The Westing Game Resource Set
Lesson Plans • Resources • Activities
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The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
A modern classic and the winner of the Newberry Medal, The Westing Game is an excellent novel to introduce readers to the mystery genre. The story is clever enough that readers will have to pay careful attention and so engaging they will not want to put it down.
Readers will learn to set a purpose for reading and understand how the chapters in a mystery novel fit together. The Book Club lesson plans draw student attention to the overall structure of clues and the author’s use of suspense and foreshadowing. Students will also learn to develop a list of suspects and find evidence to support their solution to the mystery.
Teach with The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Get everything you need to run a successful Book Club using The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
- Interactive Lesson Plan for 6 Book Club Meetings Focusing on Mystery Genre
- Chapter by Chapter Discussion Guide
- Chapter by Chapter Vocabulary Guide
- Book Club Calendar
- Conversation Prompts
- Expectations for Book Club Anchor Chart
- Student Reference Sheet
- Student Self-Evaluation Forms
- Running Record Assessment Tool
- Student Reading Response Guide
- Comprehension Assessment Rubric
- Common Core State Standard Assessment
Common Core Alignment
Take a Closer Look at the
The Westing Game Resource Set
Instructional Overview
The instructional overview includes instructional background for mysteries, instructional objectives for each of the Book Club meetings, and a list of the materials and preparation necessary to the The Westing Game Book Club.
Book Club Management Resources
The management resources include a Book Club Calendar, conversation prompts, Student Self-Evaluation forms, Reading Response Board (with optional Common Core alignment), and an Expectations for Book Club anchor chart.
Meeting #1: Introduce the Elements of The Mystery Genre
Escape into the mystery genre with The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. This Book Club focuses on understanding the text structure of mysteries so that students can find clues, examine suspects, and successfully solve the puzzle.
Meeting #2: Identifying the Clues in The Mystery
In order to solve the mystery in The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, readers will have to identify and track the clues the author presents. The use of a graphic organizer will help students stay focused on clues as they read.
Meeting #3: How the Author Creates Suspense in The Mystery
One of the key features of a mystery like Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game is suspense for the reader. This meeting focuses on examining how the author creates suspense through applying pressure, creating complications, and being unpredictable.
Meeting #4: Finding Foreshadowing in The Mystery
Foreshadowing is another technique often used in the mystery genre. Author Ellen Raskin uses foreshadowing in The Westing Game to hint at things that will become important to the story later on. Paying close attention to these clues will help readers be able to solve the puzzle.
Meeting #5: Identifying the Suspects in The Mystery
When trying to solve the puzzle in The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, it is important to notice who the possible suspects are. Keeping a list of the characters that have the means and opportunity to commit the crime will help readers stay focused.
Meeting #6: Solving the Puzzle
This final The Westing Game Book Club meeting shows students how to use the important details of the story to solve the puzzle. Can you correctly guess, "who done it?"
The Westing Game Focus Assessment and Rubric
Use this six-question assessment to determine whether or not students understand the key concepts associated with mystery genre.
The Westing Game Common Core Assessment
This 9 question Common Core aligned assessment can be used to determine students' overall comprehension of The Westing Game and their mastery of the Common Core State Standards.
The Westing Game Common Core Alignment
List of the Common Core State Standards addressed by The Westing Game Book Club Resource Set.
The Westing Game Running Record
Use this "done for you" Running Record to assess oral reading fluency of The Westing Game. Track meaning, structure, and visual accuracy using the first 100 words of the text to determine whether or not this book is a good fit for the readers in your classroom.
Student Resources in Spanish
This set of Spanish student facing resources includes Book Club Management Resources for use with The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. These resources are intended to be used with the lesson plans included in the Resource Set for this book.
The Westing Game Vocabulary Connections
Before your students can fully comprehend and enjoy The Westing Game, it’s helpful to introduce words that might be new to readers. Either download The Westing Game Super Pack or this individual Vocabulary Builder for resources and activities that support Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary growth through fun and productive interactions with new words.
Common Core Alignment:
L.5.4a L.5.5 L.5.6
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