"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -- Benjamin Franklin

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Turtle: tough on the outside with a soft underbelly just like a turtle.

Turtle in Paradise

By: Jennifer Holm
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Copyright: 2010
Turtle in Paradise is a historical fiction novel set in the Great Depression. Eleven-year-old Turtle has been living with her single mother whom is a housekeeper in New Jersey, but her mother gets a new housekeeping job and it entitles no children, Turtle is sent to live with her Aunt Minnie in Key West with cousins she has never met; Buddy, Beans and Kermit. Her rowdy boy cousins are part of the neighbor “Diaper Gang” which coincidentally does not allow any girl members. In a world that is very different than the one she is used she learns about alligator pears (avocados), rum running, sponge fishing and most importantly that she has a grandma. Turtle uncovers what is means to have a family.
Authors Note at the end of the story: Many of these situations that Jennifer Holm wrote about in this story, had been her families stories that had been passed down from generation to generation.
Suggested Delivery: Independent Read
Lexile Level: 600L
Key Vocabulary: guava, mutiny, skepticalks, exasperated, tromp, meringue, ruthless
Web Resources:
Meet the Author: Students can read about Jennifer Holm and how she gets inspired to write http://www.jenniferholm.com/01_aboutme/01_overview.html

Comprehension Strategies:
During Reading: Students will complete a Split Page Notetaking- In one column students will write down the name of the chapter they are reading then students will think of a new name for the chapter after they finished the chapter.
After Reading: Students will create a Voki of the main character Turtle. 
Writing: This story was written based on stories that were past down by Jennifer Holm's family. Write about a story that has been past down from generation to generation at your house? 

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