The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Unit Novel Study

This product is a comprehensive set of instructional materials for teaching The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. 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, nonfiction readings, extension activities, vocabulary, assessments, project and essays 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 learning for your students, allowing you to choose the assignments that best support your students’ learning while being conducive to rotation-based classroom models.

Please view the preview carefully to determine if the content and level is appropriate for your classroom context!

Snapshot of Resources Included in Unit:

• 30 Common Core Aligned Lesson Plans
• 16 Comprehension Assignments & 16 Literary Analysis Assignments
• 16 Close Reading Assignments (literary skills-based) & 5 Whole Novel Analysis
• 15 Nonfiction Readings & Questions
• 10 Extension Activities (to pair with nonfiction readings)
• Vocabulary Resources - 3 Crossword Puzzles, 3 Practice Exercises, 3 Quizzes, Graphic Organizers
• Assessment Resources - 16 Mini-Quizzes, 3 Comprehension Quizzes, 3 Final Tests, Essay Choice Board
• 1 Final Project
• 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.

Comprehension & Literary Analysis Resources: The comprehension guide and literary analysis resources provide a framework for students to deeply engage with every chapter grouping of the novel. The 32 assignments - 16 comprehension and 16 literary analysis - are designed to not only to have students practice essential literary skills but also demonstrate their comprehension of the text. In having students demonstrate their understanding of the novel across both dimensions, the resource allows for differentiation and flexible implementation.

Fiction Close Readings & Graphic Organizers: The 16 fiction close reading lessons explicitly focus on critical Common Core State Standards to develop students’ literary proficiency. Using the novel as the foundational text for close reading, each lesson focuses on a particular skill, such as setting, conflict, tone, and plot, and provides students an opportunity to develop and demonstrate their ability to perform that skill. Each assignment also requires students to use textual evidence to support their claims. The resources could supply homework, facilitate guided reading groups, or stimulate whole class literacy discussions for each chapter grouping. You can choose the purpose that best suits your students and your classroom.

Nonfiction Readings: The 15 nonfiction close readings will open new perspectives to your students about the First Nations of North America. With a particular focus on groups that inhabited the present-day United States, the articles will provide background knowledge about the social, cultural, environmental, and political forces essential to understanding the history of indigenous tribes. Students will learn about the First Nations prior to European contact as well as examine important issues that have been relevant since then through to the modern day. Those issues also connect to the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Therefore, students will be able to synthesize across the nonfiction readings and the novel, building their critical thinking skills in the process.

Nonfiction Extension Activities: The 10 extension activities take your students deeper. You know your students best. Based on their interests, the extension activities provide an avenue for your students to study the complexities of the social, cultural, environmental, and political forces essential to understanding the history of First Nations. They will learn about these topics not only to better understand them but also better understand the thematic elements of the novel.

Final Project – The History of a First Nation: The novel project prompts students to take an inclusive stance towards history and draft a narrative that incorporates fresh perspectives across the ages. Through the project, students will synthesize knowledge about their chosen First Nation in order to create a presentation that portrays a First Nation and their unique, rich history over time. The students’ will be moved to present that history from their chosen First Nation’s emergence to the present-day. Taken together, the students’ work will recognize a comprehensive and inclusive history of an indigenous society in North America, allowing them to reflect on the history of First Nations, its typical portrayal, and the evolution of their understanding about historical narratives. *Requires Internet access.*

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 16 reading checks, 2 comprehension quizzes, 3 final literary assessments, and essays.

Vocabulary Resources: Teaching vocabulary is an important part of any lesson. The vocabulary resources will help students learn, acquire, and utilize new words for their writing and speaking. The vocabulary resources will engage students in varied activities to maximize their vocabulary’s expansion. The resources include materials to help teach challenging vocabulary words in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and build your students’ vocabulary knowledge. The materials provide opportunities for differentiation to suit the needs of the classroom.

Anticipation Guide (Bonus Material): The anticipation guide will help generate excitement around a study of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The activity will aid students’ comprehension by generating students' thinking about the novel’s themes.

Instructional Resources (Bonus Material): The 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)

PLEASE NOTE: 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)