Ground Zero by Alan Gratz Novel Study

The Ground Zero Novel Study is a comprehensive novel study for teaching Ground Zero by Alan Gratz. With over 100+ Common Core aligned materials, students will develop their literacy skills while deeply engaging with the novel through this 6-WEEK unit. The fiction close reading activities, the literary analysis resources, the History of September 11th nonfiction readings and extension activities, vocabulary, assessments, project choice board, and essays will all provide opportunities for your students to practice and apply what will be their growing understanding of the novel. They also provide numerous ways for you to DIFFERENTIATE and ACCOMMODATE for all learners, allowing you to choose the assignments that best support your students’ learning while being conducive to all types of classroom models.

Snapshot of Resources Included in Unit:

• 30 Common Core Aligned Lesson Plans
• 19 Reading Response A (Comprehension) Assignments & 19 Reading Response B (Analysis) Assignments
• 19 Close Reading Assignments (literary skills-based) & 4 Whole Novel Analysis Assignments
• Character Timeline & Character Story Comparison Graphic Organizer
• 15 Informational Texts & Questions - History of September 11th Resources
• 15 Extension Activities - History of September 11th Resources
• Vocabulary Resources - 5 Crossword Puzzles, 5 Practice Exercises, 5 Quizzes
• Assessment Resources - 19 Mini-Quizzes, 3 Comprehension Quizzes, Differentiated Final Test, Essay Choice Board
• Project Choice Board
• Pre-Reading Activities - Anticipation Guide, Book Trailer, Discussion & Norms
• Answer Keys for ALL applicable resources!
• Googles Slides™ & Google Forms™ links for student pages!

Digital Compatibility: This resource is also technology friendly! It can be utilized in classrooms where computers or tablets are central to instruction because the resource has been adapted for digital completion. The resources include links for students to complete any work assigned, such as in-class tasks and assessments, online via Google Slides™ and Google Forms. For instance, students can work with the documents in Google Drive™ or via Google Classroom. With these links, you can have students complete their activities, assignments, and ALL ASSESSMENTS online. All they will have to do for the student pages is either create a text box or fill out a form! There are links for every student page and assessment if applicable, making the format friendly not only for technology but also trees.

Reading Response Resources: The comprehension and literary analysis resources for Alan Gratz’s Ground Zero will give students repeated opportunities to practice essential literacy skills aligned to the Common Core State Standards. For every chapter grouping, students will have to answer rigorous, text-based questions that assess not only their ability to comprehend but also their ability to analyze key events. With numerous options for implementation, the resource also allows for differentiation and can enable accommodation that will meet the needs of all learners. There are two sets of questions for each reading: Reading Response A (comprehension) and Reading Response B (analysis). The twin sets offer different levels of challenge for students to give you options for meeting the needs of all your learners. All 38 assignments include 8 questions that require close reading of the text, which means your students will always be practicing essential skills aligned to the CCSS.

Close Reading Resources & Graphic Organizers: Through the 19 close reading activities and 4 whole novel analysis assignments, students will engage at a deeper level with Ground Zero. The resource provides them repeated opportunities to apply their understanding of essential literary elements. Its rigorous tasks also encourage close reading and the use of textual evidence. With numerous options for implementation, the resource also allows for differentiation and can enable accommodation that will meet the needs of all learners.

The nonfiction readings and extension activities will build your students’ knowledge about the history of the terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States on September 11, 2001. The materials will place 9/11 in a larger historical context and offer a thoughtful view of the tragedy with readings that explain key events preceding the attacks, the attacks themselves, and the consequences of them still unfolding decades later. The comprehensive set of materials provide students with various opportunities to synthesize across texts as they engage in close reading and analysis.

History of September 11th Nonfiction Readings: The 15 nonfiction texts about the history of the September 11th attacks includes two sets of questions – one comprehension set and one analysis set – that will develop essential skills aligned to the reading of informational and historical texts under the Common Core State Standards. The readings also allow for differentiation, accommodation, and flexible implementation.

History of September 11th Extension Activities: With a diverse set of materials, such as historical documents, a speech, a podcast, documentaries, oral histories, debate, and much more, the 15 activities will engage all learners and deepen their knowledge about this tragic but consequential event. By using a variety of sources in such a variety of ways for close reading, students will grow their ability to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize texts. Each will also provide a student to think critically and practice essential skills aligned to the reading of informational and historical texts under the Common Core State Standards. Plus, the resource allow for differentiation, accommodation, and flexible implementation and cover a range of topics related to 9/11

Assessment Resources: After students complete the chapter analysis, close reading assignments, vocabulary assignments, and projects, they will know the novel inside and out. The Common Core aligned assessments will then help you measure your students’ comprehension of the text and their ability to apply the literary skills taught throughout the unit. The materials include 19 reading checks, 3 comprehension and literary quizzes, 1 differentiated literary assessment, and essay choice board.

Vocabulary Resources: The Ground Zero vocabulary resources will assist students in building their own vocabulary and engage them in varied activities to maximize their vocabulary’s expansion. With the 5 different vocabulary lists, 5 crossword puzzles, 5 vocabulary practice assignments, and 5 quizzes the resource allows for differentiation and flexible implementation.

Project Choice Board (Bonus Material): The project choice board provides students with a variety of assignments that will have them synthesize their learning across texts and situations, developing their critical thinking skills along the way. The choice board contains 9 distinct assignments all addressing themes of the novel but of varying difficulty. An assigned point total (1-3) indicates level of complexity. These themes were essential in the novel, Ground Zero, and deserve to be studied in-depth.

Pre-Reading Resources (Bonus Material): The pre-reading resources are designed to build students’ background knowledge and ignite their curiosity as they begin to engage with Ground Zero. Each activity will develop foundational understandings that will allow them to comprehend the novel, its themes, and set norms for discussion when engaged with its challenging topics. Through the anticipation guide, book trailer viewing, and a thoughtful discussion about facts related to the novel’s themes, students will have built the knowledge necessary for respectful, deeper engagement with the text as they start reading it.

Instructional Resources (Bonus Material): The unit implementation suggestions, standards-alignment guide, pacing guide, and 30 lesson plans will help you effectively plan and implement any and all components of the unit. They are the materials designed for you. (Editable)

Answer Keys: Every resource includes comprehensive answer keys! The keys provide potential answers for every activity, lesson, and question (where applicable). Of course, not all analytic questions have just one answer! Part of the strength of the analysis question is the room they leave for students to demonstrate their unique thinking and use textual evidence to support their stance. Therefore, use the answers at your discretion but know they provide a solid foundation for the type of performance that makes for quality work. 

This resource is NOT EDITABLE! It is intended to be comprehensive, but if you have particular needs for your classroom, please contact me! (lauren@lit-lessons.com)