This class focuses on discussing and analyzing the book  “Ada Lace and the Suspicious Artist.” (Guided Reading Level P) The majority of the reading will take place outside of class. Between each class period, the students will read approximately 15-20 pages of the book to prepare for our next class' discussion and activities. 

This is the fifth and final book in the "Ada Lace Adventure Series". This series of classes was developed with the 3rd/4th Grade Common Core State Standards in mind by an experienced teacher with close to a decade of teaching 3rd and 4th grade students. 

During our class time we will discuss and analyze the text. We will focus on making inferences, synthesizing what we have learned about the characters throughout the series, and increasing our academic vocabulary. Practicing these skills help to deepen our understanding while reading. This helps students move from "learning to read" to "reading to learn."

Throughout the lessons, the teacher will lead discussions around the characters, setting, and plot. The teacher will embed reading strategies such as making predictions, questioning, determining importance, summarizing, and synthesizing within the lessons.  We will use writing strategies such as a "Quick Write" where we gather our thoughts about a given topic and then discuss them together as well as "Shared Writing" where we develop a short writing piece together. Supporting your learner's writing skills accelerates their reading skills as well. We will have time to socialize and for students to express their own thoughts about the book. We will complete activities and games related to the characters and story in order to build a community of learners while providing the opportunity for socialization.  

Information about the book-  
Third grade scientist Ada Lace is on spring break, but she is not having a very relaxing time. Ada's best friend Nina has the opportunity to meet her favorite artist and it does not go well. Will Ada find a way to help Nina restore her confidence as an artist? When Nina realizes that something is not right with her idol's work the girls have another mystery to solve sending them on another adventure with some help from friends both new and old.

Schedule-

Class Session 1-
Make predictions about the story based on the cover art as well as the title of the first chapter.  
Review what we already know about the characters and their relationships with one another.
Read chapter 1 together to set the scene. 
Make predictions about what will happen in the book.

Activity- Mystery Sound Game

Assignment- Read chapter 2 (pages 9-17)

Class Session 2-
Discuss simple machines.
Practice making inferences, synthesizing, and drawing conclusions.
Discuss global themes throughout the series. Create a “Callback Collection.”
Read chapter 3 together.
Practice making text-to-text connections, making predictions, and using the text to support your thinking.

Activity- Quick Write (visualizing and predicting)

Assignment- Read chapter 4-5 (pages 26-41)

Class Session 3-
Discuss chapters 4 and 5.
Discuss the author's craft and purpose.
Practice summarizing, drawing conclusions, and making text-to-self connections.
Continue our “Callback Collection.”

Activity- Pictionary

Assignment- Read chapters 6-8  (pages 42-61)

Class Session 4-
Discuss chapters 6-8. 
Continue our “Callback Collection”
Practice making inferences, analyzing the text, and making predictions.

Activity- Shared writing 

Assignment- Read chapters 9-11 (pages 62-80)

Class Session 5-
Discuss chapters 9-11. 
Practice summarizing, synthesizing, and making predictions.
Evaluate the characters' choices. 

Activity- ZOOMed in art
Activity- Story Chain

Assignment- Read chapters 12-13 (81-96)

Class Session 6-
Discuss chapters 12 and 13. 
Evaluate the end of the book.
Evaluate the book overall, as well as the series.
Discuss favorite characters and moments from the series. 
Review global themes from the series.

Activity-
Fanfiction- Untold Ada Lace Adventures