Reading Enrichment Unit

1. TEACHER(S): LeAmber Brooks DATE(S): 10/10-17/2014
UNIT TITLE: Reading Enrichment Unit: Contemporary Young Adult
Fiction
Approximate # of days: 10
Lesson #1 Technology Integration:
Students were introduced to the reading enrichment unit by group discussion over what exactly cotemporary young adult fiction is, what it isn’t and
some of the themes that may surround it. Students were then given the option of choosing (as a group) which book we would read and the book
discussion on. Students were able to choose between In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters and The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban. The
majority of the students chose In the Shadow of Blackbirds so that was what all members of the book club had to read. Students had five-seven days to
read the novel before the book talk was to be held the next Friday.
Activboard
Lesson #2
Technology Integration:
Students participated in a book talk about the novel, In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters. The following are questions that were discussed
during the book talk.
 What did you like about the novel?
 What didn’t you like?
 How could the novel have been better?
 If you were the author, how would you have changed the novel?
 What parallels can you draw between the war in 1918 and current events?
 Should Steven have been treated the way he was treated by his fellow soldiers and his family because of his actions when he was scared?
 Discuss the Spanish influenza epidemic and why everyone was so terrified of it in 1918. Could such an epidemic happen now? Why or why
not?
Students then took a 20 question quiz over the novel. See below. After taking the quiz, students practiced for the reading bowl using Quizlet.
Activboard
Quizlet Flash Cards
Lesson #3
Technology Integration:
After reading the novel and practicing questions via Quizlet, an online flashcard Web 2.0 tool, students debriefed as a group. Students completed a
grows and glows reflection survey (see below) to help guide future book talks.

2. Student Survey
Needs Improvement:
Was Ok:
Was Done Very Well:
In the survey above, explain what you thought needed improvement, was ok and what was done very well throughout the unit.

3. In the Shadow of Blackbirds Quiz
1. Who is the author?
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2. What is the protagonist's full name?
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3. Where did Mary Shelley move to?
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4. What was Stephen's nickname for Mary Shelly?
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5. What is Mr. Muse an anagram for?
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6. Why did Stephen leave for the army?
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7. Where does the Embers family live?
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8. How did Mary Shelley die the first time?
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9. Who was poisoning Stephen?
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10. Who or what was the black birds from Stephen's nightmares/hallucinations?
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11. Why was Stephen sent home from the army?
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4. 12. How did Mary Shelley find out that Stephen didn't die in battle?
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13. How did Julius say Stephen die?
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14. How did Mary Shelley die a second time?
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15. Why did Julius hurt Mary Shelley?
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16. What did Julius invite Mary Shelley and Aunt Eva to, so he could try and contact Stephen?
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17. I Do Lose Ink is an anagram for what?
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18. How tall was Aunt Eva's crucifix?
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19. How did Mary Shelley try to cure Aunt Eva?
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20. Where did Mary Shelley go to take notes to learn about what was troubling Stephen?
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