THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
by Mark Twain
A Teaching Unit for 5th or 6th Grades
in an Inclusive Setting
This document is a layered curriculum project designed by Mejji Smith, 5th grade Language Arts
regular and GT, Patricia Sanguinetti,5th grade Resource, and Sue Tuttle, Life Skills, at Arlon
Seay Intermediate School (San Antonio, TX). It is designed for the inclusive classroom with
student abilities ranging from life skills to gifted and talented.
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
By Mark Twain
(Regular and GT)
Completed in class and at home during the weeks of March 18th and 25th.
No other work will be required in language arts during this time. Regular library time will be observed.
Last day to turn in Tom Sawyer unit without losing points will be April 12, 2002.
Required- 50 pts. Read the book in class while following along with the taped reading. You may also read the book at home. Each day during the last 20 minutes of class, I will be asking questions in class about what we have read. These will be basic questions about setting, characters, and plot. Not being able to answer these questions will affect the 50 pts.
Special Note for All Written Assignments: spelling, capitalization, punctuation and grammar count! I expect you to edit your work.
Students will have use of classroom and lab computers and may use computers at home also; however, computer use is NOT required.
Section I-C Level
Choose any of these assignments for a maximum of 50pts. You may, at times, choose to work with a partner on any assignment followed by a P, but all assignments must be defended orally by each student.
1. Illustrate a scene from the book, using paint, markers, colored pencils, pen and ink, charcoal, colored paper, photographic collage, etc. (10pts)
2. Find song lyrics from any artist that you feel define one of the characters in the book. Copy the lyrics and in a paragraph describe why you think these lyrics define that particular character. P (15pts)
3. Use the Internet to find the information needed to answer the questions on the Mississippi River worksheet. P (15pts) http://www.oldmanriver.com/index.html
4. Use the Internet to find information needed to answer the questions on the Mark Twain worksheet. P (15pts)
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Tower/6326/index.htm
http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/scrapbook/01_tom_sawyer/index.html
5. Create your own dictionary with words from the story. Include pronunciation guide, definitions, and if given, origin of the word. (2pts each; 30pts maximum) Hint: find out about online dictionaries.
6. Choose 15-20 interesting or unfamiliar words from the novel and make flash cards with their definitions. Learn their meanings. (10pts)
7. Act out a scene from the book. You may work with one or more partners. Sign up for day for presentation with Mrs. Smith. P (10pts)
8. Choose one character and write a poem about that character. (10pts)
9. Create original music that could serve as a soundtrack for the novel. Record your music and provide a tape for the teacher to listen to. (20 pts)
10. Create a diorama of a scene from the novel. P (15pts)
11. Create puppets of 2 major and 2 minor characters. P (15pts)
12. Act out a scene with your puppets. Sign up for a day for presentation with Mrs. Smith. P (10pts)
13. Create a poster advertising the book, or a new cover for the book. (10pts)
14. Choose your favorite part of the book. In a paragraph write a description of this part of the book and tell why it is your favorite. (15pts)
15. Create a crossword puzzle using clues and words from the story. Use at least 15 words. P (15pts) Hint: find out about the crossword puzzle site on the computer.
16. Create a Power Point book report. Include title, author, major characters, setting and a brief summary of the plot. P (15pts)
1. Complete the Active Reading worksheet on Chapters 1-10. (15 pts)
2. Complete the Responding worksheet on Chapters 1-10. Use complete
sentences, except where it says to list. (20pts)
1 Complete the Active Reading worksheet for Chapters 11-24. (15 pts)
2 Complete the Responding worksheet for Chapters 11-24. Use complete
sentences. (20pts)
You must complete C Level before going to B Level
Section II - B level Choose one -25 pts
1. Write a one to two page report on Mark Twain. Use the Internet or an encyclopedia to find out important facts about the author. Students may not select this if #4 from C Level has been also selected.
2. Rewrite the ending of the novel. Include dialogue and description. Do you like your ending better or the book's original ending?
3. Write a one to two page narrative of a time you were lost or frightened.
4. Write a one to two page description of the favorite character from the book and tell why you find him or her interesting.
5. Complete the Responding worksheet for the end of the novel. Use formal English. (At least
one-page)
You must complete B Level before going to A Level.
Section III- A level Choose one-25pts.
1 Find out what "Old Wives Tales" are. Make a list of Old Wives Tales from the book. What are some other terms that have the same meanings as Old Wives Tales? Make a scrapbook of at least 15 Old Wives Tales that you have collected from other sources. Be sure to illustrate your book and have a bibliography of sources as the last page.
2 Make a list of "Sayings" like "Put him to rights" or "It won't wash" from the book. Make a scrapbook of Twenty Sayings from Tom Sawyer. Be sure to illustrate and list sayings and page number where you found saying in the book.
3 Create a newspaper front page for the book. Study a real newspaper front page. You will need stories and headlines from the novel, an interview with an important character about the headline event, an advice column from the book, and riverboat news. This will require some research into Pre-Civil War American and the Riverboats. Make sure you include a bibliography with your paper. http://www.coe.wvu.edu/~venable/asa/carl1.htm
http://www.steamboats.com/
1 Create a Big Book Alphabet Book-25 sentences A-Z that "capture" the book and its characters,
plot, lessons to be learned, and illustrated. Try to use words from the book!
Important Note: Point values listed are maximum and are given on the basis of effort shown
throughout student work. Work poorly done will not receive maximum points.
50-99pts=D below 70
100+-pts=C 70-79
125+pts=B 80-89 (Editing is a factor in receiving pts)
150pts=A 90-100 (Editing is a factor in receiving pts)
Parent Signature:__________________________________
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
By Mark Twain
(Resource-2+ grade levels below)
Completed in class and at home during the weeks of March 18th and 25th.
No other work will be required in language arts during this time. Regular library time will be observed.
Last day to turn in Tom Sawyer unit without losing points will be April 12, 2002.
Required- 50 pts. Read the book in class while following along with the taped reading. You may also read the book at home.
Special Note for All Written Assignments: spelling, capitalization, punctuation and grammar count! I expect you to edit your work.
Students will have use of classroom and lab computers and may use computers at home also; however, computer use is NOT required.
Section I C Level
Choose any of these assignments for a maximum of 50pts. You may, at times, choose to work with a partner on any assignment followed by a P, but all assignments must be defended orally by each student.
1. Illustrate a scene from the book, using paint, markers, colored pencils, pen and ink, charcoal, colored paper, photographic collage, etc. (10pts)
2. Find song lyrics from any artist that you feel define one of the characters in the book. Copy the lyrics and in a paragraph describe why you think these lyrics define that particular character. P (15pts)
3. Use the Internet to find the information needed to answer the questions on the Mississippi River worksheet. P (15pts) http://www.oldmanriver.com/index.html
www.ajkids.com
4. Use the Internet to find information needed to answer the questions on Mark Twain worksheet. P (15pts) http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/scrapbook/01_tom_sawyer/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Tower/6326/index.htm
www.geocities.com/swaisman
5. Create your own dictionary with words from the story. Include pronunciation guide, definitions, and if given, origin of the word. (3pts each; 30pts maximum) Go to http://www.m-w.com/dictionary
6. Choose 10 interesting or unfamiliar words from the novel and make flash cards with their definitions. Learn their meanings. (10pts)
7. Act out a scene from the book. You may work with one or more partners. Sign up for day for presentation with Mrs. Smith. P (10pts)
8. Choose one character and write a poem about that character. (10pts)
9. Create original music that could serve as a soundtrack for the novel. Record your music and provide a tape for the teacher to listen to. (20 pts)
10. Create a diorama of a scene from the novel. P (15pts)
11. Create puppets of 2 major and 2 minor characters. P (15pts)
12. Act out a scene with your puppets. Sign up for a day for presentation with Mrs. Smith. P (10pts)
13. Create a poster advertising the book, or a new cover for the book. (10pts)
14. Choose your favorite part of the book. In a paragraph write a description of this part of the book and tell why it is your favorite. (15pts)
15. Create a crossword puzzle using clues and words from the story. Use at least 10 words. P
(15pts) Go to http://www.puzzlemaker.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.html
16. Create a Power Point book report. Include title, author, major characters, setting and a brief
summary of the plot. P (15pts)
Section II A/B Level 50 pts
Complete "Life in America during the 1800's" Webquest. Get a story sheet from Mrs. Sanquinetti. You will rewrite the story as though the setting is the 1800's. You will have to change certain things in the story in order that the story will make sense. You will create a Power Point presentation for the class. Be sure to add pictures and music to your presentation.
1. Go to http://asterix.ednet.lsu.edu/~edtech/webquest/laRural.htm
and find out about rural life in Louisiana.
2. Also go to http://www.pbs.org/stantonanthony/sa_kids/index.html and http://www.pbs.org/americanrootsmusic/index.html or http://users.erols.com/kfraser/music/popular.html -click on the music sign to hear music
3. Rewrite your story, edit it and type it in Power Point.
4. Add your pictures and music
50-99pts=D below 70
100+-pts=C 70-79
125+pts=B 80-89 (Editing is a factor in receiving pts)
150pts=A 90-100 (Editing is a factor in receiving pts)
Parent Signature:_______________________________________________
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
By Mark Twain
(Life Skills)
Completed in class and at home during the weeks of March 18th and 25th.
Regular library time will be observed.
Last day to turn in Tom Sawyer unit will be April 12, 2002.
Section I Required- 50 pts. We will read the book in class while following along with the taped reading. You may also read the book at home.
Special Note for All Written Assignments:
All written work should have proper capitalization, upper and lower case letters and proper spacing between words. Students will have use of classroom and lab computers and may use computers at home also; however, computer use is NOT required.
Section II
Choose any of these assignments for a maximum of 50pts. You may, at times, choose to work
with a partner on any assignment followed by a P.
1. Illustrate a scene from the book, using paint, markers, colored pencils, pen and ink, charcoal, colored paper, photographic collage, etc. (10pts)
2. Use the Internet to find the information needed to answer the questions on the Mississippi
River worksheet. (15pts) www.ajkids.com
3. Use the Internet to find information needed to answer the questions on Mark Twain worksheet.
P (15pts) www.geocities.com/swaisman
4. Create your own dictionary with 4 words from the story, including definitions. (6pts each; 24pts maximum) Hint: find out about online dictionaries. http://www.m-w.com/dictionary
5. Choose 5-6 interesting or unfamiliar words from the novel and make flash cards with their definitions. Learn their meanings. (10pts)
6. Act out a scene from the book. You may choose someone from our class to assist you. P (10pts)
7. Create a diorama of a scene from the novel. P (15pts)
8. Create a puppet of a major character. P (15pts)
9. Act out a scene with your puppet. Presentation will be in our class. P (10pts)
10. Create a poster advertising the book, or a new cover for the book. (10pts)
11. Choose and describe your favorite part of the book to the teacher. 15pts)
12. Create a Power Point page. Include title, author, major characters and setting. P (15pts)
50-69 pts=Unsatisfactory
70-84 pts=Met minimum requirements
85-99 pts=Satisfactory
100+-pts=Outstanding Performance
Parent Signature:_______________________________________________
Materials needed for Tom Sawyer unit.
Regular classes will listen to a tape of the unabridged The Adventures of Tom Sawyer while reading the classics edition published by Scholastic Inc.
Resource and life skill students will listen to part of the original version and all of the Dover
Children's Thrift Classics Tom Sawyer. The Dover edition will be available to all students who
need to refer to it while completing the projects.
We also use worksheets from the Glencoe Literary Library Study Guide for
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Glencoe is a division of McGraw-Hill. You can find this guide
on the Internet http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/tomsawyer.html
The worksheets on the Mississippi River and Mark Twain are teacher developed for Regular/GT,
Resource, and Life Skills.
The site for life in America in the 1800's comes from a Webquest designed by Susan Crowther
and Judy Ordoyne. Some of the links were dead, so we added more for this unit.
The writers also wish to thanks Laurie Hadon whose literature units on Help4Teachers.com were the seeds for this "plant".