Grab the Hearts in Your Classroom With this Novel

Title: Because of Winn Dixie

Author: Kate DiCamillo 

Copyright: 2000 

Publisher: Candlewick Press 

Guided Reading Level: R  

Genre: Fiction

This book has received:

A Newbery Honor

Summary: This incredible novel will melt the hearts of every reader, not just serious dog lovers. The novel is about a young adventurous ten year old girl named Opal trying to find something to do in the new town her and her father moved to. Opal is very lonely, as her father is always busy preaching and as she misses her mom who left her when she was younger. Opal's summer quickly becomes more eventful when Opal meets a lovable dog at a store named Winn-Dixie. Since Opal discovered the dog at this store, she decided to name him Winn-Dixie and take him home! Opal and her father quickly fall in love with Winn-Dixie, and he ends up helping Opal make the best of her summer - as she makes friends, develops an enhanced love for reading, and learns some important life lessons. This book will give readers that warm and fuzzy feeling while reading! Author Kate DiCamillo really knows how to grab the hearts of readers. 

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud

Key Vocabulary:

• Constellations
• Hollered
• Melancholy 
• Missionary
• Peculiar
• Potluck
• Sermon

Electronic Resources:

• This book trailer is excellent for showing students before the novel is read together.

• Create a wordle like the one I have created below. Be creative! The wordle can range from anything from key characters, main ideas, key vocabulary or a mixture of everything. This can also be used as a *during* or *after* comprehension strategy.  Enjoy!

Increasing Comprehension Skills:

Before Read Aloud:

• Create a word wall with this list of key vocabulary words. Refer to the words throughout reading and incorporate the words in morning warm-up activities. Make sure students also complete a word knowledge rating chart for each vocabulary word before the novel is read.

• Show students the cover of the novel and have the entire class brainstorm ideas about what might be some key points in the novel. Point out the trailer park. Also, point out the Newbery Honor medal. This should be a relatively quick activity. 

During Read Aloud:

• Point out words in the text while reading the text, and use a Word Detective sheet for vocabulary homework.

• Make sure students create Text to Text, Text to Self, and/or Text to World connections. This will help them understand the main characters more, and many students will be able to relate to Opal. Have them make a chart in their journals, or create a chart as a group.  Here is website with some great connection ideas:

         Making Connections

After Read Aloud:

• Have students create a word collage. The wordle activity can be substituted for this if possible! Have them find magazines and cut out pictures of anything that represents these seven key vocabulary words, and/or key concepts within the novel. One piece of white printer paper will be needed for each word, and have them make a poster gluing the seven pieces of white printer paper to the poster board. Here is what you will need:
•  20 Poster Boards (one for each student)
• 140 Sheets of White Printer Paper (seven for each student)
• Magazines
• Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Markers/Colored Pencils/Crayons

• I would either give both summative assessment on vocabulary - either a multiple choice test or a fill in the blank test with a word bank -  and I would have them go up to the front of the classroom and play a vocabulary game. The game could go something like this: 

Rules:

1.  Give each student a note card which holds a typed definition of a word on it. Cards should look like this:

  I have the first card. The definition I have is: a meal for a large group, intended to be shared.

2. The next student shouts out the definition of the word, so in this case, a student would have a card that reads, "I have the word potluck, the definition I have is: to shout or yell".

3. The class then continues until all cards are read. If a student misses or confuses a vocabulary word, I would ask the class to help the student, I would not help the student. This is a constructivist approach, something needed more often in the classroom within our educational system.

Writing Activity:
It would be an awesome idea if students wrote about their favorite pet, or a favorite animal of their choice if they have never owned a pet. Students can write a short essay about their favorite memory with their pet, and relate their story to Opal and Winn-Dixie. For the students who do not have a pet, they can write about what kind of things they would do if they owned their favorite animal, and also relate that back to Opal and Winn-Dixie. Students will love making connections with this activity, and it will also benefit comprehension skills. 

Tiffany Tidbit - This novel is by far my personal favorite children's novel. I own an adorable 100 pound Golden Retriever, and I can certainly resonate with Opal's emotions when Winn Dixie was lost. My dog took off one day and ran up the street because he saw best friend (a Black-Lab) and my father took off after him and found the two chasing each other in a yard. My heart was pounding the entire time! My dog is really my best friend - just like the old saying.  He never leaves my side and he sleeps next to me on my bed. Needless to say, the novel pulled at my heartstrings becuase my dog reminded me of Winn-Dixie a bit.  Even though Winn-Dixie does not die (spoiler), there are parts of the novel that can really draw some emotions from readers. The story line is amazing and is filled with love in many ways. Every single student will love this book...and teachers and parents also! No wonder DiCamillo received a Newbery Honor for this novel! :)