The Westing Game

The smell of Summer is in the air!

I can't believe my first year of teaching is almost over! My students and I have learned so much this year! Keeping focused until the last days of school is hard on any child. Therefore, I though a fun mystery would keep their attention and it has! We started the Westing Game last week and they are loving it. A few students already asked if they could check it out at the library and I said no. I love that they are interested in the read aloud. 

To help keep everyone accountable I assigned each child a character to follow. There are numerous main characters in the book. Their responsibility is to list physical characteristics along with character traits. Each group is given a stack of sticky notes and at the end of the read are able to add them to their person on the anchor charts. Along with character analysis the students are held accountable with central questions throughout each chapter. Once we complete a chapter we reflect on what we learned and answer a central question. 

Since we are already finishing up the 4th chapter I though they had learned enough to give a good description of some of the characters. As a quick response I requested the students to complete a character analysis on one of the characters they have read about so far. They needed enough information to be able to give a good "sketch" of the physical characteristics along with personality traits.  I was highly impressed with their abilities. 

Angela Wexler

Barney Northup