1. The Houdini Box By Brian Selznick Day 1 Day 4 Day 2 Day 5 Day 3
Vocabulary Definitions
Vocabulary Sentences
Additional Resources

4. Study Skills Genre: Historical Fiction
Comprehension Skill: Compare and Contrast
Comprehension Strategy: Predict
Review Skill: Plot and Character
Vocabulary: Synonyms/Antonyms

5. Genre: Historical Fiction
Historical fiction has characters and events based on real people and events in history.

6. Skill review – Plot and Character
The main character’s problem often drives the plot. The plot begins when a character has a problem or conflict.
Main events usually focus on the character’s efforts to solve the problem.
Plot (problem) builds up during rising action, is met directly at the climax, and comes to an end, as the action winds down, during the resolution.

7. Plot and Character Cindy was trying out for a dance group.
Problem
Rising Action
Climax
Resolution
Cindy waited for her turn.
Cindy danced.
Cindy made it into group.
Cindy cheered.

8. Day 1 - Question of the Week
Can you always believe what you see?

9. appeared crumbled monument vanished magician escape bustling
Vocabulary - Say It
appeared
crumbled
monument
vanished
magician
escape
bustling

10. engraved unexplainable invisible pretending judge
More Words to Know
engraved unexplainable invisible pretending judge

11. Comprehension Strategy Predict
Good readers think about what will happen next.
Patterns in the information in a graph or chart can help you predict.

12. Listen to the Story

13. A comparison tells how two or more things are alike.
Compare and Contrast
A comparison tells how two or more things are alike.
Comparisons use like or as.
A contrast tells how they are different
Contrasts use but or unlike.

14. Reading WB

15. Special Effects Magic Tricks
Compare and Contrast
Special Effects Magic Tricks
Alike
Different
How they work to fool the eye: computer vs. hands
seem real
new practice vs. old
fool the eye
one is harder to figure out
takes hard work

17. 1. Whens the magic show! 2. Bill think its’ at seven o’clock.

18. A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun or another pronoun.
What is a pronoun?
A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun or another pronoun.

19. 1.Marge went for a walk. She went for a walk. *Brainpop Video
Let's see an example!
1.Marge went for a walk.
She went for a walk.
*Brainpop Video

22. Spelling Words- Contractions
haven’t
when’s
we’ve
it’s
they’re
aren’t
hadn’t
where’s
couldn’t
shouldn’t

23. Spelling Words Contractions
we’re
there’s
wouldn’t
won’t
don’t
wasn’t
here’s
I’ve
doesn’t
you’re

24. it’ll who’ll might’ve mustn’t we’d
CHALLENGE
it’ll
who’ll
might’ve
mustn’t
we’d

26. Day 2 - Question of the Day
Why do you think Houdini is able to escape and seems to walk through walls, but Victor cannot?

27. Vocabulary Skill: Synonyms and Antonyms
Sometimes the author will use a synonym or an antonym as a clue to the meaning of the word.
Synonyms are words that mean almost the same thing.
Antonyms are words with opposite meanings.

28. disappeared, especially suddenly
vanished
disappeared, especially suddenly

29. magician
person who entertains by art or skill of creating illusions, especially a sleight of hand

30. to get out and away; to get free
escape
to get out and away; to get free

31. being noisily busy and in a hurry
bustling
being noisily busy and in a hurry

32. appeared
was seen; came in sight

33. fell to pieces; decayed
crumbled
fell to pieces; decayed

34. monument
something set up to honor a person or an event. A monument may be a building, pillar, arch, statue, tomb, or stone.

35. cut deeply in; carved in; carved in an artistic way
engraved
cut deeply in; carved in; carved in an artistic way

36. unaccountable; without apparent cause or reason
unexplainable
unaccountable; without apparent cause or reason

37. pretending
making believe

38. Not visible; not capable of being seen
invisible
Not visible; not capable of being seen

39. form an opinion or estimate about
judge
form an opinion or estimate about

40. Weekly Fluency Check - Emotion
You need to read with emotion to help listeners understand characters and events better and to make the story more enjoyable.
Read Pg. 402, paragraphs 2-3, expressing Victor’s excitement and impatience.

41. 3. He pulled a rabbit out of a hat and then putted them back again. 4
3. He pulled a rabbit out of a hat and then putted them back again. 4. Harry Houdini performed on stage, she also performed in movies.

42. Singular
and
Plural
Pronouns

43. Singular Pronouns
I, me
you
she, he, it
him, her, it

44. Plural Pronouns
we, us
you
they
them

45. Jose loves to play baseball.

46. He loves to play baseball.

47. Does Adzie Healy play for the Stockdale Bulls?

48. Does he play for them?

49. That mother seems excited.

50. She seems excited.

51. Did Jose cheer another boy up?

52. Did Jose cheer him up?

53. The fans are cheering.

54. They are cheering.

55. Jose grabs the fly.

56. Jose grabs it.

57. Group Work
Readers & WB 154
Language Arts WB 61
Spelling WB 62
Tri-fold section 2
Word Find- SmartBoard

63. Day 3 - Question of the Day
Why do people enjoy watching magic tricks so much?

64. Review Questions
How can you tell Houdini and Victor were both kind people?
Why did Mrs. Houdini cry when she read Victor’s letter?
What did Victor try to do after he learned about Houdini’s tricks?
Describe Victor’s character.

65. Review Questions
Why didn’t Victor tell his wife and son about the box?
Why did Houdini promise to write Victor a letter?
What was important about reading Houdini’s monument?
What was in Houdini’s box?
When did Victor find Houdini’s box?

66. The wound was invisible underneath the bandage.

67. The wound was invisible underneath the bandage.

68. Victor was looking around the huge, bustling train station when he saw Houdini.

69. Victor was looking around the huge, bustling train station when he saw Houdini.

70. The king learned to judge people by their good work and not how they complimented him.

71. The king learned to judge people by their good work and not how they complimented him.

72. The weavers were only pretending to weave cloth .

73. The weavers were only pretending to weave cloth .

74. The children like Houdini because he could do the unexplainable.

75. The children like Houdini because he could do the unexplainable.

76. Houdini could escape from an iron milk can in under 20 seconds.

77. Houdini could escape from an iron milk can in under 20 seconds.

78. Victor wanted to be a magician when he grew up, just like Houdini.

79. Victor wanted to be a magician when he grew up, just like Houdini.

80. Mrs. Houdini vanished up the staircase into the library.

81. Mrs. Houdini vanished up the staircase into the library.

82. The initials E.W. were engraved on the bottom of the box.

83. The initials E.W. were engraved on the bottom of the box.

84. They found the ball lying by the corner of a dark monument in the graveyard.

85. They found the ball lying by the corner of a dark monument in the graveyard.

86. Two smaller words appeared directly below “Houdini”.

87. Two smaller words appeared directly below “Houdini”.

88. The lock was so old that it crumbled when Victor brushed his hand across it.

89. The lock was so old that it crumbled when Victor brushed his hand across it.

92. 5. People were amazed by houdini’s incredible escape’s. 6
5. People were amazed by houdini’s incredible escape’s. 6. A century ago he will perform magic on stage. With his wife.

93. Personal pronouns refer to specific persons or things.
Types of Pronouns
Personal pronouns refer to specific persons or things.
Karen ate pizza.
She was hungry.

94. Bob finished the homework himself.
Reflexive pronouns are personal pronouns that have "-self“ or "-selves" added to the end.
Bob finished the homework himself.

95. Someone stole my wallet!
Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not refer to a specific person or thing.
Someone, anybody, and, everyone are indefinite pronouns.
Someone stole my wallet!

96. Interrogative pronouns are used to ask a question.
Who, whom, and which are interrogative pronouns.
Which shoes are mine?

97. Ours, his, theirs, and hers are possessive pronouns.
Possessive pronouns are used to show ownership, but they never have an apostrophe.
Ours, his, theirs, and hers are possessive pronouns.
Those are his pencils.

98. SmartBoard- Reading Review
Group Work
Partner Read & WB
Language WB 62
Spelling WB 63
Tri-fold Section 4
SmartBoard- Reading Review

104. Day 4 - Question of the Day
What are some things you would and wouldn’t like about being an illusionist?

105. 7. Pick a card and tell me what they is. 8
7. Pick a card and tell me what they is? 8. I thinks you chosed the ace of spades.

106. ____ brought her little brother with her.
Fill In The Blank
Kris went to the game.
____ brought her little brother with her.

107. little brother with her.
Answer
Kris went to the game.
She brought her
little brother with her.

108. Randy left ____ baseball glove at home.
Fill In The Blank
Randy left ____ baseball glove at home.

109. Randy left his baseball glove at home.
Answer
Randy left his baseball glove at home.

110. _____ left a book on the playground.
Fill In The Blank
_____ left a book on the playground.

111. Someone left a book on the playground.
Answer
Someone left a book on the playground.

112. _____ pair of shoes belongs to James?
Fill In The Blank
_____ pair of shoes belongs to James?

113. Which pair of shoes belongs to James?
Answer
Which pair of shoes belongs to James?

114. That beach blanket is ____.
Fill In The Blank
That beach blanket is ____.

115. That beach blanket is ours.
Answer
That beach blanket is ours.

116. Group Work Reading Computer Test Tri-Fold Section 4 Language WB 63
Essay Questions
Compare and Contrast 2 characters from your favorite story. Make a T–chart using complete sentences.

120. Essay Questions

121. Day 5 - Question of the Week
Can you always believe what you see?

122. Research/Study Skills – Instruction Manuals
A manual usually takes the form of a booklet or handbook.
It contains a written set of instructions that help the reader understand, use, or build something.
Take note of illustrations, diagrams, headings, labels, and sections (including index and table of contents).

123. Research/Study Skills –Instruction Manuals
Procedures and instructions are directions for using something.
Instructions are given in order and often included numbered steps.
Read through the instructions before you begin.
Then do what is directed, one step at a time.

124. 9. I seen a circus performer hang from her teeths. 10
9. I seen a circus performer hang from her teeths Has you ever tryed a magic trick?

125. Group Work
Tri-fold Section 5
Language WB 64
Writing Assignment
SmartBoard- Synonyms
Antonyms
Reading WB

130. Write a Science Log Entry
Think of something in nature that interests you.
It might be a garden, a snowstorm, a river, or a season.
Write a description using exact nouns and powerful verbs.
Write in a way that allows your personality to shine through.

131. Additional Resources Reading Review Vocabulary
A Review: Houdini in Children’s Literature
Harry Houdini
Time Line
Teacher Guide
Synonyms
Antonyms
Plural Pronouns
Hyperbole
Contractions
Contractions Online Interactive Practice
Internet 4 Classrooms Compare & Contrast
Author's Purpose Pretest
Scavenger Hunt