Throughout the course the students will learn:
Geography—United States Map skills, 
Science—Simple Machines, Mouse habitats and Eating habits
Language Arts—Figurative Language: hyperbole, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, 
Reading Comprehension—Weekly discussion, Weekly chapter quiz, Final Comprehension test, 
Research Skills--Mouse habitats and Eating habits, 
Character Traits of the Main Characters throughout the study
Art Projects--creating a license plate, making a diorama, building a simple machine
The students will read 2 chapters each week prior to class, **(except the first class in which the student will read chapters 1, 2, & 3 prior to class), to help enrich the discussion and allow the class time to be wisely used to discuss vocabulary words, develop comprehension skills, and engage in amazing discussion with the students.  
     In this class Teacher Dayna will use the 4 types of learning--Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic to help engage each student, because learning for each student is an individual experience.  The projects for each of the lessons are meant to help students engage kinesthetically and to deepen their academic understanding. The projects will require some supplies which will be inexpensively acquired or can be around around the house.  

Below is a guide to each week's Lesson Plan:
*****ALERT*****THE STUDENTS NEED TO PREPARE FOR THE FIRST CLASS BY READING CHAPTERS 1 & 2 & 3!

Each week a project, vocabulary list, chapter tests, comprehension worksheets, and activity worksheets will be provided for each student to complete.  In this Novel Study the art projects will be completed before each class and then shared during the due date class with each other.  
Week 1 --Learn basics of reading a novel
                   1. Learn about the author
                   2. Literary elements that are discussed in the first 2 chapters--Setting and Main Characters
                   3. Map Skills to help locate the setting of the book
                   4. Discuss Vocabulary for Chapters 1 & 2 & 3---the teacher will provide definitions prior to class and then during class the
                       students read aloud and discuss the sentences using the vocabulary words.  Having the definitions for the vocabulary 
                       words prior to reading the words will allow the students to better comprehend the words in the text.  
                   5. Discuss Homework Activity sheets and assign the 2 week project to create a diorama of either a REAL or FICTIONAL 
                       mouse habitat.  The diorama project will be due week 3---the teacher will provide instructions and guidelines for the
                       diorama project.  
                   6. Introduce next week's art project--License Plate
                  
Week 2 --Discuss chapters 4 & 5
                    1. Share student's License Art Project---creation of individual license plate for a fictional state or a real state
                    2. Discuss the map of the United States in more detail and map out the route of the Gridley family
                    2. Introduce Figurative Language---onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, idiom, alliteration, and personification
                    3. Remind Students of the Art Project due next week--diorama

Week 3---Discuss chapters 6 & 7
                    1. Share art projects and ask questions about dioramas
                    2. Students read aloud and with guidance of the teacher seek and share sentences using figurative language: 
                        onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, idiom, alliteration, and personification
                    3. Introduce Report for next week--What Do I Know About Mice?

Week 4--Discuss chapters 8 & 9
                    1. Report due on Mice habitats and eating habits---What Do I Know About Mice?
                    2. Discuss character traits---Friendship, Honesty, Dependable, Lazy, Anxious, and Courageous
                    3. Play Vocabulary Game to review previous and current vocabulary words
                    4. Introduce Simple Machines Project due next week.  

Week 5--Discuss chapters 10 & 11
                    1. Discuss Simple Machines and share your Simple Machine Project 
Week 6--Discuss chapters 12 & 13
                    1. Any students that did not have their Simple Machine Project ready in the previous lesson may share at the beginning of class. 
                    2. Engage in a game of Jeopardy answering comprehension questions about the book.   
              ***Parents, please do not worry, this class will not cancel due to small class size.