This class focuses on discussing and analyzing the book  “Ada Lace and the Impossible Mission.” (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 fourth 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, 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 and adventurer Ada Lace has a new social studies teacher who loves group projects. While most of the class has created dioramas, Ada, her best friend Nina, and their sometimes nemesis Milton have built a complex model of an historic silver mine. But when Milton reveals that he added the “old Milton touch” to their project right before turning it in, Ada worries that he has sabotaged their work. In order to save their project, Ada and Nina perform a heist and break into their teacher’s supply closet after school. Do they have what it takes to get around the school’s security system? Or will they get caught during their impossible mission?

Schedule:

Class Session 1- 
Review what we already know about the characters and their relationships with one another.
Begin reading the book together to set the scene. 
Make predictions about what will happen in the book. 
Create a Character Log for the secondary characters.
Activity- "Quick Share"

Assignment- 
Finish reading chapter 1. (pages 2-17)

Class Session 2- 
Summarize and discuss chapter 1.
Explore the concept of foreshadowing. 
Discuss common themes found throughout the series.
Activity- Shared Writing

Assignment-
Read chapters 2 and 3. (pages 18-35)

Class Session 3-
Discuss chapters 2 and 3.
Practice determining author's purpose, making inferences, and making text-to-text connections.
Activity- "The Category is..."

Assignment- Read chapters 4 and 5. (pages 36-50)

Class Session 4- 
Discuss chapters 4 and 5.
Practice visualization, making inferences, summarizing, and using the text to support your thinking. 
Activity- Quick Draw- Map Making

Assignment- Read chapters 6 and 7. (pages 51-70)

Class Session 5-
Discuss chapters 6 and 7.
Practice making inferences, making connections to your own life, making predictions, and synthesizing.
Activity- Quick Write- Alternate Ending

Assignment- Read chapters 8 and 9.

Class Session 6- 
Discuss chapters 8 and 9.
Practice using character traits, summarizing, making text-to-self connections,  and synthesizing.
Make predictions about what will happen to the characters in the final book of the series.
Read "Behind the Science" together. 
Activity- Ada Lace A-Z