Title: Dead End in Norvelt
Author: Jack Gantos
Copyright: 2011
Publisher: Square Fish
Reading Level:
Fountas and Pinnell:Level Y
Lexile:920 L
Accelerated Reader: 5.7
A hilariously serious, educational, intriguing, and entertaining
novel that you will not be able to put down until it’s finished.
Suggested Delivery: Reading group book or small group read aloud
2 electronic resources to extend/support the text:
This website is the author’s website where students can read
about the author and his reasoning for writing all of his books. There is also
a link to his blog, which has pictures and videos related to his novels. On
this site there are also reviews and study guides that students can look at to
help them during their reading.
This is a link to a youtube video that dicusses
the subsistence homesteads and explained Eleanor Roosevelt’s role in the New
Deal. It also shows real pictures and videos of the setting in the novel so
students will be able to visualize and understand the setting of the story.
Key Vocabulary:
1. Abscond- To leave hurriedly and secretively, typically to
avoid detection or
arrest.
2. Feral- something, most of the time an animal, that is in
a wild state and is
unable to be tamed.
3. Carnage- The killing of a large number of people.
4. Simian- Something that is relating to or resembling an
ape or a monkey.
5. Ingrate- A person who is not grateful.
6. Noxious- Something that is harmful, unpleasant, or poisonous.
7. The New Deal- A group of government programs and policies
established by
Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930's to improve the conditions for people
who were suffering from the effects of the Great Depression.
Before Reading Strategy:
Before reading the story, discuss the history of the New
Deal and the programs that Mrs. Roosevelt put into place to help the poor
during her husband’s presidency. This will help students visualize the neighborhood
that the novel takes place in and will help students understand the events of
the story and their historical significance.
During Reading Strategy:
While reading, students should keep a list of the historical
events and stories Jack reads and talks about throughout the story and an
explanation of how they relate to the events in the story. They will choose one
specific event to talk about after reading but should take detailed notes on
all historical events that are talked about throughout the novel.
After Reading Strategy:
After reading, have students research important historical
events that happened on their own birthday. Students will then write a “This
Day in History” column about that day including at least 2 major world events.
The writing
pieces can be turned into a classroom newspaper or magazine that is displayed
somewhere around the room. It can act as a reference or can be read for
interest. Students should share what they found on their birthdays.
The class
can also have “This day in History” discussions throughout the year where a
student is in charge of finding something that happened on a certain day in
history and sharing it with the rest of the class during morning meeting or
history block.
Writing activity to demonstrate inferential comprehension:
Students will write an obituary similar to the one that Jack
wrote about the house. They will choose an object that was discussed in the
novel and was important to one of the main characters. The obituary must:
a)
Include the name of the object, date it died,
and reasoning/how it died
b)
Importance to the town
c)
Importance to the main character
d)
How the character feels about the death
e)
Include either a piece of history or a dramatic
story similar to what the obituaries look like in the novel.
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