Turtle In Paradise

Turtle In Paradise

Written By: Jennifer Holm

Published By: Random House Children Books

Copyright: 2010

Reluctant, Historical, Adventure, Orphan, Family

Reading Level

Grade Level Equivalent: 3.4

Lexile Level: 610L

DRA: 40

Guided Reading Level: S

Suggested Delivery

Read Aloud

Small Group Read

Electronic Resources

http://www.jenniferholm.com/p/novels.html

This is the Authors own website about the book as well as other books she has written.

http://www.helpreaderslovereading.com/2011/03/turtle-in-paradise-by-jennifer-l -holm.html

This is a blog about the book and also has pictures that takes you on a tour through the town in Key West that the book was based on.

Teaching Suggestions

Vocabulary

Forlorn: Lonely, left-behind

Grimy: Very Dirty

Mutiny: An uprising against someone in charge

Reading Strategies

Before Reading: Word Walls- Create space on one of the walls with the vocabulary from the book

During Reading: Story Maps- Students can fill out a graphic organizer of all the elements in the story

After Reading: Story Sequence- Use sequencing such as first, then, last, to retell the story

Writing Activity

• Project 1: Students will have to create a front page of a newspaper that includes not only the article but other information that would be relevant to the time that the newspaper is published
• Project 2/3: Students will practice, memorize, and film their talk show or interview to play for the class using filming apps to create transitions, sounds and anything else needed for a talk show or interview
• Project 4: Research will be done to figure out what type of paper and writing utensil that specific character would have used. The student will then write out the letter as if the character actually wrote it themselves in their handwriting.
• Project 5: Student will create a colorfully illustrated storyboard using either technology or their own drawing skills. This story board will be on poster paper so it is big enough to be seen by everyone.