The Alchemist LitPlan Novel Study Unit, Activities, Questions, Test

This LitPlan Novel Study for The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a comprehensive foundation of ready-to-use materials that will ensure your students get the most out of their The Alchemist novel study.

My The Alchemist LitPlan Novel Study now includes CCSS Alignments for grades 9-12!

Practical, flexible, and standards-based with step-by-step plans for the whole novel unit, my LitPlan Novel Study is especially helpful to new teachers or veteran teachers teaching The Alchemist for the first time.

19 Step-by-Step Daily Lessons guide you and your students through this novel study. Assignments and Activities are planned for each day of the novel unit.

Vocabulary Worksheets that focus on meaning in context and dictionary definitions go with each reading assignment.

Comprehension Questions and Quizzes follow the reading assignments, so you know if your students are keeping up with their reading and if they are understanding what they are reading.

Writing Assignments are sprinkled throughout this novel study for The Alchemist, too! Detailed writing assignment sheets guide students' writing.

• The first is to inform: students will read a companion piece related to the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life and research alchemical concepts. They will give a presentation on their companion pieces and relate to The Alchemist. 
• The second is creative: students will create character journals. 
• The third is to persuade: students will select a quotation and write a persuasive essay about how the quotation relates to ideas presented in The Alchemist.

One lesson is also devoted to Leveled Critical Thinking Questions:

• Interpretive Questions require students to simply interpret facts that are given.
• Critical Questions require students to think deeply to develop answers that go beyond what is in the text.
• Personal Response Questions have no right or wrong answer; students formulate and give their own opinions.

A Nonfiction Reading Assignment is incorporated into this novel study unit for The Alchemist. Students are required to read at least one nonfiction article and view at least one nonfiction video related to the story and complete a short report form analyzing their sources.

A Variety of Additional Activities are woven into this The Alchemist novel study:

• Character Analysis
• Map of Santiago’s Journey
• Biblical Allusions
• Oral Reading Evaluation
• Writing Conferences
• Oral Reports

This unit includes a variety of Graphic Organizers to assist students in the writing assignments. These may also be used to incorporate Mini Lessons into the Daily Lessons.

A class period is devoted to Vocabulary Review. Review puzzles, games, and worksheets are provided.

One class period is devoted to Whole-Unit Review in preparation for the unit test. Review puzzles, games, and worksheets are provided.

Five Different Unit Tests are provided on different levels and to use for make-up tests or tests for different classes if you're teaching the book to more than one class at a time. Two are multiple-choice, two are short-answer, and one is advanced short-answer. You can mix-and-match test sections as well.

Evaluation Rubrics are included for some activities.

A page of Bulletin Board Ideas is included.

A page of ideas for Extension Activities is included.

Answer Keys are provided for the short-answer comprehension questions, multiple choice quizzes, vocabulary worksheets, tests, and review materials.

FLEXIBILITY is a key property of this novel study unit for The Alchemist.

• It is formatted so that you can skip an activity I have planned and plug-in one of your own favorites if you want to.
• You can use all or just parts of this LitPlan.
• Written for whole-class use, but easily adaptable for:
  • independent study
  • small groups or lit circles
  • Homeschooling
  • tutoring

A teacher-favorite for years, hundreds of thousands of LitPlans (and Puzzle Packs!) have been used by tens of thousands of teachers in the USA, Canada, and overseas schools, providing reliable, high-quality, standards-based resources for teaching literature. If you want a solid foundation for teaching a work of literature, LitPlans have proved themselves worthy over years of use worldwide.

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A Note From Mary:

I am always available if you have questions or need help. Just send me a note via Q&A or to my email address (mcollins@tpet.com--no spam, please). I've been a "teacherpreneur" since 1989, long before TpT even existed. (Yes, I know; I'm old now! LoL) I loved being in the classroom, and I love doing Teacher's Pet Publications--helping teachers and their students.

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--Mary