The Tiger Rising Complete Novel Study: Over 80 Pages of Activities and Quizzes

Kate DiCamillo’s The Tiger Rising is one of my favorite books to read with students. The book is thematically rich, and DiCamillo’s language is exquisite. While creating this novel unit, my goal was to create activities that would assist students in delving into deep understanding of this story, and I hope their reading of this novel is a meaningful experience—both academically and personally. This product includes:

Lesson Plans and Reading Notes
-Brief lesson plans are included to present the order which the teacher might like to use the activities, and to provide ideas for what reading concepts might be taught alongside certain sections of the book.
-Nine pages of reading notes provide a summary of each section of the book and list figurative language, relevant vocabulary, and discussion questions.

Discussion Materials
-Chapter guide which includes discussion questions
-Suitcase visual and graphic organizer: Kate DiCamillo uses the extended metaphor of Rob’s open/closed suitcase to convey which emotions he is able to acknowledge and which emotions he packs away. The product includes a suitcase visual to help students discuss the book using this metaphor, as well as graphic organizer which they use to determine if Rob’s suitcase is open or closed in each chapter.

Vocabulary Materials
-15 Vocabulary Cards:These graphic organizers provide space for students to define the word, read the word in a sentence, use the word in an original sentence and illustrate the word. Blank graphic organizers included as well.
-Ideas for vocabulary extensions.

Figurative Language
-Graphic organizer: Students recored examples of figurative language that they find in the text. Students identify the type of figurative language, the key words and its literal meaning.
-Figurative language sort: 40 cards that include excepts from the text. Students sort the cards into four figurative language categories (metaphor, hyperbole, personification). Answer key included.

Character Analysis
-Rob graphic organizer: Two graphic organizers that focus on Rob chapters 1-15 then Rob in chapters 16-30. After reading the book students compare/contrast the two “versions” of Rob.
-Sistine graphic organizer: Two graphic organizers that focus on Sistine chapters 1-15 then Sistine in chapters 16-30. After reading the book students compare/contrast the two “versions” of Sistine.

Response Guides
11 pages of open-ended questions for each chapter of the book. These are not recall questions. They ask students to think critically about character behavior, intentions and motivations. They also ask students to examine the writer’s craft.

Quizzes
Six quizzes that each cover five chapters of the book. These quizzes are designed to assess student comprehension, not memory. The questions and multiple-choice answers are modeled after those found on state assessments. These quizzes are challenging. Keys included.

Resources for Background Information
A list of easily-accessible information on subjects such as the Sistine Chapel and Whittling that come up in the book.