Description

Our Maniac Magee Unit Teaching Package has 285+ pages and slides of engaging activities. Students will enjoy the rigor and creativity in these standards-aligned resources built from best practices.

TEXT: MANIAC MAGEE by Jerry Spinelli
LEVEL: 4th-8th
TOTAL: 285+ slides/pages
→ Pacing Guide and Answer Keys included

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Save $$$ and buy the bundle. → → → Print Version → → → Digital-only Version (coming soon…) → → → Combo Version (coming soon…)

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LITERATURE PLAN CONTENTS:
→ Suggested timeline of how a teacher could plan out the unit.
→ Detailed explanations of the goals of each activity and how to conduct the activities in the classroom.
→ Meets Common Core Standards
→ Easy to differentiate for different learning levels: Honors, 2nd language learners, and Sped

★ Pre-reading Bias Intro Activity
– answer thematic questions to get students thinking about the novel
– 12-page/slide engaging activity
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2

★ Google Earth Introduction Tour (17 Locations)
– West Hector Street, East Hector Street, Elmwood Park Zoo, and Bridgeport …they even get to see a 3D view of the train station where Maniac races the train every week down the trail rail. It’s rockin awesome.
– 17-location 3D tour across Pennsylvania
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9

★ Plot Chart Organizer Diagram Arc
– organize the 6 parts of the plot
– 1-page organizer
– suggested answer key included
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2

★ Conflict Graphic Organizer – 6 Types of Conflict
– Students analyze the 6 different types of conflict in stories
– 2-page organizer
– suggested answer key included
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2

★ Characters Organizer
– analyze the main characters using novel quotes
– 4-page organizer
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3

★ Figurative Language Instructional PowerPoint
– We set out to make the most helpful, most compelling, most graphically attractive teaching resource for you to introduce your learners to all the various figurative language. This 70+ slide
PowerPoint will help you introduce how every many you need to teach your level of learners.
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7

★ Figurative Language Activity
– analyze and complete 57 figures of speech specific to the novel
– 10-page bundle (3 parts)
– Similes vs. Metaphors
– Figurative Language Analysis
– Similes, Metaphors, Idioms, Hyperboles, Analogies, Personification, Onomatopoeia, Symbol, Allusion
– answer keys included
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7

★ Grammar – Commas in a Series
– Using examples from the novel, students will study commas used in a series (list). They will learn to locate the lists in the sentences and use appropriate commas.
– 1-page activity practicing the commas in a series using examples
– answer keys included
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2

★ Grammar – Commas w/ Introductory Elements
– Using examples from the novel, students will study commas used with introductory elements at the beginnings of sentences. They will learn to locate the introductory elements in the sentences and use appropriate commas.
– 1-page activity practicing the commas w/ introductory elements using examples
– answer keys included
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2

★ Grammar – Commas w/ Direct Address
– Using examples from the novel, students will study commas used with direct address. They will learn to locate direct address in the sentences and use appropriate commas.
– 1-page activity practicing the commas w/ introductory elements using examples
– answer keys included
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2

★ Grammar – Prepositions
– Using examples from the novel, students will locate prepositions and prepositional phrases in the sentences, and they will practice using the appropriate preposition for the meaning of the
sentence.
– 1-page activity practicing prepositions
– answer keys included
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1

★ Grammar – Conjunctions and Interjections
– Using examples from the novel, students will study conjunctions (coordinating, subordinating, and correlative) and interjections. They will learn to locate the various conjunctions and interjections in the sentences.
– 2-page activity practicing conjunctions (coordinating, subordinating, and correlative) and interjections
– answer keys included
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1

★ Journal – Quickwrite Writing Prompts – PowerPoint
– 1/2 writing assignments to spur much deeper conversational thinking
– 42-slide engaging PowerPoint
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1

★ 13 Comprehension Pop Quizzes
– a 5-question pop quiz per chapter
* 29-slides of PowerPoint Quizzes
* 26-pages of Printable Quizzes
– The purpose of these is so students who read the chapters recently would ace the quiz and students who didn’t read recently would not do well.
– answer keys included
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.10

★ Vocabulary List and Quiz Assessment
– 75 vocabulary words from the novel
– five 15-question lists & quizzes
– 15-page bundle includes list of words, quiz, and answer keys
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4

★ Children’s Crusade Historical Nonfiction
– When page 13 & 29 rolls around, we learn about a book that Amanda Beale lends to Maniac Magee for him to read. The topic is The Children’s Crusade, which ends up super interesting to Maniac. This activity will lead students to read some information about The Children’s Crusade in which a youth led 30,000 people across Europe on a journey to the Holy Land to try to convert the Muslims and reclaim Jerusalem. Students will learn what The Children’s Crusade is, what it was for, how it failed epically, and how Maniac might be on a crusade of his own. A great activity to engage them during the reading journey.
– 2-page activity
– URLs included for supplementary resources
– suggested answer key included
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2,3,6,7

★ Homeless Youths Nonfiction
– Any time after your students have read chapter 28, this activity will lead students to read some information and assess a video about the homeless youths in the United States. Students will learn about the number of youths, the reasons they end up on the streets, and the risks on their lives. A great activity to engage them during the reading journey.
– 3-page activity
– URLs included for supplementary resources
– suggested answer key included
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2,3,6,7

★ Little Engine that Could Literary Connection
– This activity will lead learners to analyze the meaning of this classic picture book and its significance in the story for Earl and Maniac. Learners will watch or read the picture book, then answer 10 questions to get them think deeper about the picture book and how it applies to Earl’s story.
– 2-page assignment
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1,3

★ Myth Creation Contest Activity
– After reading the legend of Cobble’s Knot and what happens with it, learners will engage in a creative writing contest. They will think about something on their school campus or in their town and make a tall tale myth about it, a legend about its history and fame. The best myths will include reality, exaggeration, and humorous awe in the details.
– 1-page assignment
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1,3

★ Two Mills Times Newspaper Design Activity
– Chapter 19 mentions their town newspaper, The Two Mills Times, and its influence on their small town. After reading chapter 19, learners will design a front page of the Two Mills Times newspaper. Using details from the story, they will write the stories, create the interesting headlines, even take pictures … whatever you need to do to create a compelling front page. Use real details, emotions, and creativity to create a quality newspaper page that readers are interested to read.
– 1-page assignment
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1,3

★ Man Who Struck Out Willie Mays Creative Writing Activity
– Maniac and Grayson enjoy an amazing moment at the buffalo pen when they celebrate Christmas by giving each other gifts. Maniac gives Grayson a book he wrote himself entitled The Man Who Struck Out Willie Mays (see chapter 25 for the whole story). After reading chapter 31, learners will write this story. Tell it the way you think Jeffrey Magee would have told it. Use the appropriate details from the story about Grayson’s life and what baseball was like at the time. Maybe even do a little Willie Mays and minor league baseball research. Whatever you need to do, use your
creativity to tell a great version of the story. The best stories will include reality, history, and creativity in the details and emotions.
– 1-page assignment
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1,3

★ Life Story of an Old Person Memoir Activity
– Maniac and Grayson develop a relationship across generational lines. During their times together, Grayson tells Maniac a lot of stories from his life. Learners will interview an older person from their lives. It is best if they are in an ongoing relationship with the older person. Listen to a few stories from their life about interesting times, particularly times that hold a deep memory like when Grayson’s teacher said he’d never be able to read anything or when he struck out Willie Mays. Then tell the story, using real detail, emotion, and creativity to tell a quality story that readers are
interested to read.
– 1-page assignment
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1,3

★ Essay and Speech
– 3 response to literature essay options for students to choose from; optional delivery of essay as a speech
– Includes essay topics and speech grading rubrics
– 6-page bundle
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1,3

★ Movie vs. Novel Comparison
– 2-page organizer
– Students compare & contrast the movie and novel
– CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7
*** 285+ pages / slides total ***
Enjoy! And remember, if Maniac can wave at people, so can we!

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OTHER MANIAC MAGEE LEGENDS
→ Digital 1:1 Complete Unit (coming soon…)
→ For-Print Complete Unit
→ Digital-Print Combo Unit (coming soon…)

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