Because of Winn-Dixie

 Let’s Learn:  

• Table of Contents activity-   Identify the main idea in each chapter and come up with a creative title. Put all chapter titles into a Table of Contents. 
• Timeline of Events in the Story   Determine the 10-15 most important events in the novel. Create a timeline using those events. You may want to add a picture or symbol to represent the event. 

Let’s Explore/ Experience:  

• Visit an animal shelter or pet shop, discuss the animals and their needs. What could you do to help them?
• Character interview: Write at least 5 questions and answers for 4 different characters in the book. (also see ideas for multiple children)

Let’s Apply/ Make Connections: 

• Write a letter from Opal to her mother   In the letter, include some of the people Opal has met and how she is feeling about her new home, missing her mom and friends, and don’t forget to talk about Winn-Dixie! 
• Lessons Learned activity   The town of Naomi, Florida is full of eccentric, unique characters, and Opal learns a lot of good life lessons through each new encounter. Think of when Opal met each character, and for FOUR of the phrases below, give an example of how Opal learned this valuable lesson (ie: who did she meet and why did she learn this lesson)
• Don't judge others by appearances.
• Don't believe what other people say about a person.
• "Some people have a strange way of going about making friends."
• "You can't always judge people by the things they've done in their past."
• Sometimes people aren't friendly because they are holding a lot of sadness inside.
• Elderly people often have some of the best stories to tell.

Let’s Create:  

• Map of Naomi   Identify various places in the story (i.e., pet store, library, grocery store, church, Gloria Dump’s house) and create a “map” of the town. Use your imagination! (also see ideas for multiple children)
• Make a scrapbook that Opal may have made for the events of the summer. Try to include at least 6 events with drawings or pictures to represent the events. Decorate your scrapbook the way you think Opal would.  (also see ideas for multiple children)
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***For families with multiple children, cooperative learning can be used with the Map and Scrapbook activities. For the Character Interview activity, children may enjoy interviewing (and recording) each other as different characters.

If reading aloud to younger children, have them choose one character that they found interesting and describe them. They can also describe orally or in writing how Winn-Dixie came to live with Opal and how having a dog makes a difference for Opal.

Note:  Several ideas for this lesson came from www.thebestchildrensbooks.org !

Let’s Learn:  

• Timeline of events  Choose 4-5 events from the story to place on a timeline. Include who was involved and where it occurred. 
• Comparing Christmas story versions  Read the Christmas story in the Bible (Luke 2: 1-21; Matthew 2:1-12). Discuss how the Herdman children reacted to the story and what changes were suggested or made.

Let’s Explore/ Experience:  

• Watch the Movie   Make some hot cocoa and watch the movie version of the book. Afterwards, discuss how the movie was different from the book. 
• Attend a Christmas play  Attend a play put on by a local theater group or school. Discuss what is involved in the process, such as choosing cast members, memorizing lines, designing the scenery and costumes. 

Let’s Apply/ Make Connections: 

• Character Journal Entries  Choose a character from the story and write a journal entry that he/she would have written after the first play practice. Include thoughts about the upcoming play, the other cast members, and what their role will be in the play.  Then, write a second journal entry that your character would have written after the performance. How has he/she changed? What did he/she learn during the time working on the play?
• Understanding Backgrounds   The narrator describes the Herdman children as the worst kids in history, mentioning many “bad” things they have done. Discuss possible reasons for the children’s behavior, including home life and lack of supervision. Does knowing about their upbringing help you better understand their misbehavior? Do you think they could learn better behavior?

Let’s Create:  

• Pageant Scrapbook  Create a “scrapbook” that the cast may have put together at the end of the play. You could make drawings of the various scenes or find pictures to represent various events. Include “contributions” from at least 3 characters as part of the scrapbook.
• Create a Star   On the cover of the current version of the book, the angel is holding a star. Using craft items, design and create a “unique” star. Possible ideas include paper mache, modeling clay, paint, or fabric stars, 
• Put on a Play  Gather family and friends to put on a play. You could choose to act out the Christmas story or scenes from a favorite movie. You may even want to write your own play. 

 Let’s Learn:  

• Make a list of things you need to take care of a pet
• What animals would make good pets? What animals would not be good pets? Why not?  

Let’s Explore/ Experience: 

• Neighborhood walk to observe pets.
• Visit an animal shelter or pet shop. What kinds of pets did you see? Which was your favorite?

Let’s Apply/ Make Connections:  

• Ask family members about pets they had as children.

Let’s Create:

• Draw or color your favorite pet. Give your pet a name. 
• Make a collage of pets using pictures from magazines. 

Let’s Learn:  

• Life Cycle of a Spider   Learn about the four stages of a spider’s life: egg, egg sac, spiderling, and adult. For information, check out Life Cycle of a Spider | Smore Newsletters and various YouTube videos.

• Character Descriptions  Choose 4-5 characters from the story and write a paragraph describing them. Include their personality, what they like/don’t like, and at least one thing they do in the story.  

Let’s Explore/ Experience:  

• Web of Words  Draw a large spider web on a piece of poster board. As you read, add new or unusual words to the web. Look up their meanings and try to use your favorite words during conversation.

• Spider Web Scavenger Hunt  One morning, take your camera or phone and look around your house or yard for various types of spider webs. For more information about the main types of webs, see  Spider Web Scavenger .Hunt - Primary Theme Park.

• Watch the Movie  Grab some popcorn and watch the movie Charlotte’s Web. Afterwards, discuss how the movie was different from the book.

Let’s Apply/ Make Connections: 

• Choosing a Quote! Read over the quotes from the book below. Choose your favorite and write a short paragraph explaining what it means to you.

        “It’s not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.”

        “You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing.”

         “With the right words, you can change the world.”

         “Salutations is my fancy way of saying hello.”

         “Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.”

• Words Describing Others   Charlotte used words like “radiant” and ”terrific” to describe Wilbur. Identify words that could describe your family members or friends. (These words will be used in the Let’s Create section).

Let’s Create:  

• Spiderweb Words  Using the words you selected to describe your family/ friends, make sparkly spider webs as follows: Use a black Sharpie to draw a spider web with your word on a sheet of waxed paper or plastic wrap. Then trace the shape with glue and sprinkle silver glitter on top. Allow the spider web to dry overnight, then carefully peel it off the surface. The sticky backside will adhere to the surface of a window, allowing the sun to shine through the sparkling spokes of the web.

• Create a Model   Using craft items, create a barnyard or county fair like the ones in the book. Add plastic animals or people figures and label your model. 

Note:  Several ideas for this lesson came from Best Charlotte's Web Activities for the Classroom - WeAreTeachers and Seven Great Activities for Charlotte's Web - Where the Magic Happens.

 Let’s Learn:  

• Lisa has saved her money and wants to buy Corduroy. Discuss the various coins and bills. How much do you think Lisa needed to purchase the bear? How long do you think she had to save her money?
• Lisa sees Corduroy in a department store. Discuss the various departments in large stores and what you can purchase in each department.  

Let’s Explore/ Experience: 

• Visit a department store and talk about where you can find toys, clothes, etc.
• Visit a thrift store and look for used toys. Do they need repairing? If so, discuss what you can do to make them like new. 

Let’s Apply/ Make Connections:  

• Discuss how Corduroy felt when he was in the department store? How did he feel when Lisa took him home?
• Discuss your favorite toys. What makes them special?
• If your child does not have a “piggy bank”, consider ways to encourage them to save coins for a special purpose.

Let’s Create:

• String large, colorful buttons to make necklaces for family members. 
• Make bear-shaped snacks, such as Rice Crispy treats or cookies.
• Decorate an empty jar or storage container with stickers and/or paint. Cut a hole in the lid and use it to save coins.

Let’s Learn:  

• What is fry bread? Identify the things you need to make fry bread. Is it made in the oven or on the stove? Is it sweet or spicy?
• Learn the names of some Native American tribes. Several tribes are named in the book. You can look up others online. 

Let’s Explore/ Experience: 

• Make fry bread  Using the recipe provided in the book, make fry bread. Share it with a friend or neighbor. Do you like it? What does it taste like?
• Native American culture  Visit a museum that exhibits Native American arts and crafts or learn about the various tribes online. National Geographic for Kids presents tribes by location in the US. Find a tribe near where you live. Native Americans | National Geographic Kids 

Let’s Apply/ Make Connections:  

• Favorite Food  What is your favorite food? Is there a food that your family loves to eat on special occasions? How does it make you feel when you eat that food?

Let’s Create:

• Favorite Food collage  Cut out pictures from magazines or draw pictures of your favorite foods. Paste them on construction paper to make a collage. 
• Native American craft  In the book, the author shares that weaving, basket-making, and doll-making are traditional crafts of the Seminole tribe. Practice weaving using strips of construction paper, foam or cardboard. Simple Rainbow Weaving for Kids - Days With Grey (I like this site because it shows how to adapt for different age children) or if you feel ambitious, try making a handkerchief doll. Making a Hankie Doll Out of Wedding Handkerchiefs (Pew Baby) (no sewing required!)

 Let’s Learn:  

• Identify at least 4 types of tractors. What kind of work can they do?
• Identify at least 6 farm animals. How are they used on the farm?  

Let’s Explore/ Experience: 

• When driving by construction sites, identify the various tractors being used.
• Otis and the calf enjoy playing Ring Around the Rosy and Leap Frog. Play these games with your family or friends. 

Let’s Apply/ Make Connections:  

• A new tractor replaced Otis on the farm. What kinds of things have you or your parents replaced with a newer version (i.e., bicycle, game, appliance)? Why did you need a newer one? What did you do with the older item? 
• Think of a time when someone needed help. Who helped them? What did they do? What kinds of things could you do to help someone? This week, look for opportunities to help.

Let’s Create:

• Make a paper bag puppet of your favorite farm animal. Use construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers to make a face, ears, and maybe a tail for your animal. Don’t forget to name your farm animal.  
• Gather plastic farm animals and tractors. Create a farm, adding dirt, grass, small flowers, and barn. 

** You may want to watch one of the read-aloud videos of Otis available on YouTube. 

Other books you may use with this study:

• The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
• Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site  by Sherri Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld
• Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
• Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

Let’s Learn:  

• Research a Native American tribe.   Information to look for: where they live (or lived), what types of dwellings they lived in, whether they were farmers or hunters, and some facts about their culture.
• Wildlife from the Book   Choose one of the animals from the book to learn more about. You could choose bears, bees, beavers, foxes, or porcupines. 

Let’s Explore/ Experience:  

• Hunting/ Fishing  If you live near a body of water, try your hand at fishing. Or grab a bow and arrow and try some target shooting. If neither of these activities are available, visit a sporting goods store and talk with the salesperson about the various hunting and fishing equipment. 
• Watch the Movie  Grab some popcorn (maybe use traditional popcorn and pop it over a fire or on the stove) and watch the movie Sign of the Beaver. Afterwards, discuss how the movie was different from the book.

Let’s Apply/ Make Connections: 

• Tribal Names  In many Native American tribes, names were given to describe a person's physical or personal attribute. For example, Pocahontas means “playful one” and Geronimo (originally Goyaałé, which means "one who yawns" in Apache.  Examples of other names are Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Red Cloud. Create your own name that represents who you are or who you would like to become.
• Stereotypes  Native Americans have been depicted in movies, television, and even books as fierce, aggressive, and unfriendly. Additionally, much of their land has been taken from them and many tribes now live on reservations. Why do you think this happened? Is it right or wrong? Has anyone you know experienced this type of treatment?

Let’s Create:  

• Native American Signs/ Symbols  Look up signs and symbols used by Native American tribes. Come up with symbols for current items and activities such as cell phone, computer, soccer, gymnastics. You can refer to the chart provided on this link: WE_BisonActivities.pdf
• Create a  Native American Home  Using Lincoln Logs or other building materials, build a longhouse or teepee. You may even want to build it using pretzels and frosting. It can be a snack later.