but has yet to take action. Assuming that she has interest in becoming a leader, today’s writing product will be a plan of action. As Angela, create a chart or table illustrating at least three steps you will take to become a leader in the Sunset Towers Community. Use the table below as an example to guide you.
|
Action I’m going to take |
Result I hope to achieve |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement: Leaders develop and dedicate their talents to promote the common good. Do you know anyone like Angela Wexler whose obvious intelligence and talents could better be put to use to improve her or his community?
Day 7
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is Lake Michigan?
One of the five Great Lakes along the northern border of the United States, Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake solely in the United States; the rest share a border with Canada. Lake Michigan is the second largest lake by volume (1,180 cubic miles,) and the third largest in surface area (22,300 square miles,) with four states bordering the lake: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Lake Michigan has the largest surface area of a lake within the boundary of one country in the world. The name is believed to have come from Native American origin meaning “Great Water.” The shores of Lake Michigan boast the world’s largest freshwater dunes, enjoyed by millions of visitors every summer.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
podiatrist (58) |
checkered (59) |
limpers (60) |
tournament (65) |
indignant (66) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages 58-68
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Sunset Towers – J.J. Ford’ s apartment party |
J. J. Ford, James Hoo, Grace Wexler, Jake Wexler, Angela Wexler, Turtle Wexler, Madame Hoo, Sydelle Pulaski, Theo Theodorakis, George Theodorakis, Chris Theodorakis, Catherine Theodorakis, Mrs. Crow, Flora Baumbach, Doug Hoo |
58-64 |
|
Sunset Towers – the coffee shop |
J.J. Ford, Chris Theodorakis, Theo Theodorakis, James Hoo, Grace Wexler, Sydelle Pulaski, Angela Wexler, Flora Baumbach, Doug Hoo, Turtle Wexler |
64-68 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- The heirs attend a party at Judge Ford’s apartment.
- The judge is unimpressed by Grace Wexler’s claim to be related to Sam Westing.
- Although everyone attends the party, no one seems to be having much fun.
- Jake Wexler is the only person to talk to Mrs. Hoo.
- Angela and Sydelle can’t find anyone who is a twin.
- Angela is upset, embarrassed by her mother, clearly unhappy to be engaged, and ends up crying in the kitchen.
- Turtle’s real name is Alice, and she is starting to feel a strong connection to Mrs. Baumbach.
- Theo holds a meeting in the coffee shop and invites everyone to share their clues.
- Mr. Hoo claims he found Sydelle’s missing notebook in his restaurant but it is useless because it’s gibberish.
- Sydelle reveals she took the shorthand notes in Polish.
- Each team writes down a question to be answered by the group, but they are interrupted.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Review the map, and mark the coffee shop on the first floor of Sunset Towers
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- How does the Angela react to Jake Wexler and Sydelle’s remarks about Denton?
- What are the conflicts that you read about in this section of the novel?
- How does the author create a mood at the party in this part of the novel?
- How does Turtle behave at the party? What explains her behavior?
- What does everyone learn about Sydelle’s shorthand in this section of the story?
- Who best exemplifies leadership in this chapter?
- Why is Theo apparently obsessed with chess?
- What do you think will happen next in the story with Turtle?
- Why do you think the characters are in a panic at the end of the chapter?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 65-66
Clink, clink. Theo tapped a spoon against a glass for attention. “Thank you for coming. When the meeting is over you are all welcome to stay for a chess tournament. Meanwhile, I’d like to explain why my partner and me…my partner and I…called this meeting. I don’t know about your clues, but our clues don’t make any sense.” The heirs stared at him with blank faces, no one nodded, no one even blinked. “Now then, if no two sets of clues are alike, as the will says, that could mean that each set of clues is only part of one message. The more clues we put together, the better chance we have of finding the murderer and winning the game. Of course, the inheritance will be divided into equal shares” (65-66).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership Requires Engagement. Leadership often involves working for the benefit of your community at some personal expense. What is good for an individual’s personal goals or finances may not be the best things for the community.
Theo is the first person who has suggested sharing both the clues and the inheritance with all of the other heirs. If they work together, there is a good chance that they could solve the puzzle and receive a very large sum of money as a group. However, none of the other teams agree. As one of the other heirs, write a formal note to Theo thanking him for his offer, and congratulate him on his leadership. Provide specific examples of how he is showing true leadership.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. It is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them. Can you think of any public figure locally or nationally who works to improve the community at the expense of her or himself?
Day 8
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What does MSG stand for, and what does MSG actually do?
The abbreviation, MSG, stands for monosodium glutamate. Monosodium glutamate is used in cooking to intensify or enhance flavors, and is a primary ingredient in many processed foods, such as canned soups, canned vegetables, and processed meats. It was once known as a very common additive in commercially prepared Chinese food. Some people are sensitive or even allergic to MSG, which is believed to cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and stomach problems. Research has not yet definitively linked these to MSG.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
ridiculous (68) |
paraphernalia (69) |
revenge (71) |
pedicured (73) |
elephantine (77) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages 68-77, Chapter 12, Chapter 13 until “That’s when the bomb went off.”
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Sunset Towers, the coffee shop |
J.J. Ford, Chris Theodorakis, Theo Theodorakis, James Hoo, Grace Wexler, Sydelle Pulaski, Angela Wexler, Flora Baumbach, Doug Hoo, Turtle Wexler, Catherine Theodorakis, George Theodorakis |
68-69 |
|
Sunset Towers, Sydelle’s apartment |
Sydelle, Angela, Turtle |
70-71 |
|
Sunset Towers, Judge Ford’s apartment |
J.J. Ford, newspaperman (on the phone) |
71-72 |
|
Sunset Towers, Hoo’s Restaurant |
Grace Wexler, Mr. Hoo, Mrs. Hoo, Doug Hoo, Chris Theodorakis, Sydelle Pulaski, Theo, Angela, Judge Ford, Flora Baumbach, Turtle, Jake Wexler, Otis Amber |
72-78 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Some cans of tomato sauce explode in the coffee shop kitchen and the fire extinguisher foam mixes and makes a mess.
- Some thought the cans got too hot from the oven, but George Theodorakis thinks it was a bomb.
- Turtle finds her newspaper obituary article is missing and hunts down her sister, Angela, whom she accuses of taking it.
- Turtle is missing her Mickey Mouse clock; it seems there is a thief in the building, as many residents are now missing valuables.
- The judge gets more information on the heirs, and now knows of four (actually five) with Westing Connections.
- The bomber sets a bomb in the kitchen, and intentionally sets it so no one will be hurt.
- Hoo’s Restaurant prepares for a busy night. Grace seats guests at random tables together, which makes for some awkward conversations.
- Turtle tells her father that she knows he’s a bookie.
- Otis Amber arrives and announces the roads are clear.
- The bomb goes off.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Suitcase Activity
Using construction paper, have each student construct a suitcase. They should fill it with illustrations of the missing objects from Sunset Towers. Then, write a sentence or two about where the mystery thief intends to go with these particular objects? Do they have anything in common?
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Who do you think is the thief?
- The author paints a word picture of the exploding tomato cans in the kitchen and reactions of different characters for what purpose?
- How does the author’s detailed explanation about Sydelle’s recovery from the explosion and her resuming translation of her shorthand notes aid to the mystery?
- What is the purpose of the bomber setting off bombs in both kitchens in one day?
- What style does the author use to help us understand the development of the plot about who will be the heir?
- How do you learn about Grace Wexler’s feelings for power in this section?
- How different is the culture of the characters from your own culture and community?
- What do you think will happen next to the heirs of Sam Westing?
- What are the differences between Angela and Turtle Wexler personalities?
- Who is the bomber?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 71
“She used the word crutch as a symbol. She meant, you know, that people are so afraid of revealing their true selves, they have to hide behind some sort of prop’” (71).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leaders choose to spend their time and effort to promote the common good. Sometimes people are so distracted by their own lives and personal problems that they don’t use their time to help their communities.
Angela’s analysis of the Turtle’s casual use of the word “crutch” is insightful. She observes to herself that Turtle’s crutch is her braid. However, all the characters in the novel have some kind of crutch, either physical or mental. Today, write a paragraph describing the “crutches” of at least two of the other characters in the novel (not Sydelle or Turtle.) Be sure to clearly define a crutch, and provide concrete details of why each character’s crutch could prevent her or him from becoming a leader.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. This is where they choose to spend their time and effort. What is your crutch? (Everyone has one.) How can you prevent your crutch from holding you back as a leader?
Day 9
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is a snowplow?
Warning to teachers: do NOT ask students to Google this question. You will get an inappropriate response. A snowplow is a vehicle that moves snow out of roadways. It can be a purpose-built heavy machine, or something as simple as a pick-up with a large bulldozer-like attachment on the front. Areas that regularly experience heavy snow will have a number of local services to clear the snow when necessary. Usually the local government will clear public streets and roadways, but individual businesses and homeowners will be responsible for clearing their own parking lots and driveways. This can cause a delay of several days while the private services attempt to catch up to all of their customers.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
mischievously (78) |
mysterious (80) |
contender (81) |
flattery (82) |
stringy (84) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages 77-87 Chapter 13 starting “’Nobody move!’” through Chapter 14
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Sunset Towers, Hoo’s Restaurant |
Grace Wexler, Mr. Hoo, Mrs. Hoo, Doug Hoo, Chris Theodorakis, Sydelle Pulaski, Theo, Angela, Judge Ford, Flora Baumbach, Turtle, Jake Wexler, Otis Amber, ambulance attendant, policeman, fire inspector |
77-80 |
|
Sunset Towers Parking Lot |
Angela Wexler |
80 |
|
Stock Broker’s Office |
Turtle, Mrs. Baumbach |
80-81 |
|
Sunset Towers, Judge Ford’s Apartment |
Sandy, J.J. Ford |
81-83 |
|
Hoo’s Restaurant |
Grace Wexler, Mr. Hoo |
83 |
|
Wexler Apartment |
Grace Wexler, Otis Amber, Crow |
83-84 |
|
Theodorakis Apartment |
Chris, Denton Deere |
84-85 |
|
Sunset Towers lobby |
Angela, Theo, Denton Deere |
85-86 |
|
Denton’s car on the way to the hospital |
Angela, Denton Deere |
86-87 |
|
Hospital |
Angela, Sydelle’s doctor |
87-88 |
|
Angela, Sydelle |
88 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Sydelle Pulaski is injured in the kitchen explosion that the fire inspector calls a gas explosion.
- Snowplows came and cleared the snow from around the cars outside the Sunset Towers, and Angela wasted no time checking under all the car hoods for a clue.
- Turtle and Flora visit the broker’s office to watch the progress of their stocks.
- Judge Ford works with Sandy on the clues, but they make little progress.
- Theo finds the last line of the will is part of the song “America, the Beautiful.”
- Denton Deere reveals to Angela that Sydelle made up her wasting disease.
- Angela visits Sydelle in the hospital and attempts to comfort Sydelle, and finds a strange letter in Sydelle’s tapestry bag that includes two clues.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Why do you think the fire inspector deemed the incident a gas explosion instead of a bomb?
- How do you think Theo and Chris will develop as characters in the story?
- What is the subtle development in the relationship between Angela and Sydelle?
- How does the author develop the plot using the visit of Angela to the hospital?
- How does the author describe the feelings of Turtle in this section of the reading?
- What is Chris’s motivation for not giving Deere his half of the money?
- Which character to you relate to most closely? Why do you think this is so?
- How is the progress of solving the clues coming along, in your opinion?
- What do you think will happen to Sydelle Pulaski after she leaves the hospital?
- Who is the bomber?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 85
All the intern wanted was half of the ten thousand dollars. “I hear your brother suggested sharing clues. Sounds like a fine idea.” No response. Maybe the kid thinks I’m the murderer. The tenants must think so, the way they peered over their shoulders; and that delivery boy shouting like that. Why me? I’m a doctor; I took an oath to save lives, not take them. “I’m a very busy man, Chris, I have lots of sick people depending on me. Oh well.” Plowing his fingers through his stringy moue-brown hair to keep it out of his eyes (when would he find time for a haircut?), he seated himself next to the wheelchair. “The clues are in my locker. What were they? ‘The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain’?” (85).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires engagement. It is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them and that I am better because of the communities I choose to be part of. Why is it important for leaders to improve themselves as well as their communities?
Although Denton Deere has taken an oath to help his fellow human beings, his personal character seems to suffer from that effort. Write a paragraph that describes how Denton Deere is and is not engaged as a leader in his community. Be sure to include a concluding statement about whether he, in your estimation, is a leader.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership requires engagement. It is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them and that I am better because of the communities I choose to be part of. What is the difference between the two parts of this sentence? Do you know anyone who makes their community better, but is not her or himself better as a result?
Day 10
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What does it mean to preside at the bench?
A judge has the duty to oversee cases by presiding at the bench. To preside at the bench is the judge’s job daily in court, and may include research in chambers (the judge’s office) and review of a case in chambers prior to or following presiding at the bench. To preside at the bench involves ensuring justice and the rights of both the alleged accused and victims are protected. The judge presides at the bench during the jury selection, during jury deliberations, and for jury announcement of a verdict concerning the case. Finally, the judge presides at the bench in handing down a sentence for a guilty verdict in accordance with the laws of the land.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
restraining (89) |
predicted (90) |
smirking (91) |
alternated (92) |
stocky (93) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages 88-95, Chapter 15
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Various settings |
Doug Hoo, J.J. Ford, Sandy, Turtle Wexler, Flora Baumbach |
88 |
|
Sunset Towers parking lot |
Turtle Wexler, Theo Theodorakis, Doug Hoo, Sandy McSouthers, Otis Amber |
88-91 |
|
Sunset Towers – Wexler apartment and Hoo’s restaurant |
Jake Wexler, James Hoo, Grace Wexler |
90-93 |
|
Sunset Towers, Judge Ford’s apartment |
J.J. Ford, Sandy McSouthers |
93 |
|
J.J. Ford, Sandy, Theo |
94 |
|
|
J.J. Ford, Sandy McSouthers |
94-95 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Flora Baumbach isn’t certain that Turtle is right about the clues being stock abbreviations, but stays quiet and plays along.
- Five characters meet together in the Sunset Towers apartment parking lot and discuss the Westing Game.
- Sandy tells a number of stories about mysterious murder victims.
- Jake Wexler goes to Hoo’s restaurant to buy some dinner when he finds nobody home in the apartment. They discuss a new name for Mr. Hoo’s restaurant.
- Judge Ford returns to Sunset Towers with newspaper files about the heirs to the Westing inheritance and talks with Sandy about the clues.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Why does Raskin have the novel told through the thoughts and feelings of the characters as well as their conversations?
- How does the receipt of the newspaper files help Judge Ford?
- Why does Sandy know so many details of the Westing family?
- How does Jake view his wife’s demeanor just before the bridal shower at Hoo’s restaurant?
- Who do you think is the most likely winner of the Westing Game? The biggest loser? Why?
- What can you infer from the plot in this section of how the story might conclude?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 95
“Oh no.” Sandy was certain of that. “Angela and her intern seem happy enough with each other. At least, I hope so. I mean, if Sam Westing wanted to replay that terrible drama, Angela Wexler would have to die” (95).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires positive civic engagement. Is it possible for the opposite – negative civic engagement – to be true? What role does gossip play in civic engagement?
In this novel, Sandy McSouthers is the king of gossip. He seems to know every detail about every person in the building, and every member of the Westing family. When Judge Ford uncovers further details, Sandy always seems to be able to add some embellishment. Using the novel as your source, conduct a mini research project into whether you think Sandy’s gossip qualifies as positive or negative civic engagement. Find quotes and specific examples to back up your assertion. You can present these in a paragraph or a table, but you must include a statement that summarizes your conclusion. An example of a possible table is below.
|
Gossip Example |
Page # |
Positive or negative? |
Reason for your conclusion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Concluding Statement: |
|||
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership requires positive civic engagement. Can you give an example of someone for whom gossip is her or his primary mode of civic engagement? Do you think this is a positive way to engagement in the community? Why or why not?
Day 11
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is traumatic amnesia?
When a person receives a sudden blow or jolt to the skull due to a fall or other impact to the skull, the brain is injured by bouncing off the interior walls of the skull. The injury caused by the brain colliding with the skull can cause a memory lapse of what actually happened to cause the injury. If the person has hit their head hard enough to cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the recovery can take a while. If severe, the injury can even change personality, cause memory loss, or loss of certain body functions. Traumatic brain injury that causes a loss of memory, or amnesia, may be temporary or permanent in nature.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
trickled (97) |
grumbled (97) |
traumatic (98) |
squeezed (99) |
painstakingly (102) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages: 95-103, Chapter 16 through Chapter 17
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Sunset Towers, Wexler apartment |
Grace Wexler, Madame Hoo, Angela, Turtle, wedding shower guests |
95-97 |
|
Sunset Towers lobby |
Police Captain, Mr. Hoo, Otis Amber, Flora Baumbach, Sandy, Jake Wexler, Chris, Theo, Doug Hoo, Crow, Grace Wexler, Turtle |
97-99 |
|
The hospital; Angela and Sydelle’s room |
Angela, Sydelle, Jake Wexler, Turtle, Grace Wexler |
99 |
|
Angela, Sydelle, Turtle |
99-100 |
|
|
Various locations |
The Wexlers, Turtle, Flora |
100 |
|
Hoo’s Restaurant |
Madame Hoo, Jake Wexler, Jimmy Hoo, Grace Wexler |
101-102 |
|
Judge Ford’s Apartment |
Sandy, Judge Ford |
102-103 |
|
Theodorakis apartment |
Theo |
103 |
|
Sunset Towers hallway |
Theo, Crow |
103-104 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- At the shower, which Angela and Turtle aren’t particularly enjoying, a bomb disguised as a gift blows up in Angela’s face.
- Angela was hurt only because she tilted the package toward herself just at the wrong time.
- The heirs gather talking to the police captain. They are all suspicious of each other, but still can’t figure out who is the murderer, the thief, or the bomber.
- Jake Wexler says that Angela has traumatic amnesia from the prank.
- Turtle tells Angela that it “was a dumb thing to do,” implying that Angela is the bomber.
- The Wexlers and the Hoos get together to work on clues.
- Sandy and Ford review the clues involving the Hoos. Mr. Hoo certainly has a reason to dislike Westing.
- In the middle of the night, Theo runs into Crow, who pulls him into her apartment and prays with him.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Why does Raskin describe the thoughts and feelings of the characters?
- As the novel unfolds, how has your opinion of the characters changed?
- What do you think the plot of this story involves?
- From what point of view does Raskin develop the characters?
- How does a person become a good trading stock like Turtle?
- Why does Turtle work so hard to irritate adults?
- How do you relate to Turtle’s feelings and ideas about her situation?
- Why do you think Turtle might be the main character?
- How have Jake Wexler’s feelings toward his wife changed? Does she notice?
- If Angela is the bomber, why do you think she did it?
- Historically, why have people chosen someone to be their heir?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 102
Sandy was proud of the notebook he bought, with its glossy cover photograph of a bald eagle in flight (sort of appropriate, he explained to the judge; fits in with Uncle Sam and all that). In it he painstakingly entered the information culled from reports the private detective delivered each day to Judge Ford’s office: Photostats of birth certificates, death notices, marriage licenses, drivers’ licenses, vehicular accident reports, criminal records, hospital records, school records. To these the doorman added the results of his own snooping (102).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires engagement. Perhaps most importantly, it is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them and that I am better because of the communities I choose to be part of.
Over the next 10 days, you will be creating a Leadership Awards Bloom Ball to illustrate a number of different kinds of leadership, as portrayed in the novel, as well as examples of poor leadership.
Today, you will focus on the award for Least Likely to be a Leader. Which character in the novel do you think is the least likely to develop leadership skills? Why? What makes this person a poor leader? Do you think he or she has the capacity and willingness to change?
After writing and editing a rough draft, you will copy this writing task, along with an illustration, onto a Bloom Ball side. Write on the pentagram only; when you’ve finished all twelve sides, you can fold on the straight lines and glue them together to make a large ball. So you can plan your bloom ball, a full list of categories are below. You may make a list today, but remember that it’s okay to change your mind as the days progress!
|
Leadership Bloomball Award |
Character |
|
Least Likely to be a Leader |
|
|
Most Improved as a Leader |
|
|
Best Dedication to Others |
|
|
Best Leadership as a Parent |
|
|
Best Use of Talents |
|
|
Best Problem-Solving Skills |
|
|
Best Example of Civic Engagement |
|
|
Best Leader of Youth (Mentor) |
|
|
Best Example of Beating the Odds |
|
|
Best Leader Overall (may be a winner of a category above) |
|
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. Though today we discussed a character isn’t a great leader, most people have the potential to be leaders in some aspect of their everyday lives. How do you think you can best contribute as a leader in your community?
Day 12
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery is a specialized type of medicine. The surgeon has additional training enabling her or him to enhance the appearance or function of a person by making scars smaller, improving deformity to create a more natural look, and enhance the natural look or function of the body. Sometimes an accident, injury, or even birth creates a situation where a person has a deformity which surgery can improve. Sometimes it means removing tissue, other times reconstruction of the underlying tissue, or even the grafting of new tissue into a damaged region. Plastic surgeons have learned much from treating the wounds and injuries of military personnel during wars. Burns caused by explosions, damaged skeletal regions, and major lacerations are some of the injuries plastic surgery may help.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
fumbled (105) |
propellants (106) |
complicated (108) |
adjacent (109) |
twined (104) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages: 104-112, Chapter 18
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Sunset Towers apartments |
Turtle, Flora Baumbach, |
104-105
|
|
Judge Ford’s apartment |
Sandy |
105 |
|
On the road to the high school |
Doug, Theo |
105-106 |
|
Broker’s Office |
Flora Baumbach |
106 |
|
Various locations around town (shopping center, butcher shop, Sunset Towers, E.J. Plum’s office, hospital, stockbroker’s office, high school) |
Doug, Otis Amber |
106-108 |
|
Judge Ford’s apartment |
J.J. Ford, Sandy |
108-110 |
|
Sydelle’s and Angela’s hospital room |
Sydelle, Angela, plastic surgeon, Denton Deere |
110 |
|
Sydelle, Angela, Turtle |
110-111 |
|
|
Sydelle, Angela, Ed Plum |
111 |
|
|
Sydelle, Angela, Ed Plum, Grace Wexler |
111 |
|
|
Theodorakis Apartment |
Chris, Otis Amber |
111 |
|
Chris, Flora Baumbach |
111 |
|
|
Chris, Denton Deere |
112-113 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Turtle sends Flora Baumbach to the broker’s office to do a major stock trade.
- Doug Hoo was sent by Theo to follow Otis Amber.
- Flora notes the fast rise in stock price on the ticker tape after buying the stock.
- Doug Hoo follows Otis Amber all around town, but doesn’t find anything out.
- Otis Amber delivers letters to the heirs notifying them the next meeting is at the Westing house on Saturday.
- Judge Ford and Sandy compare notes; time is running out.
- Sydelle Pulaski watches as the plastic surgeon examines Angela, who doesn’t seem to want plastic surgery.
- Turtle visits her sister, and Ed Plum comes to get signatures for the heir’s meeting from them.
- Chris signs the receipt that Otis brings to him; he gets three visitors in one day, including his partner, Denton Deere, who is limping.
- Deere takes Chris to the hospital, telling him there might be a new drug that will help.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- How does Raskin describe the various conflicts between characters?
- Why does Turtle get upset when Mrs. Baumbach talks about her daughter, Rosalie?
- When do you think we will discover who the actual heir will be?
- What do you think Westing is up to in this game for the potential heirs?
- Why does Flora like Turtle so much?
- How do you relate to Chris’ reactions to people who treat him like a small child?
- Why do you think Judge Ford is going to such lengths to investigate each heir?
- What is Denton Deere’s motivation for helping Chris?
- Historically, how does someone normally choose an heir?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 112-3
“No operation. Did you hear me, Chris? No operation. The doctor thinks a new medicine may help, but he has to examine you, make some tests. I have your parents’ permission, but no one will touch you unless we talk it over first, you and me, together. I promise” (112).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires engagement. Perhaps most importantly, it is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them and that I am better because of the communities I choose to be part of.
Over the next 10 days, you will be creating a Leadership Awards Bloom Ball to illustrate a number of different kinds of leadership, as portrayed in the novel, as well as examples of poor leadership.
Today, you will focus on the award for Most Improved Leader. Which character in the novel has shown the biggest change thus far? Who has gone from a person with few leadership skills to one who might actually turn out to be a pretty good leader? Be sure to describe this person before and after the change, and keep in mind our definition: Leadership Requires Engagement.
After writing and editing a rough draft, you will copy this writing task, along with an illustration, onto a Bloom Ball side. See Day 11 for a full list of the awards.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. It is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them. What might you do to help those who have disabilities so that they feel dignity and a sense of being a part of your community?
Day 13
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is a podiatrist?
A doctor who works on the foot, ankle, or lower extremities is called a podiatrist. In the United States, a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine does both surgical and nonsurgical procedures on the foot and ankle. The podiatrist is both a physician and surgeon who completes four years of undergraduate studies, four years of podiatric medical school, and at least two years of hospital residency
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
vengeance (113) |
manipulated (117) |
miscalculation (121) |
handpicked (122) |
interrogation (122) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages: 113-123, Chapter 19 - 20
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Stockbrokers’ office |
Flora Baumbach |
113 |
|
High school nurse’s office |
Turtle |
113-114 |
|
Wexler Apartment |
Crow, Otis |
114 |
|
Judge Ford’s Apartment |
Judge Ford, Sandy |
114-115 |
|
Hoo’s Restaurant |
Jake Wexler, Mr. Hoo, Grace Wexler, Crow, Madame Hoo |
115-116 |
|
Sydelle and Angela’s hospital room |
Sydelle, Angela, Chris |
116-117 |
|
Sydelle, Angela |
117 |
|
|
Ford Apartment |
Judge Ford, Sandy |
118-119 |
|
Broker’s office |
Flora and Turtle |
120 |
|
Various locations around town (shopping center, Sunset Towers, rooming house) |
Doug and Otis Amber |
120 |
|
Hospital Emergency Room |
Theo, bomb squad detective |
121 |
|
Ford Apartment |
Judge Ford, Mr. Theodorakis, Sandy |
121-122 |
|
Judge Ford, Sandy |
122-123 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Crow thinks James Hoo is the bomber and is ready to get vengeance.
- Crow enters the restaurant of James Hoo, and ends up confronting Dr. Wexler, and changes her mind about James Hoo when he gave her wonderful shoe inserts.
- Sydelle Pulaski, Chris, and Angela are still in the hospital; Chris visits Angela and shares some clues with her.
- Flora is told by Turtle to sell the WPP stock at $52 a share, the highest price in 15 years!
- Theo ends up in the emergency room after an experiment gone wrong.
- Judge Ford confronts Mr. Theodorakis concerning his relationship with Violet Westing.
- Sandy and Judge Ford continue working on the heirs; they discover that Sydelle was a mistake, and that the former Mrs. Westing is the likely target of Westing’s ire.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Why does Raskin develop the plot with so much detail of the character’s thoughts?
- As the novel progresses, what is your idea of who the murderer, the thief, and the bomber might be?
- What do you think will be the climax of this story?
- Why does Flora Baumbach like Turtle when others dislike her so much?
- How do you relate to Chris’ feelings of how others treat him?
- Do you think Angela might change her mind about the marriage to Denton?
- What is your impression of how Raskin develops the elements of the story?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 118
In spite of having Turtle by her side, Flora Baumbach still stared at the ever-changing endless tape from the edge of the chair, chewed what remained of her fingernails, and uttered, “Oh, my!” each time WPP went by. At two o’clock Westing Paper Products sold at fifty-two dollars a share, the highest in fifteen years. “Now Baba, SELL!” (120).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires engagement. Perhaps most importantly, it is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them and that I am better because of the communities I choose to be part of.
Over the next 10 days, you will be creating a Leadership Awards Bloom Ball to illustrate a number of different kinds of leadership, as portrayed in the novel, as well as examples of poor leadership.
Today, you will focus on the award for Best Dedication to Others. Which character in the novel is most dedicated to others? Why do you think so? What is this person’s motivation for being good to others? Do you think this dedication and service to others will continue throughout this person’s life? Why?
After writing and editing a rough draft, you will copy this writing task, along with an illustration, onto a Bloom Ball side. See Day 11 for a full list of the awards.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. Leadership requires positive civic engagement. What have you done in the last week that is an example of positive civic engagement?
Day 14
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is Skid Row?
Skid Row is a term used for an area of a city that is run down. The area has empty buildings that are dilapidated, an economically depressed population, and typically a large homeless population. Many rescue missions and soup kitchens exist in these areas to feed and shelter those needing assistance. Alcohol and drug use runs rampant in these urban locations, as some attempt to blunt their plight by using drugs and/or alcohol to forget their troubles and problems. Religious organizations and government agencies attempt to assist the people in these urban areas to cope with and rise above their current circumstances.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
distracted (122) |
wretched (124) |
meticulous (126) |
arsenal (128) |
delinquent (129) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages: 124-133, Chapter 21
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Flora Baumbach’s apartment
|
Flora, Turtle, Theo |
124 |
|
Flora, Turtle |
124-125 |
|
|
Skid Row, near the Good Salvation Soup Kitchen |
Theo, Crow, Otis |
125 |
|
Ford’s Apartment |
Judge Ford, Sandy |
125-128 |
|
Sunset Towers Elevator |
Theo |
128 |
|
Turtle, Grace Wexler, policeman |
128-129 |
|
|
Judge Ford’s apartment |
Turtle, Judge Ford |
129-131 |
|
Sunset Towers |
Turtle, Sandy |
131 |
|
Sydelle and Angela’s hospital room |
Sydelle, Angela |
132-133 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Theo rushes into Turtle’s apartment while she and Flora are counting the money.
- Theo borrows Turtle’s bike to follow Crow and Otis to Skid Row and spy.
- Theo gets in the elevator; fireworks start to go off and he dives out of the elevator.
- Turtle is accused and sent to Judge Ford, who thinks she is covering for someone.
- Judge Ford hears Turtle tell how Westing looked like a wax dummy in the house.
- Turtle sells her last candle to Sandy for his wife’s birthday for $5.00.
- Sydelle thinks she has solved the mystery.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait – Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- How does Raskin develop the history of the characters in the story?
- As the novel uncovers new information, how has your opinion of Turtle changed?
- What barrier does Judge Ford have in her objectivity toward Westing?
- Why does Sandy seem to be so mysterious from the author’s character development?
- How do you relate to the story?
- Why do you think Turtle will survive her latest situation of being the suspected bomber?
- What values help Turtle to overcome the obstacles to her successfulness?
- What do you think Sydelle has solved?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 128
Grace grabbed the theme and shook it at her daughter, who was being rocked in Flora Baumbach’s arms. “Somebody stole this from you, didn’t they, Turtle? You couldn’t have done such an awful thing, not to Angela, not to your own sister, could you Turtle? Could you?” (128).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires engagement. Perhaps most importantly, it is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them and that I am better because of the communities I choose to be part of.
Over the next 10 days, you will be creating a Leadership Awards Bloom Ball to illustrate a number of different kinds of leadership, as portrayed in the novel, as well as examples of poor leadership.
Today, you will focus on the award for Best Leadership as a Parent. Which parent in the novel this far is the best leader and role model for her or his child/children? Keep in mind that some of the characters are parents even though their children don’t appear in the novel. What makes your choice a strong parental leader?
After writing and editing a rough draft, you will copy this writing task, along with an illustration, onto a Bloom Ball side. See Day 11 for a full list of the awards.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. One of the most important jobs of a leader is being a good leader for families and friends. Think of the parents you know? Can you think of one who exemplifies leadership as a parent?
Day 15
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
Who were Cain and Abel?
According to the Bible, Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve. Abel and Cain both made offerings to God, but God preferred Abel’s. Out of jealousy, Cain murdered his brother Abel.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
exquisite (134) |
developmental (137) |
tousled (134) |
bucktoothed (137) |
unintelligible (138) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages: 134-141, Chapter 22
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Sunset Towers Elevator |
Turtle |
134 |
|
Shin Hoo’s Restaurant |
Mr. Hoo, Mrs. Hoo, Doug |
134 |
|
Sunset Towers Elevator
|
Jake Wexler, Grace Wexler |
134-136 |
|
Jake, Grace, Turtle, Mrs. Baumbach |
136 |
|
|
Wexler Apartment |
Jake, Grace, Angela, Sydelle |
136 |
|
Sunset Towers |
Angela, Sydelle |
136-137 |
|
Ford Apartment |
Judge Ford, Denton Deere, Chris |
137 |
|
Judge Ford, Chris |
137-138 |
|
|
Dentist Office |
Turtle, dentist |
138-139 |
|
Track |
Doug, Mr. Hoo |
139 |
|
Hoo Apartment |
Madame Hoo, Doug |
139 |
|
Judge Ford’s Apartment |
Judge Ford, Chris, Sandy |
139-140 |
|
Judge Ford, Sandy |
140 |
|
|
Outside the Westing House |
Crow, Otis Amber |
140-141 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Turtle posts a signed confession in the elevator.
- Grace Wexler is upset about the bombing confession and compares her daughters to Cain and Able.
- Jake Wexler feels bad that Grace hasn’t had the life she wanted.
- No one seems to notice that Angela is home from the hospital.
- Denton Deere returns a much-improved Chris to Sunset Towers, and leaves him with Judge Ford.
- Turtle has her tooth fixed and her haircut, courtesy of Flora Baumbach.
- Doug Hoo wins an impressive victory at the track meet.
- Madame Hoo vows to never steal Doug’s medals, even if it takes her longer to find the money for her trip to China.
- Crow has a bad feeling as they head toward the Westing house.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Why does Grace compare her children to Cain and Abel?
- What do you think this story’s conclusion might be?
- What kind of conflict does Raskin write about in this story?
- Why does Turtle post, if it was her posting it, a confession of guilt in the elevator?
- Why does Judge Ford think Mrs. Westing needs to be protected?
- How do you think Sandy will fare now that he has been fired?
- Why do you think Northrup fired Sandy?
- Why does Jake feel so inadequate about being a doctor?
- Who is the thief? Is theft ever justifiable?
- What do you think will happen at the Westing House?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 139
“College teams from five states competed in the first indoor track meet of the season, but the big event, the mile run, was won by a high-school senior” (139).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires engagement. Leaders develop and dedicate their talents to promote the common good.
Over the next 10 days, you will be creating a Leadership Awards Bloom Ball to illustrate a number of different kinds of leadership, as portrayed in the novel, as well as examples of poor leadership.
Today, you will focus on the award Best Use of Talents. From what you know so far, which individual has developed her or his talents to the best of her or his ability? Are these talents being used to promote the common good? How do these talents help this person be a better leader?
After writing and editing a rough draft, you will copy this writing task, along with an illustration, onto a Bloom Ball side. See Day 11 for a full list of the awards.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. Leaders develop and dedicate their talents to promote the common good. Do you know (or know of) anyone who specifically uses her or his talents to promote the common good? How?
Day 16
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is a billiard table?
There are various types of billiard tables: some do not have pockets, others have only four pockets, and still others have six pockets. The bed of the billiard table is made from 2-5 pieces of slate bonded together to make a seamless bed for the game. A green cloth, sometimes referred to as felt, covers the table. Originally billiard balls were made from ivory, now most are made from plastic. The wooden rails of the billiard table allow the billiard balls to deflect off the side to make an angular shot. Pocket billiards is commonly known as playing a game of pool using striped and solid colored balls, the black eight ball, and the white cue ball. The cue stick is used to hit the cue ball, which will be used to strike a colored ball so as to put the ball in a pocket.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
gilt (143) |
businesswoman (142) |
swathed (143) |
mimicked (142) |
derisive (147) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages: 142-149, Chapter 23
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Westing House game room |
Lawyer Plum, Otis Amber, Turtle, Flora Baumbach |
142 |
|
|
(in order of arrival) Lawyer Plum, Turtle, Flora Baumbach, Otis Amber, Sydelle, Angela, Sandy, Denton, Chris, Theo, Judge Ford, Doug, Mr. Hoo, Madame Hoo, Jake, Grace, Crow |
142-149 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Turtle finds out that Flora Baumbach’s daughter had Down’s syndrome.
- The heirs all seem to comment on Turtle’s outfit, and Judge Ford arrives in ethnic African dress.
- Jake and Grace arrive, visibly intoxicated.
- Each pair provides an answer to the mystery.
- Madame Hoo and Jake: Boom
- Flora and Turtle: $11,587.50
- Chris and Denton: Westing was a good man.
- Ford and Sandy: no answer
- Grace and Mr. Hoo: Ed Plum
- Crow and Otis: mother
- Doug and Theo: no answer
- Sydelle and Angela: Otis Amber
- The judge asks Denton Deere if any of the heirs have had plastic surgery; he says no, but points out that Sandy could have used some.
- The lawyer opens the next envelope and it says to go to the library.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Why does Raskin keep the reader guessing who the apparent heir might be?
- As the novel develops, what have you learned about each character?
- Who do you think is the murderer?
- Do you think that any of the answers are correct?
- Why does Flora like Turtle’s new haircut?
- How do you relate to Turtle’s feelings and ideas about her situation?
- What do you think might happen in the library?
- How would you describe the mood of the characters as they go to the library?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 147
Their clues: a chemical formula for an explosive and the letters o-t-i-s. Doug, basking in glory, didn’t care. Theo stood, turned to the man he was about to accuse, and saw the scene in the soup kitchen, saw Otis Amber cooking soup for the dirty, hungry men. “No answer,” Theo said sitting down (147).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires engagement. Perhaps most importantly, it is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them and that I am better because of the communities I choose to be part of.
Over the next 10 days, you will be creating a Leadership Awards Bloom Ball to illustrate a number of different kinds of leadership, as portrayed in the novel, as well as examples of poor leadership.
Today, you will focus on the award for Best Problem-Solving Skills. A leader is often required to find creative and innovative solutions for problems in the community. In your opinion, which character in the story has the strongest problem-solving skills? Who has best applied them to make sure that her or his community is better because of them? Be sure today to apply concrete details and/or quotes to back up your choice.
After writing and editing a rough draft, you will copy this writing task, along with an illustration, onto a Bloom Ball side.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. It is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them. What individuals can you think of who have used their problem-solving talents to improve society?
Day 17
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What does it mean to be paranoid?
A paranoid person is clinically diagnosed as having an extreme or irrational fear or distrust of something or someone. A paranoid person has extreme or irrational fear or distrust. The long-standing pervasive suspicion is a mental condition which may create antisocial behaviors, preventing building close relationships with others due to a lack of trust in others.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
paranoia (148) |
improbable (151) |
inappropriate (152) |
penance (153) |
twitch (155) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages: 149 – 155 Chapter 24
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Westing House Library
|
Ed Plum, Sydelle Pulaski, Crow, Otis Amber, Sandy, Judge Ford, Turtle, Flora Baumbach, Grace and Jake Wexler, James and Madame Hoo, Doug Hoo, Chris, Theo |
149-150 |
|
Sydelle Pulaski, Crow, Otis Amber, Sandy, Judge Ford, Turtle, Flora Baumbach, Grace and Jake Wexler, James and Madame Hoo, Doug Hoo, Chris, Theo |
150-153 |
|
|
Sydelle Pulaski, Crow, Otis Amber, Sandy, Judge Ford, Turtle, Flora Baumbach, Grace and Jake Wexler, James and Madame Hoo, Doug Hoo, Chris, Theo, Ed Plum, Doctor Sikes, Westing county sheriff |
153-154 |
|
|
Westing House game room |
Sydelle Pulaski, Crow, Otis Amber, Judge Ford, Turtle, Flora Baumbach, Grace and Jake Wexler, James and Madame Hoo, Doug Hoo, Chris, Theo, Ed Plum, Westing county sheriff |
154-155 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Ed Plum opens another envelope and tells all the heirs all answers are wrong.
- Time is running out, all partnerships cancelled, each heir is on their own now.
- Judge Ford realizes that her partner, Sandy, is really Sam Westing.
- They decide to pool their clues. They realize the words make up “America the Beautiful” but leave out “Berthe Erica Crow.”
- Sandy suddenly takes ill, the door is unlocked, and Doctor Sikes enters. He almost immediately pronounces Sandy dead.
- The will reading continues, and announces that they have five minutes to answer, or the will is void.
- Berthe turns herself in and gives half her inheritance to Otis Amber for the Good Salvation Soup Kitchen, and the rest to Angela.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group. Today: Was anyone correct? Are you sure?
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Why does Raskin weave such a complex puzzle for the characters?
- As the novel continues to unfold, what does Raskin do to engage the reader?
- What do you think will happen to each of the characters at the conclusion?
- From what Raskin writes, how are characters developed in the novel?
- How does Theo come to play chess at the Westing house?
- Why does Sandy like Turtle Wexler so much?
- How do you relate to the emotional struggles of the characters in the novel?
- Why do you think Chris has so much potential?
- Do you think the puzzle of the will has been solved?
- Why does Crow admit to being the murderer? Did she really kill Westing?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 155
“Poor Sandy you should say,’ Turtle responded angrily. ‘Sandy’s the one who’s dead. Sandy was my friend” (155).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires engagement. Perhaps most importantly, it is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them and that I am better because of the communities I choose to be part of.
Over the next 10 days, you will be creating a Leadership Awards Bloom Ball to illustrate a number of different kinds of leadership, as portrayed in the novel, as well as examples of poor leadership.
Today, you will focus on the award for Best Example of Civic Engagement. Which character is most engaged in the community? How does he or she make the community better?
After writing and editing a rough draft, you will copy this writing task, along with an illustration, onto a Bloom Ball side.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
How can you personally make your community better in the near future?
Day 18
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What does dastardly mean?
The term dastardly means cowardly, according to one character in the story, Jake Wexler. Usually, the cowardly person is also malicious or deviously mean in her or his behavior toward another person. Malice means to seek evil to be done to a person in a vengeful manner. Dastardly, then, is a cowardly behavior with mean motives.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
disguise (162) |
stenographer (161) |
occasional (161) |
interceded (161) |
diagnosis(166) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages: 156-166, Chapter 25, 26 ending after Deere’s “testimony”
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Judge Ford’s living room |
Judge Ford, Theo, Chris, Turtle, Jake and Grace Wexler, Angela Wexler, Denton Deere, Otis Amber, Flora Baumbach, Sydelle Pulaski , Mr. Hoo, Madame Hoo, Doug Hoo |
156-166 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- The heirs convene in Judge Ford’s apartment, and immediately start accusing each other of a number of things.
- Denton points out that Turtle must have kicked Sandy that day, as he had a nasty bruise, but Turtle denies it.
- Theo says he was playing chess with Sandy; the Judge now knows it was Westing.
- Turtle realizes that Sandy wanted her to win and winked after he’d died.
- Judge Ford figured out that Crow is really Sam Westing’s ex-wife.
- Turtle plays an attorney to demonstrate Crow’s innocence.
- Turtle exposes Otis Amber as a licensed private investigator for Sam Westing.
- Intern Deere admits he only assumed Sandy was dead by the symptoms shown.
- Turtle reveals that Crow put lemon juice in Sandy’s flask.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits. See Day 4 lesson plan for a complete list of groups.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- How does Turtle proceed to find out information about the puzzle?
- How did Turtle use the method of elimination in the questions she asked Otis?
- Why is the reader drawn emotionally into the mock courtroom scene with the judge and Turtle?
- What effects does the author to draw the reader into the thought process of the characters use?
- How does Raskin write differently from other authors you have read?
- In what way does Raskin draw you into the plot through the minds of the characters?
- How similar does this plot seem to how people act under pressure in your world?
- How does Raskin create a sense of excitement to reach the solution?
- So you think Sandy/Westing is really dead?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 164
“One more question, Intern Deere. Do you swear that Sandy had a bruise on his shin resulting from a kick? Absolutely, I should know, having been the recipient of such a kick myself” (164).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires engagement. Perhaps most importantly, it is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them and that I am better because of the communities I choose to be part of.
Over the next 10 days, you will be creating a Leadership Awards Bloom Ball to illustrate a number of different kinds of leadership, as portrayed in the novel, as well as examples of poor leadership.
Today, you will focus on the award for Best Leader of Youth? Which character do you think has made the most impact on the young people in her or his community? Which is the best mentor? Why is it important to include youth when you are trying to improve your community?
After writing and editing a rough draft, you will copy this writing task, along with an illustration, onto a Bloom Ball side. See Day 11 for a full list of the awards.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. Who has been the best leader to you personally in your life? Has this individual inspired you to develop and dedicate your talents to promote the common good?
Day 19
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is a windfall?
The term windfall refers to an unexpected, unearned, or sudden gain financially. Sometimes referred to as windfall profit when dealing with stock sales, this would be a high, unexpected return on an investment. Selling your house for more than expected, due to sudden market conditions, would be considered a windfall. Suddenly inheriting a large sum of money and/or property would be considered a windfall. A windfall is a good thing to happen financially.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
certification (166) |
priceless (167) |
prescription (169) |
regrettable (170) |
extravaganza (172) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages: 166-175, Chapter 26, beginning with “’I call Sydelle Pulaski to the stand’” through Chapter 27
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Judge Ford’s living room |
Judge Ford, Turtle, Chris, Theo, Jake and Grace Wexler, Otis Amber, Flora Baumbach, Madame Hoo, James Hoo, Doug Hoo, Sydelle Pulaski, Angela Wexler |
165-169 |
|
Judge Ford, Turtle, Chris, Theo, Jake and Grace Wexler, Otis Amber, Flora Baumbach, Madame Hoo, James Hoo, Doug Hoo, Sydelle Pulaski, Angela Wexler, Ed Plum, Crow |
171-174 |
|
|
#4 Sunrise Lane |
Turtle, Doctor Sikes, Mr. Eastman |
174-175 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Judge Ford finds a receipt in her files for the repayment of her student loans to Sam Westing.
- Madame Hoo arrives and returns all of the items that have gone missing over the years.
- Turtle announces that Sam Westing was disguised as Sandy.
- Crow arrives with Ed Plum, and they announce that Crow was not arrested.
- Judge Ford reads the rest of the will, in which Westing admits he was Sandy, bequeaths the deeds to Sunset Towers to all heirs in equal shares, and $30,000 to Crow.
- There are fireworks and the Westing house burns to the ground.
- Turtle has it figured out, she hopes, and heads to #4 Sunrise Lane to see Mr. Eastman (Sandy) to tell him she’s won.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- How does Raskin build to the solution?
- As the novel reaches the climax, how did you feel about it?
- What do you think this story reveals about values people hold in this world?
- What do you think the future relationships of the characters will be?
- How does a person use partial information to figure out a solution?
- Why does Turtle get so upset with Theo calling Sandy his friend?
- How do you relate to Turtle’s feelings that she has won?
- Why do you think Turtle was able to figure out the puzzle?
- When did Turtle decide not to reveal what she knew was the key to the puzzle?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 173
Turtle rose and walked to the side window, seeking the Westing house, which stood invisible in the moon-clouded night. (Hurry up, Uncle Sam, I can’t keep up this act much longer. The candle must have burned through the last stripe by now) (173).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires engagement. Perhaps most importantly, it is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them and that I am better because of the communities I choose to be part of.
Over the next 10 days, you will be creating a Leadership Awards Bloom Ball to illustrate a number of different kinds of leadership, as portrayed in the novel, as well as examples of poor leadership.
Today, you will focus on the award for Best Example of Beating the Odds. Several characters in this book had seemingly insurmountable obstacles to overcome before they could reach their personal and public goals. Which character do you think beat the odds to become a leader? Did this person become more engaged in the community as a result? Give concrete details and facts to support your choice.
After writing and editing a rough draft, you will copy this writing task, along with an illustration, onto a Bloom Ball side. See Day 11 for a full list of the awards.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement? Who is a public figure you are familiar with who was able to “beat the odds” to become successful? Is this person’s community better because as a result?
Day 20
Outcomes for Today
W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, an analysis of relevant content.
Prepare
Background
Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.
What is ornithology?
Ornithology is a branch of Zoology dealing with the scientific study of birds. Ornithologists study every aspect of bird life, including but not limited to: the parts of birds and how those parts work together; the environment of the birds, what birds eat, the digestion of food, migration, and changes in populations.
Word Wall
Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.
|
consultant (178) |
restaurateur (178) |
journalism (180) |
medication (181) |
ornithology (185) |
Read
Review
Review the timeline from the beginning every day.
- Mention the setting and main character(s) of The Westing Game.
- Point to each timeline event as you quickly review it.
Read
Read the selection, usually in a Shared Reading Read React Predict Cycle of 2-3 pages.
Read pages: 176-184 Chapter 28 to Chapter 30
|
Setting |
Characters |
Pages |
|
Mr. Hoo’s restaurant |
James Hoo, Turtle, Grace Wexler, Jake Wexler, Crow, Otis Amber, Angela Wexler, Sydelle, Flora Baumbach |
176 |
|
Apartment 4D (Judge Ford’s) |
Judge Ford |
176 |
|
|
Judge Ford, Chris |
177 |
|
Hoo’s |
James Hoo, Madame Hoo |
177 |
|
Shultz Sausages |
Sydelle Pulaski |
177-178 |
|
Sunset Towers |
Jake Wexler, Grace Wexler, Angela Wexler, Turtle Wexler |
178-179 |
|
Good Salvation Soup Kitchen |
Crow and Otis Amber |
179 |
|
The Hoo home – on the lakefront (five years later) |
Mr. Hoo, Sunny Hoo, Crow, Otis Amber, Theo, Doug, Jake Wexler, Angela, Denton Deere, Sydelle Pulaski, Conrad Schultz, Judge Ford, Chris, Shirley Staver, Grace Wexler, Flora Baumbach |
179-182 |
|
Mr. Eastman’s death bed |
Sandy, Turtle |
182-184 |
|
Wexler-Theodorakis mansion |
Turtle, Alice Deere |
184 |
Respond
Timeline
Agree on the facts in today’s reading, and list the 3-5 most important on the Timeline.
Students might mention:
- Turtle never tells anyone she solved the mystery.
- Otis and Crow get married using Angela’s altered wedding dress.
- Judge Ford moves out of her apartment, using the money to pay for Chris’s education.
- Hoo’s shoe insert is a hit coast to coast and soon he can buy a lakeside house.
- Grace Wexler becomes a famous owner of a chain of restaurants, and Jake becomes the state crime commissioner.
- Judge Ford gets an appointment to the Supreme Court.
- Theo graduates from journalism school, marries T.R. Wexler who has graduated from business and law school and is Eastman’s lawyer.
- Doug wins two Olympic medals; Chris is a professor of ornithology.
- Angela is an orthopedic surgeon. She eventually married Denton Deere, and they have a daughter, Alice.
- Alice spends every Saturday afternoon with her aunt, T.R. Wexler, playing chess.
Map
Add to ongoing class activities like a KWL chart or map: where did the characters go?
Map Instructions:
Add information from the story about the Westing house, and where the room with the coffin is located in relationship to the part of the house facing Sunset Towers.
KWL Instructions:
Continue adding to the whole class KWL chart about the Westing mystery.
Mystery Chart:
As Westing’s clues are revealed, write them on cards and place them on a chart for the class to see. It might be helpful to use sticky notes or something else that can be moved around. As the novel progresses, allow students to make guesses as to the solution. You could even run a contest where groups put their answer in a sealed envelope, to be opened only when the mystery is solved at the end to determine the winning group.
Explore
Activity
Explore the reading more deeply with a visual or oral language activity.
Open Mind Portrait
Have each pair/group add to their Open Mind Portraits.
Discussion
Ask discussion questions of all 9 types.
Key Questions
- Why does Judge Ford want to pay for Chris’ education?
- What conflicts have been resolved in the story?
- What is the major theme in this novel?
- What is Raskin’s method of peeling the layers of the onion do for the reader?
- How does the climax in Raskin’s novel differ from other novels you have read?
- How realistic was Raskin’s novel compared to other fictional novels?
- How does Turtle compare to struggles you have experienced in life?
- What is your impression concerning how the hero is unveiled in the text?
- What do you think might happen next with Turtle’s life?
Analyze
Analyze the key paragraph.
Key Paragraph, p. 184
No one, not even Theo, knew her secret. T.R. Wexler was understandably sad over the death of the chairman of Westing Paper Products Corporation. She had been his legal advisor; she would inherit his stock and serve as the director of the company until the day she, too, would be elected chairman of the board (184).
Extend
Write
Have each student write a short product based on today’s prompt to connect to the unit theme.
Leadership requires engagement. Perhaps most importantly, it is making sure that the communities I am part of are better because I am in them and that I am better because of the communities I choose to be part of.
Over the next 10 days, you will be creating a Leadership Awards Bloom Ball to illustrate a number of different kinds of leadership, as portrayed in the novel, as well as examples of poor leadership.
Today, you will focus on the award for Best Leader Overall. Which character in this novel best exemplifies Leadership? Who is most engaged in the community? Who promotes the common good? Who best exemplifies positive civic engagement? Be sure to use several examples to back up your choice.
After writing and editing a rough draft, you will copy this writing task, along with an illustration, onto a Bloom Ball side. See Day 11 for a full list of the awards.
Now is the time to complete your Bloom Ball. Did you change your mind about any of the awards? Take the time to edit and illustrate each category’s side, create a side with the title and author, and another with a definition of Leadership, and connect them to make one amazing Westing Game Leadership Bloom Ball.
Close
Close by extending today’s lesson to life and the world.
Leadership Requires Engagement. What have you taken from thinking about leadership over the last few weeks? How do you evaluate leaders? Have your criteria changed at all?