Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Updated August 2020
This book is our next novel study. You will either have to purchase the book or get a copy from your library. If you have a library card, you can get the ebook. You can also use the chapter links to the audio book to listen and follow along in the story. (NOTE: I updateed the Nearpod links on August 10, 2020. If you find any other link that does not work, please let me know.) ([email protected])
The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket and comes out with a dog. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie...Read more.
About the Author
"I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, raised in Clermont, Florida, and currently live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I write for both children and adults and I like to think of myself as a storyteller."
To read more about Kate, go to her website. |
Resources
Use the following resources to help you complete the assignments.
Websites
Meet the Cast (Shmoops)
Character Analysis (Shmoops)
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Documents
Comprehension Questions (printable)
Ten Elements (Sequence Activity) - pending
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Writers' Handbook
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Chapter by Chapter
Because of Winn-Dixie
Daily Goals
For this novel we will attempt to read a chapter a day and to complete the activities each day. You can read the book by yourself or read in small groups. The last day for a set of chapters you will have a quiz and then make sure all assignments are finished and added to your website. (If you are not creating a website, you can create a portfolio that you print or save in a folder on your computer. If you create a website, you can add a blog page. You will find Blog worksheets for each chapter. You can print out one page at a time or the entire Blog Template (13 pages.) You have to download and open the templates.
For each chapter be prepared to identify the characters and the settings. You will add these items on your character and setting sheets.
*Standards: ELA Literacy RL4.2, RL4.4, RL5.2, RL.5.4, W4.1, W5.1
Chapter 1
Vocabulary: produce
Add characters: Winn Dixie, Opal
Add setting: Winn Dixie Activity: Start vocabulary, character and setting sheets. (Download documents above. Save each time you add elements.)
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Chapter 2
Vocabulary: missionary
Add character: preacher
Add setting: trailer park Activity: Create a page on your website for the novel and the author.
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Chapter 3
Vocabulary: muttering
Activity: Create a Venn diagram comparing you to Opal.
Here's another Venn Diagram.
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Chapter 4
Vocabulary: constellations
Activity: Use this Write About It! activity to write things about your mom.
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Chapter 5
Vocabulary: congregation
Add setting: Open Arms Baptist Church
Activity: Blog* about a time you felt like an outsider. How did it feel and what did you do to make it better?
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Chapters in Review
Activity: Winn Dixie goes to church with Opal. Use details from the story, write what happened at church and how the people reacted to Winn Dixie. You can use Write About It!
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*Standards: ELA Literacy RL4.2, RL4.4, RL5.2, RL.5.4, W4.3, W5.3
Chapter 6
Vocabulary: memorial
Add character: Frannie Block
Setting: Herman Block Memorial Library
Activity: Watch Characterization (Frozen) video.
Write character traits for the characters on your list. |
Chapter 7
Vocabulary: recalls
Activity #1: Blog about a time that you were afraid of something.
Activity #2: Create word clouds for at least four characters. Try Wordle or ABCya Word Clouds. Save your document to share. |
Chapter 8
Vocabulary: installment plan
Add characters: Sweetie Pie, Amanda
Add character: Otis
Add setting: Gertrude's Pet Store
Activity: At the end of the chapter, Opal says she doesn't feel lonely anymore. Blog about why you think her feelings changed.
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Chapter 9
Vocabulary: identical
Add characters: Stevie Dewberry, Dunlap Dewberry, Gloria Dump
Add setting: Gloria's house Activity: Use your word clouds to create a presentation using Powerpoint or iMovie.
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Chapter 10
Vocabulary: green thumb
Activity: Complete the Ten Important Events activity. (Sequencing)
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Chapters in Review
Activity: Compare your mother to Opal's mother. Use your answers from Chapter 4 to complete this table.
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*Standards: ELA Literacy RL4.2, RL4.4, RL4.7, RL4.10, RL 5.10,RL RL5.2, RL.5.4, W4.1, W5.1
Chapter 11
Vocabulary: pathological
Activity: Choose one of these questions and blog about it.
Winn Dixie had a fear of thunderstorms. Do you have a pathological fear? Do you think that Opal should have befriended Gloria? |
Chapter 12
Vocabulary: criminal
Activity: Watch music video on Fact or Opinion.
Activity: Fact and Opinion - Try These.
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Chapter 13
Activity: Discuss Opal's daily routine. Blog about your daily or weekly routine.
Activity: Create a Kahoot quiz for fact or opinion. (You can work with a partner or a group.).
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Chapter 14
Vocabulary: prejudice
(Find the definition. Do not add to your vocabulary, but use in your blog.)
Activity: Do you agree with Gloria's advice to not judge others? Why or why not? Blog about a time you prejudged someone.
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Chapter 15
Vocabulary: harsh
Activity: Choose a scene (or two) from Reader's Theater. Practice reading the dialog in a small group. Create a podcast in Garageband.
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Reader's Theater
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Chapters in Review
Activity: Use this time to complete all unfinished assignments and work on your website.
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*Standards: ELA Literacy RL4.2, RL4.4, RL5.2, RL.5.4, RL4.10, RL5.10, W4.7, W4.9,W5.1,W5.7,W5.9
Chapter 16
Activity: Create a Kahoot Quiz about Fact and Opinion. (Each day take a different quiz.)
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Chapter 17
Activity: Make a list of facts about Littmus Block. You can do this in your blog or on a Word document.
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Chapter 18
Vocabulary: melancholy
Activity: Watch a video about writing an Informational Essay.
Activity: Begin writing an informational paper about Littmus Block. You can use Essay Map to get started.
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Chapter 19
Vocabulary:(none)
Activity: Edit and write your final paper about Littmus Block.
Activity: Make a podcast with your dialogue group.
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Chapter 20
Vocabulary:(none)
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Chapters in Review
Activity: Start creating your own candy. Name your candy and write a list of ingredients. Use this form. Check the samples below for ideas.
Candy History (Ingredients)
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Candy Project
Activity: Continue your candy creation. Complete the package template. Use Drawing Island to create the picture for your candy. Save it and Insert it on the Package Template. (See student samples at the bottom of the page.)
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Candy Project
Activity: Write About It! Write a commercial or a poster for your new candy. You can use Canvas Poster Maker. You have to have an email address to create an account.
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*Standards: ELA Literacy RL4.2, RL4.4, RL5.2, RL.5.4, W4.10, W5.10
Chapter 21
Vocabulary: shimmering
Activity: Before you read this chapter, blog your prediction for what might happen at this party.
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Chapter 22
Vocabulary: (none)
Activity: Watch the video on Cause and Effect.
Activity: Complete both of the Cause and Effect Quizzes below. Screen capture the result for your best score.
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Chapter 23
Vocabulary: crepe paper, downpour
Activity: Blog about a time you lost something important. Explain how you felt.
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Chapter 24
Vocabulary: (none)
Activity: Create a Lost and Found poster for Winn-Dixie. Use details from the story.
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Chapter 25
Activity: Continue working on your Lost and Found poster.
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Culminating Activity: Movie Day (Watch the movie Because of Winn-Dixie.) It is available on Amazon ($3.99) or on Disney+.
Culminating Activity: Compare the movie to the book (essay).
Culminating Activity: Share projects in a Story Fair.
Culminating Activity: Compare the movie to the book (essay).
Culminating Activity: Share projects in a Story Fair.
Create Your Own Candy
In the book Because of Winn-Dixie, Littmus opened a candy factory where he created Littumus Lozenges. I challenged the students in my RTI group to create their own candy bars with their own ingredients.These delicious ideas were created in Spring 2016.
The Incredible Nutty Koo-Koo
by Alician Garcia
Jams Bams Candy
by Jamiyrah Thomas
Yummy in My Tummy
by Jacinda Hemmons
High Flying Candy
by Brian Fuller
Sugary Vocals
by Thalia Patterson