Fleischman, Sid. ESCAPE! The Story of the Great Houdini. Greenwillow Books, 2006
Lexile Level: 940
Book Selling Tool: Infographic
SUMMARY: Harry Houdini had an amazing and yet difficult life. This chapter book by Sid Fleischman shares many truths about Houdini, from where he was really born, to what his childhood was like, and how his success really came about. It is told through humor, anecdotes, and utilizes many rare photographs of Harry.
LEARNING ACTIVITY: Harry Houdini, born as Ehrich Weiss, was a legendary magician, upon other things. Students will read the text as a class, focusing on how some of the information in this text may be different from what they had thought was true. Students will discuss examples of Houdini’s magic skills and his showmanship throughout his life.
After reading, students will individually decide whether they think Houdini’s success and fame was due to his showmanship or his skills as a magician, and which was more important. Students will write a short essay discussing their argument, and include at least three pieces of evidence from the text to support it. The class will then split into two groups based on their position and debate using the pieces of evidence they cited in their essays.Students will be judged based on a rubric, requiring facts, their own opinion, and grade level conversation skills.
*Extension, students could research their facts further using other resources such as a history textbook.
GOAL: Students will understand that there are often multiple perspectives to any situation or person, and that both can tell the truth of that situation or person.
OBJECTIVES:
Students will be able to construct a one to two page essay to demonstrate their judgement on Houdini, including their own position on the issue and three details from the text that support their position.
Students will be able to debate this issue following grade level expectations with their peers, citing details from the text as examples to prove their point.
OUTCOME: Students will write an essay including their argument or position on the topic and at least three pieces of evidence to support it. They will be able to debate the issue appropriately with peers by using their details.
STANDARDS:
Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
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