Welcome to the
Adventure of
You want your kids to really love Johnny Tremain. Maybe you
loved the book yourself, and you want to pass its joys along to
them. You probably want them to love all great books – wellwritten books that can pull them into another world, turn time
upside down, and gobble up whole Sunday afternoons. Books
that lead to incidental learning about history, geography, math,
science, people and character. Books that will stay with your
kids for the rest of their lives.
We do too! That’s why we founded LitWits.
In our popular workshops, we share sensory objects and
experiences straight from the story. It’s like a field trip into the
book! Kids get into the characters’ world from the inside out,
sharing its sights, tastes, textures, smells and sounds. By
engaging with a great book in these hands-on, enjoyable,
memorable ways, kids learn without trying. Most importantly,
they want to read more.
We want your students* to have this experience too!
This LitWits Kit includes sensory prop suggestions, project and
activity ideas, takeaway topics, and academic handouts with keys. There’s enough here to keep your learners
busy for a whole day or a few weeks, depending on your needs and goals. Its content is a product of our
workshop planning, but you don’t have to hold a workshop. Decide what works best for your classroom or
family! Your quest is to make great books fun and memorable for
kids – so they’ll want to read more.
The adventure, though, is up to you. Off you go!
Jenny & Becky
LitWits Workshops
Santa Cruz, California
*Students of all ages love hands-on learning; you know best what your kids are ready for and
capable of. We find that 9-12-year-olds are usually best prepared for the activities in this guide.
Copyright LitWits Workshops, LLC © 2014 | The LitWits Kit for Johnny Tremain
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Rustic bread and cheese
Lantern with battery-operated candle
Oranges, lemons, and limes
British flag
Old ewer
Punch with slices of limes, lemons, and oranges
Pewter or tin mugs
Red coat
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Template for textural map project
Copyright LitWits Workshops, LLC © 2014 | The LitWits Kit for Johnny Tremain
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LitWits Workshops
Name
Johnny Tremain | Esther Forbes
ThemeSeekers
Symbols & Themes
Shaping Up
When you notice that several parts of a story share an idea in common, you’re hot on the trail of a theme. Let’s
look closely at some of the most important objects, events, goals, and actions of Johnny Tremain, and then see if
we can spot what they have in common.
1.
Silver is a natural element that can be
shaped (or synonym)
into beautiful, valuable objects.
2.
A crucible is a container used for
melting
metal.
3.
Johnny’s hand is
4.
Johnny roams Boston in anger one night, until he finally
maimed (or synonym)
by the accident with the cracked crucible.
collapses and cries (or variation)
on his mother’s grave.
5.
Rab’s quiet confidence, respect, and patience are good for hot-headed Johnny, and their friendship
helps him begin to
develop (or synonym)
into a man.
6.
The Sons of Liberty want to
change
the way Britain taxes America.
7.
The Revolution begins because America wants to
separate
.
from Britain and be independent, even though war will cost many lives.
8.
When Rab dies, Johnny agrees to have surgery to
repair (or synonym)
his hand – not for the
purpose of silversmithing, but to help fight for freedom for all.
Look at the words you’ve filled in and think about what they have in common. What’s one word that describes
how they’re alike?
They all have to do with
frightening or painful. What’s the end result?
change
, and oftens it’s
Things (and people) are better than before
What do you think the author is saying that’s true for all of us, anytime?
Possible response: Going through difficulties can help us change for the better.
There! You’ve just found the theme of this book! See how easy that was?
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About the Authors
The authors are sisters, best friends, and partners in LitWits Workshops, LLC.
Jenny Clendenen Walicek has a BA in English literature and is completing her MFA in creative writing.
She’s been a teacher and tutor, and her essays, poetry, and scholarship have appeared in various literary
and peer-reviewed academic journals.
Becky Clendenen Kimball is a literature-based homeschool teacher, a journalism major who spent four
years as newspaper staff writer, and the creator of a study skills curriculum.
Terms of Use
You are granted exclusive use of our products in download or print version as follows: You have the right of reproduction that is limited to your
use only in whatever quantity is necessary to meet your needs and those of your student participants. This right is unlimited and extends for as
long as you need the materials during which time they cannot be given to or shared with any other person(s) through any means of delivery,
materially or digitally via the Internet. As such you have the right to store the product(s) on the hard drive of your computer or as hard copy in
your resource file. Any misuse of these rights is in violation of copyright law. LitWits® is a registered trademark of LitWits Workshops, LLC.
®
The LitWits Kit for Johnny Tremain
© Copyright 2014 by LitWits Workshops, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
www.LitWitsWorkshops.com | [email protected]