Because of Winn-Dixie
by Kate DiCamillo
Lesson plans and teaching resources
Because of Winn-Dixie
Comprehension questions, organized by chapters, with answers included at the end. Adobe Reader required for access; 15 pages.
Because of Winn-Dixie
Seven pages of literacy activities, including an author interview, vocabulary, and interdisciplinary connections. Access to this document requires Adobe Reader or compatible application.
Because of Winn-Dixie
Summary and 10 discussion questions.
Because of Winn-Dixie
15 discussion questions.
Because of Winn-Dixie
by Kate Dicamillo
Summary and a variety of activities, including a printable crossword puzzle and chapter quizzes. This site is extensive.
Because of Winn-Dixie
By reading and rereading the passage closely and focusing their reading through a series of questions and discussion about the text, students will identify how and why the three main characters became friends. Designed for grade 3. 12 pages; word processor required.
Because of Winn-Dixie
Short author biography, activities for before, during, and after reading, discussion questions and vocabulary words, cross-curricular activities, writing tasks. 7 pages; Adobe Reader required.
Because of Winn-Dixie
Scrapbook Activity
Students analyze the story's main characters by creating online scrapbooks in which they identify character traits and use textual evidence to support their ideas.
A Character's Decalogue
The writer first writes a personal decalogue (a list of ten personal beliefs) about something important to him/her. The writer then creates a decalogue for a fictional character they will invent and envision. The final product of this assignment is a short story where their character reveals his/her decalogue to another character through dialogue. This lesson focuses on voice and organization.
Characters in
Because of Winn-Dixie
: Making Lists of 10
Working as a class, students match items from the list of ten things describing Opal's mother in the novel with the basic elements of characterization. Next, they work in small groups to go through the same process with the list of ten things describing Winn-Dixie. Students then create an individual list describing another character in the book. Finally, students extend this process to another book they are reading by recording ten characteristics on a printable bookmark, ranking those characteristics in terms of importance, and then publishing them in a flip book format.
Creating Literary Texts - Finding Homes for Pets
Students discuss their own experiences regarding animal adoption. Then they view a 5-minute video segment about a photographer who photographs dogs at an animal shelter to help find homes for them. Finally, they write and share a picture book to express what they learned and to persuade readers to adopt the pet.
Teacher Guide to
Because of Winn Dixie
by Kate DiCamillo
How might students use storyboards to demonstrate and to extend their learning? Check the resources here. Includes essential questions, plot summary, character analysis, compare and contrast, vocabulary, more.
Note: Storyboard That helps sponsor this site.
Writing task for
Because of Winn-Dixie
Includes prompt, graphic organizer, student handouts, and model essay. Emphasis is on providing evidence to support an inference. 6 pages; word processor required.