Novel Study Packet Name: _________________________________ Book Title: Old Willis Place Group #: ___________ Description of Assignment Due Date Day 1 Read Chapters #1-2 (including chapter 2) Complete Summary #1 Day 2 Read Chapters #3-4 (including chapter 4) Complete Vocab #1 Day 3 Answer comprehension questions #1-6 and include page numbers of where you found your answers. Day 4 Complete Extension Activity #1 Day 5 Read Chapters #5-6 (including chapter 6) Complete Summary #2 Day 6 Read Chapters #7-8 (including chapter 8) Complete Vocab #2 Day 7 Answer comprehension questions #7-12 and include page numbers of where you found your answers. Day 8 Complete Extension Activity #2 Day 9 Read Chapters #9-10 (including chapter 10) Complete Summary #3 Day 10 Read Chapters #10-12 (including chapter 12) Complete Vocab #3 Day 11 Answer comprehension questions #13-18 and include page numbers of where you found your answers. Day 12 Complete Extension Activity #3
Transcript
Novel Study Packet
Name: _________________________________ Book Title: Old Willis Place Group #: ___________
Description of Assignment Due Date
Day 1 Read Chapters #1-2 (including chapter 2)
Complete Summary #1
Day 2 Read Chapters #3-4 (including chapter 4)
Complete Vocab #1
Day 3 Answer comprehension questions #1-6 and include page
numbers of where you found your answers.
Day 4 Complete Extension Activity #1
Day 5 Read Chapters #5-6 (including chapter 6)
Complete Summary #2
Day 6 Read Chapters #7-8 (including chapter 8)
Complete Vocab #2
Day 7 Answer comprehension questions #7-12 and include
page numbers of where you found your answers.
Day 8 Complete Extension Activity #2
Day 9 Read Chapters #9-10 (including chapter 10)
Complete Summary #3
Day 10 Read Chapters #10-12 (including chapter 12)
Complete Vocab #3
Day 11 Answer comprehension questions #13-18 and include
page numbers of where you found your answers.
Day 12 Complete Extension Activity #3
Day 13 Read Chapters #13-15 (including chapter 15)
Complete Summary #4
Day 14 Read Chapters #16-17 (including chapter 17)
Complete Vocab #4
Day 15 Answer comprehension questions #19-24 and include
page numbers of where you found your answers.
Day 16 Complete Extension Activity #4
Day 17 Writing Assignment #1
Day 18 Writing Assignment #2
Day 19 Writing Assignment #3
Day 20 Complete Extension Activity #5
Novel Study Quiz will be completed as an in-class, graded assignment on Day 21,
Tentative Date: _________________________________. Completed packets must be submitted on that day,
as well.
Summary #1: Chapters 1-2
Write a paragraph summarizing the main events from what you have been assigned to read today. This
should be at least 3-5 complete sentences and should be indented.
Vocabulary #1: Chapters 3-4 Find each word within the chapters you were assigned to read today. Fill in all missing information on the grid.
Word Page # Quote from text using the word Inferred definition
dispel
moldering
abrupt
mucked
flimsy
Comprehension Questions for Chapters 1-4
1. Why is Diana so upset after Lissa sees her for the first time?
9. Why doesn’t Diana think it is funny when Lissa says she would like to see the old lady’s ghost? _______________________________________________________________________________________
10. What does Lissa want before she will be friends with Diana?
Extension Activity #3: Select two main characters from this section of your book and imagine they are having a conversation about an event in this section of the book. Write what they might say in a few text messages to each other – please include enough details that we can infer the event. Label each side of the message screen to show which character is speaking on that side.
Text Message Conversation
Summary #4: Chapters 13-15
Write a paragraph summarizing the main events from what you have been assigned to read today. This
should be at least 3-5 complete sentences and should be indented.
Vocabulary #4: Chapters 16-17 Find each word within the chapters you were assigned to read today. Fill in all missing information on the grid.
Word Page # Quote from text using the word Inferred definition
slitted
scornfully
plodded
illuminating
heaped
Comprehension Questions for Chapters 13-17
19. Why does Diana tell Lissa that they can’t write to each other? _______________________________________________________________________________________ 20. What do Georgie and Diana think they have to do before they can leave? _______________________________________________________________________________________ 21. What does Georgie do to camouflage himself so he can hide from Miss Lillian? _______________________________________________________________________________________ 22. Who does Miss Willis think Lissa is? _______________________________________________________________________________________ 23. Why isn’t Diana sure if she will miss Lissa? _______________________________________________________________________________________ 24. At what point in the story did you realize that Georgie and Diana were ghosts? Describe the clues that finally gave it away for you. _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________
Extension Activity #4: Directions: In the television show, Trading Spaces, people trade homes for a weekend and redesign one room for the family. Imagine you are trading spaces with a main character in this book and are going to create the dream bedroom for that character. Draw your design proposal in the box below, showing a side view of the room as if you were standing with your back against one of the walls and looking at the rest of the room. Everything in the room must be a reflection of that character and his/her traits, beliefs, opinions, hobbies, etc. Think carefully about colors for carpet, walls, and bedding (is the character bright and cheerful, dark and gloomy, imaginative, etc.) Include at least 5 special items that show something about that character’s traits, such as a poster on the wall of their favorite band, a DVD case on the floor of their favorite movie, the pet they are most likely to have, etc. Be sure to color neatly.
Directions: Interview another student in class and ask if they believe in ghosts. Write a dialogue below to document your conversation. __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Writing Assignment #2 Find quotes from the passage that help you visualize what the Old Willis Place looks like. Write the quotes on the lines below using quotation marks and page numbers. __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________
Writing Assignment #3 Think about how much the teddy bear seems to mean to Georgie. Write about an item that is special to you – be sure to describe the item itself, as well as explain WHY the item is so important to you. __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________
Extension Activity #5: Complete this newspaper below to show the main story from the book. Add creative touches, such as other sections in the newspaper and a secondary story about something else that happened in the book.
The Old Willis Place Novel Study Quiz 1. What had Lissa taken from her dad’s key ring?
The key to his car
The key to the groundskeeper’s shed The key to the old Willis place
A mysterious key to an unknown place
2. Who does Georgie blame for his argument with
Diana?
Lissa MacDuff
Mr. Morrison Nero
3. Why does the county own the old Willis place? Miss Lilian went bankrupt.
Miss Lilian hated her family. Miss Lilian found out her husband sold the
house to the county. The previous owner died without a will.
4. What does Georgie steal from Lissa’s bed? A teddy bear
A computer A bike
A doll
5. What happens when Lissa opens the parlor door? A black cat jumps out of the room.
Miss Lilian escapes. Georgie slams the door shut.
She heard a noise upstairs.
6. What do Georgie and Diana think they have to do
before they can leave?
Scare the groundskeepers away forever Capture Miss Lilian
Bury the bodies and say the right words Say they are sorry to Miss Lilian
7. What is the real name of the old Willis place? Maple Hill Mansion
Oak Hill Manor Olean House
Portland Manor
8. Why does Lissa call her diary “Dee Dee”? It was easier to say than “Diary”.
It made it seem like a pen pal. Dee Dee was a friend from her last school.
It used to belong to Dee Dee.
9. How old is Diana?
12 years old 8 years old
18 years old The author never gives an age.
10. What did Diana and Georgie do the first night
Lissa moved in? They took a hammer from Mr. Morrison’s
toolbox. They left a bunch of flowers for Lissa on
the picnic table. They took Lissa’s bike for a ride.
They brought a treat for MacDuff.
Teacher KEY: The Old Willis Place Novel Study
Summary #1: Chapters 1-2
Georgie and Diana watch from the bushes as new caretakers arrive. They learn the man has a daughter named Lissa and a dog named MacDuff. After they move their boxes inside, Georgie and Diana sneak in the dark, take her bike for a ride, and crash it. Meanwhile, Lissa begins a diary and reveals what her dad has told her about the old Willis place, Miss Lilian dying inside the parlor, and wanting to see a ghost. We also learn Lissa’s mother died when she was young. Lissa discovers her bike had been taken, and her dad calls the cops. Vocabulary #1: Chapters 3-4
Word Page # Quote from text using the word Inferred definition
dispel p. 24 “It hung in the air for a long moment, a dark cloud over our heads, a curse nothing could dispel.”
To get rid of, dissipate, scatter away
moldering p. 25 “To keep myself from thinking about the bad part, I rummaged through our pile of moldering belongings until I found Clematis.”
Rotting, decomposing, disintegrating
abrupt p. 27 “We laughed, knowing exactly who was to blame for the caretakers’ abrupt departures.”
Sudden
mucked p. 28 “We mucked through the woods and across the field.”
To walk in mud and muck
flimsy p. 35 “That flimsy lock didn’t stop me.” Weak, easy to break; fragile
Comprehension Questions for Chapters 1-4
1. Why is Diana so upset after Lissa sees her for the first time? Lissa was terrified of Diana.
2. Why does Diana think Lissa is a rule breaker? Lissa goes to Miss Lillian's house, where she had been told not to go.
3. What does Georgie steal from Lissa's bed? He steals her teddy bear.
4. Why had Diana felt sorry for Mr. Potter? Georgie always played tricks on him with the television remote.
5. Why does the county own the old Willis place? The owner, Miss Willis, had died without leaving a will.
6. Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not? Answers will vary.
Extension Activity #1: No key, as responses can vary.
Summary #2: Chapters 5-6
Georgie is very upset that Diana let Lissa see her. Lissa writes in her diary of the encounter with an “ogre” from the woods and is very frightened by Diana’s wild appearance. Diana reads her diary and writes a letter back to Lissa, apologizing and asking her to meet at the lion bench. Diana snuck into the old Willis place and took clothing and toiletries from Miss Lilians bedroom. She cleaned herself up so that Lissa wouldn’t be afraid of her. While Lissa was doing her schoolwork outside at the picnic table, Diana watched; when Mr. Morrison went inside, Lissa spoke out to Diana (knowing she was being watched) and told her she agreed to meet at the bench. Vocabulary #2: Chapters 7-8
Word Page # Quote from text using the word Inferred definition
scuttling p. 72 “It made a tiny scuttling sound on the terrace.”
The sound of something small, like a mouse, scurrying lightly and quickly
plunge p. 76 “Mr. Morrison stared at the vines and leaves still swaying from Georgie’s plunge into the trees.”
Jump, lunge, dive
ignorant p. 79 “Oh, for goodness sake, Lissa, only ignorant people believe in ghosts.”
Uneducated, dumb
peculiar p. 83 “A girl whose parents didn’t allow her to have friends – how peculiar, how bizarre, how weird.”
Weird, odd
palomino p. 85 “He rides a horse name Trigger, a beautiful golden palomino.”
A type of horse
Comprehension Questions for Chapters 5-8
7. Why had Diana allowed Lissa to see her? Diana wanted to be friends with Lissa.
8. Why does Georgie hate Lissa? He thinks she is the reason he and Diana had a fight.
9. Why doesn't Diana think it is funny when Lissa says she would like to see the old lady's ghost? Diana knew that if Miss Lillian decided to show herself, Lissa wouldn't think it was funny.
10. What does Lissa want before she will be friends with Diana? She wants her teddy bear to be given back to her.
11. Why does Georgie say that he can say whatever he wants? Diana had broken the rules by allowing Lissa to see her, so he said that nothing mattered anymore.
12. Do you think Georgie was right to be so mad at Diana for being friends with Lissa? Why or why not? Answers will vary.
Extension Activity #2: No key, as responses can vary.
Summary #3: Chapters 9-10
The girls see Georgie and chase after him, leading to an argument. Georgie angrily gives Lissa back her things. Lissa and Diana make plans to go back to the house tomorrow. Lissa writes in her diary about her encounter and her plan to take the key from her dads key ring to get into the old Willis place. She is also a little perplexed about Diana talking about those old tv shows and movies as if they were current. The girls go into the old Willis place, and Diana is pleading for them to leave. She hears sounds behind the parlor doors, but Lissa isn’t concerned. Just when it seems like Lissa is willing to leave, she asks Diana if she dares her to open the parlor door. Vocabulary #3: Chapters 11-12
Word Page # Quote from text using the word Inferred definition
cyclone p. 116 “It spun past us like a small cyclone of ice, taking the flowered hat with it, and whirled up the stairs, leaving us frozen speechless in the parlor doorway.”
Like a tornado, spinning around
hoarse p. 119 “Lissa leaned closer to me, her voice hoarse from crying, and whispered…”
Raw, ragged, cracked
hobbled p. 131 “Leaving Mother on the lion bench, Miss Lilian hobbled into the kitchen, thumping her cane with every step.”
Walk unevenly, needing support, almost falling
seized p. 133 “Georgie made a move toward her, but I seized his shirt and held him back.”
Grabbed onto, holding
enrolled p. 137 “I haven’t written to you for a couple of days, but that’s because Dad enrolled me in a gymnastics class and I’ve been busy.”
To apply into a program, to sign up for a class
Comprehension Questions for Chapters 9-12
13. What does Georgie say that makes Lissa angry? He says that she can have her ugly bear.
14. What happens when Lissa opens the parlor door? Miss Lillian is let out of the room.
15. Why is Diana torn about what to do as she walks toward the terrace to meet Lissa? Answers may vary, but might include she wants to be with Lissa, but she is scared of the house.
16. Why does Lissa want to open the door to the parlor? She wants to see where Miss Lillian died.
17. What does Lissa tell her diary about the sort of girl Diana is? She writes that Diana is a girl you might read about in a book written long ago.
18. Did you know what was going to happen with Lissa opened the door to the parlor? Explain. Answers will vary.
Extension Activity #3: No key, as responses can vary.
Summary #4: Chapters 13-15
Lissa comes to find Diana and Georgie in the woods, offering her book and bear, and apologizing for letting Miss Willis out. Diana reveals that she and Georgie will be leaving soon, and Lissa wants her to stay. They hear Miss Willis calling for them and looking for them in the woods at night, but they escape to a cave. Later, Diana and Georgie talk about a new thought that has come into their minds about leaving – that someone must bury their bodies and say the right words. Diane meets with Lissa and tells her about the children’s bodies (but doesn’t reveal it’s them) and tells her she must have her dad bury the bodies and say the proper words so that the children can rest in peace. Lissa writes in her diary later of a scary encounter with Miss Willis, thinking Lissa was Diana. Mr. Morrison called the police to report the children’s bodies in the cellar; he and Lissa are very upset at the discovery of the bodies there (verifying D iana’s story). Vocabulary #4: Chapters 16-17
Word Page # Quote from text using the word Inferred definition
slitted p. 173 “There he snuggled in the blankets and watched the snow through slitted eyes.”
Almost closed, to make slits of openings
scornfully p. 176 “ ‘You think you’re so smart’ he told Lissa scornfully.”
Angrily, with disrespect, sneering
plodded p. 177 “With MacDuff bounding ahead, we plodded on through the snow until the house was in sight.”
Trudged, walk slowly with heavy steps because of the snow; lumbered
illuminating p. 184 “The fading light of day shone through the cave’s opening, barely illuminating the darkness around us.”
lighting
heaped p. 187 “Miss Lilian had us trapped between the fence and a thicket of bushes and vines heaped with snow.”
Piled, layered, mounded
Comprehension Questions for Chapters 13-17
19. Why does Diana tell Lissa that they can't write to each other? Diana says that she and Georgie won't be allowed to tell Lissa where they are.
20. What do Georgie and Diana think they have to do before they can leave? Someone has to bury their real bodies and say the right words so they can rest.
21. What does Georgie do to camouflage himself so he can hide from Miss Lillian? He braids leaves and vines into his hair.
22. Who does Miss Willis think Lissa is? Diana
23. Why isn't Diana sure if she will miss Lissa? Diana doesn't know if Lissa will fade from her memory.
24. At what point in the story did you realize that Georgie and Diana were ghosts? Answers will vary.
Extension Activity #4: No key, as responses can vary. Writing Assignment #1: No key, as responses can vary.
Writing Assignment #2: No key as responses can vary.
Writing Assignment #3: No key as responses can vary.
Extension Activity #5: No Key as responses may vary.
Name: ____________________________________ Date: Administer on Day 21
The Old Willis Place Novel Study Quiz – KEY 1. What had Lissa taken from her dad’s key ring?
The key to his car
The key to the groundskeeper’s shed The key to the old Willis place
A mysterious key to an unknown place
2. Who does Georgie blame for his argument with
Diana? Lissa
MacDuff
Mr. Morrison Nero
3. Why does the county own the old Willis place? Miss Lilian went bankrupt.
Miss Lilian hated her family. Miss Lilian found out her husband sold the
house to the county. The previous owner died without a will.
4. What does Georgie steal from Lissa’s bed? A teddy bear
A computer A bike
A doll
5. What happens when Lissa opens the parlor door? A black cat jumps out of the room.
Miss Lilian escapes. Georgie slams the door shut.
She heard a noise upstairs.
6. What do Georgie and Diana think they have to do
before they can leave?
Scare the groundskeepers away forever Capture Miss Lilian
Bury the bodies and say the right words Say they are sorry to Miss Lilian
7. What is the real name of the old Willis place? Maple Hill Mansion
Oak Hill Manor Olean House
Portland Manor
8. Why does Lissa call her diary “Dee Dee”? It was easier to say than “Diary”.
It made it seem like a pen pal. Dee Dee was a friend from her last school.
It used to belong to Dee Dee.
9. How old is Diana? 12 years old
8 years old
18 years old The author never gives an age.
10. What did Diana and Georgie do the first night
Lissa moved in? They took a hammer from Mr. Morrison’s
toolbox. They left a bunch of flowers for Lissa on
the picnic table. They took Lissa’s bike for a ride.
