1. Historical Fiction Unit
In My Father’s House
With Every Drop of Blood 1

2. Historical Fiction Day 1
Teaching Point: Readers of historical fiction note and collect elements of the story as they notice them.
Active Engagement:
What literary elements can we expect to encounter in this story?
How will you organize your notes to keep track of these elements?
How will Book Clubs work? Where will my book club sit?
Independent Practice:
In your journal make three good predictions about what you think the book will be about. Use the cover, your background knowledge, and the book blurb to get ideas. Be specific, and use the format “I predict…because…” to explain your thinking.
Stop and record vital information in your journal or on a sticky note.
Remember, physically taking notes is important early in the story, but mental notes will replace physical notes as the story picks up speed.
Homework: Read the first chapter section for your book. Be sure to keep the Write in Response for Wednesday. 2

3. Historical Fiction Book Clubs
Jobs are rotated each meeting.
Facilitator: Keeps the group on track, decides who is speaking each “Club” meeting. Passes the “Talking Stick”
Speaker 1 – Questions, Reactions, & Setting – Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
Speaker 2 – Historical Links & Characters - Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
Speaker 3 – Impacts of the Civil War, Problems, & Solutions - Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
ALL – Major Events and Sign Posts.
Book Club Poster 3

4. Historical Fiction Day 2
Teaching Point: Readers of historical fiction step into the time period and try to see the world through the eyes of someone else.
Independent Practice
Ask yourself: “I wonder why the character responded like this?” and “What could be the reason?” Keep in mind the context in which the story takes place and the role of the character in that time period.
If a character acts differently than you expected, it helps to ask why and to consider whether the context and the character background might play a part.
Record your responses to the above questions and be ready to share your ideas during Thursday’s book club.
Homework: read your chapter section and work on your Write in Response 1 Sheet for Thursday. 4

5. Historical Fiction Day 3
Teaching Point: Readers of historical fiction need to be ready to pay extra attention to details about setting. They not only notice what a place looks like, but also what it feels like and how it might change.
Independent Practice: Today as you read,
Stop and Jot: First, jot details related to what the place looks like. Then, jot what it feels like. Finally, be alert to trouble that may be brewing.
Stop and Jot, paying attention to important details related to setting.
Homework: Read the chapter section for your book. Write In Response 1 sheet is due complete tomorrow for Book Club meetings. Those that do not have WIR sheets done will not participate in Book Clubs. 5

6. Historical Fiction Day 4
Book Club day:
Have your Write In Response (WIR) sheet ready –
this will serve as your “Entrance Slip”. Once you have checked in your sheet with me move to your book clubs.
Take notes during your book club.
Once you have finished reviewing all required information please turn your WIR in to Ms. Dixon for grading.
Move to a quiet area and read the next portion.
If you do not have your WIR slip done:
Please go to a seat at the front of the room to complete it.
Turn in WIR for grading when done.
Go to a quiet area of the room to read the next portion of your book. 6

7. Historical Fiction Book Clubs
Jobs are rotated each meeting.
Facilitator: Keeps the group on track, decides who is speaking each “Club” meeting. Passes the “Talking Stick”
Speaker 1 – Questions, Reactions, & Setting – Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
Speaker 2 – Historical Links & Characters - Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
Speaker 3 – Impacts of the Civil War, Problems, & Solutions - Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
ALL – Major Events and Sign Posts. 7

8. Historical Fiction Day 5
Teaching Point: Readers of historical fiction know that people are people across all time periods and cultures. They make connections with characters even though they are living at a different time.
In what ways are you similar to the characters in the story? How are you different?
Can you think of a time when you had similar emotions or a parallel experience?
Independent Practice: Today as you read,
Be alert to connections you have to the character.
Write about the ways in which you are connecting with the character. Give an example of a time when you have experienced similar feelings or had a parallel experience.
Homework: Read your chapter section and work on your Write in Response 2 Sheet for Thursday.. 8

9. Historical Fiction Day 6
Teaching Point: When readers of historical fiction write or think about big ideas, it helps to lodge those ideas in concrete details.
Independent Practice:
Think deeply about important passages by asking:
What is significant about this part of the story?
How does this part fit with other parts and relate to what the whole story is really about? How do all the parts of the story fit together and contribute to the message of the book?
Why might the author have written this part in this particular way, including these details, and using these words?
What might the character be learning about life and the world? What might I be learning about life and the world?
Homework: Read your chapter section and work on your Write in Response 2 Sheet for Thursday. 9

10. Historical Fiction Day 7
Teaching Point: One way to get a new idea for what a story is really about is to drop out of a familiar perspective and consider an alternative one- a perspective that we might not have otherwise considered.
Figuring out Perspective
Whose eyes are seeing this story?
Whose thoughts am I hearing?
Whose voice is telling the story?
Independent Practice: Today as you read,
Imagine another character’s perspective. How does that perspective bring you closer to understanding what this book is really about?
Homework: Read your chapter section and work on your Write in Response 2 Sheet for Thursday. 10

11. Historical Fiction Day 8
Teaching Point: Readers of historical fiction do not skim over descriptions, but instead, they slow down and think about the descriptions.
When the plot slows down in descriptive moments, you have the opportunity to slow down as a reader and soak up the details that the author probably inserted so the reader could better imagine this place.
Independent Practice:
Today as you read, find a section of description that you love. Write at least a half a page about it in your journal.
Homework: Read your chapter section and work on your Write in Response 2 Sheet for tomorrow.

12. Historical Fiction Day 9
Book Club day:
Have your Write In Response (WIR) sheet ready –
this will serve as your “Entrance Slip”. Once you have checked in your sheet with me move to your book clubs.
Take notes during your book club.
Once you have finished reviewing all required information please turn your WIR in to Ms. Dixon for grading.
Move to a quiet area and read the next portion.
If you do not have your WIR slip done:
Please go to a seat at the front of the room to complete it.
Turn in WIR for grading when done.
Go to a quiet area of the room to read the next portion of your book.

13. Historical Fiction Book Clubs
Jobs are rotated each meeting.
Facilitator: Keeps the group on track, decides who is speaking each “Club” meeting. Passes the “Talking Stick”
Speaker 1 – Questions, Reactions, & Setting – Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
Speaker 2 – Historical Links & Characters - Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
Speaker 3 – Impacts of the Civil War, Problems, & Solutions - Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
ALL – Major Events and Sign Posts.

14. Historical Fiction Day 10
Teaching Point: Readers of historical fiction consider both the big historical timeline of things as well as the smaller individual timelines of characters’ lives that occur alongside the events.
Independent Practice:
Today, you will create two timelines, one for the historical events occurring and one for the specific events of the character’s life.
Be alert to events that could be added to either timeline. An internal awareness of these timelines is an important skill for understanding this genre.
Homework: Read your chapter section and work on your Write in Response 3 Sheet for Wednesday.

15. Historical Fiction Day 11
Teaching Point: Readers of historical fiction understand which parts of the novel are historically accurate and which parts make it fictional.
Independent Practice:
Today’s reading is about the historically accurate events in the book. While you read answer these questions:
Why might the author have written this part in this particular way, including these details and using these words?
What might the character be learning about life and the world? What might I be learning about life and the world?
Homework: Read your chapter section and work on your Write in Response 3 Sheet for tomorrow. 15

16. Historical Fiction Day 12
Book Club day:
Have your Write In Response (WIR) sheet ready –
this will serve as your “Entrance Slip”. Once you have checked in your sheet with me move to your book clubs.
Take notes during your book club.
Once you have finished reviewing all required information please turn your WIR in to Ms. Dixon for grading.
Move to a quiet area and read the next portion.
If you do not have your WIR slip done:
Please go to a seat at the front of the room to complete it.
Turn in WIR for grading when done.
Go to a quiet area of the room to read the next portion of your book.

17. Historical Fiction Book Clubs
Jobs are rotated each meeting.
Facilitator: Keeps the group on track, decides who is speaking each “Club” meeting. Passes the “Talking Stick”
Speaker 1 – Questions, Reactions, & Setting – Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
Speaker 2 – Historical Links & Characters - Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
Speaker 3 – Impacts of the Civil War, Problems, & Solutions - Discusses these sections in the Reader’s Journal
ALL – Major Events. 17