This class focuses on reading, discussing, and analyzing the book  “Ada Lace, On the Case.” (Guided Reading Level P) We will read some chapters together in class, but the majority of the reading will take place outside of class. Between each class period, students will read approximately 20 pages of the book to prepare for our next class' discussion and activities. 

This is the first book in the "Ada Lace Adventure Series". This series of classes on the “Ada Lace Adventure Series” 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, 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 will construct 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-  

Ada is a third-grade student who loves science. She moves across the United States with her Mom, Dad, and younger brother. After breaking her leg, Ada spends a great deal of time inside her bedroom. With the help of her quirky new friend Nina, Ada investigates a neighborhood mystery as they believe that their neighbor’s dog has been “dognapped.” 

Schedule-

**If possible, please read chapter 1 (pages 1-6) before  our first class meeting. 

Class Session 1-  
Introductions and class community building 
Make predictions about the story based on the cover art as well as the plot of the first chapter.  
Review chapter 1.
Read chapter 2 together to begin to set the scene for the story and build background.  
Create a character log together that we will use as a tool as we read the book.  
Discuss how to keep track of unknown words when reading. 
Game- Boggle  

Assignment- Read chapters 3 and 4. Continue to add descriptions to character log as you learn more about each character. Add additional characters as they join the story. 

 
Class Session 2-  
Discuss the plot of chapters 3 and 4.  
Practice determining importance.
Review the information that we added to our character log. 
Discuss unknown words. 
Teacher will demonstrate how to use a child-appropriate online dictionary to define new vocabulary. 
Discuss the “Urban Ecosystem” that Ada lives in. 
Discuss how two of the main characters- Ada and Nina are similar and different. 
Game- “Would you rather” with clues about characters from the book.  

Assignment- Read chapters 5, 6, and 7.  

 

Class Session 3- 
Discuss chapters 5-7. 
Use character traits to describe Ada and Nina.
Activity- “Quick Write” 



Assignment- Read chapters 8-10 

 

Class Session 4-
Discuss chapters 8-10.  
Read chapter 11 together. 
Activity- “20 Questions” with characters, settings, and objects from the story.  
 

Assignment- Read chapters 12-14
Optional Writing Assignment- Create our own Field Guides.

 

Class Session 5- 
Discuss chapters 12-14. 
Review our Field Guides.
Activity- "Story Chain"
Activity- "Debate"

 
Assignment- Read chapters 15-17. 

 

Class Session 6- 
Discuss chapters 15-17
Discuss how the characters have changed over time. 
Evaluate the story.
Make predictions about the next book in the series. 
Activity- "Pictionary"

 

**If we have extra time in any class period, we will play games such as Memory, Charades, or complete an Ada Lace Mad Lib.