Lesson Plan Aid
for Book Punch® - Dragonwings
Grade level 5
Lexile Framework for Reading Measure 870L
Table of Contents
Introduction to Book Punch® ........................................................................................................................ 1
Printables ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
Text-to-Self.................................................................................................................................................... 2
Evidence and Inference ................................................................................................................................ 3
Reading Check.............................................................................................................................................. 4
Curriculum Integration................................................................................................................................... 5
Vocabulary................................................................................................................................................. 5
Character Exploration................................................................................................................................ 6
Group Work and Discussion - Pre-writing ................................................................................................. 6
Additional Writing Prompts ........................................................................................................................ 6
Printable Worksheet Links ............................................................................................................................ 7
Introduction to Book Punch®
Book Punch guides students through the steps of thinking and writing about well-known core literature for
grade levels 3 through 9. Students write paragraphs or essays responding to interactive writing prompts.
The program tutors students to develop ideas and organize their thinking about books they read.
Each program in the Merit Book Punch collection focuses on one book title. Each contains 6-7 writing
prompts, 600 supporting questions and 600 helpful tips to guide students through each step in the writing
process. The program for each book title comprises 3 online interactive units as follows:
•
Text-to-Self: Based on themes from the book, students write paragraphs about their own
experiences.
•
Evidence and Inference: Students write paragraphs or essays that connect details with ideas in
the book to infer a deeper meaning from what they are reading.
•
Reading Check: Students write a paragraph about facts and/or events from the book to ensure
that they have read it.
Together, these units develop students’ reading comprehension and writing skills in complementary ways.
Printables
Each Book Punch title includes 11 printable worksheets, a lesson plan aid, and the Book Punch® Series
Manual with detailed instructions for implementation. The documents can be viewed and printed from My
Learning Center. Self-learners and teachers click the course name; tutors and parents click the Programs
link and then click the Book Punch title.
All printables can also be viewed and printed from the links provided on the last page of this document..
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Book Punch® – Dragonwings
page 2 of 7
Text-to-Self
Text-to-Self writing prompts help to enrich students’ reading experience. Students write paragraphs that
help them relate their own experiences to events that take place in the book. See the topics listed below.
Text-to-Self Topic 1
In the story, Windrider explains to Moon Shadow how he got the name "Windrider." He tells about his
former life as a healer and describes how his experiences in that former life reveal themselves in his
present life. Write about what you might have been in a former life.
Text-to-Self Topic 2
In the story, Moon Shadow tells Black Dog that "... we don't owe things just to ourselves." Moon Shadow
is explaining why they sacrifice and work so hard to send money home to those left behind in China.
Write about a responsibility you have towards something or someone.
Text-to-Self Topic 3
In the story, Windrider pursues his dream of flying. Without help from family and friends, however, he
would not have been able to achieve his goal. Write about something you aspired to. Describe the help
you were given to accomplish it.
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Book Punch® – Dragonwings
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Evidence and Inference
See the writing prompts below and the accompanying list of questions, the answers to which should be
included in a satisfactory paragraph. Help students determine whether they have recognized (inferred)
the ideas in the book from the details (evidence) given.
Evidence and Inference Topic 1
People need support wherever they live, but it is especially important when they have been transplanted
to a new land. Write a paragraph about the Company and the way it supports Moon Shadow and his
father.
(This topic is recommended for students who have read through Chapter 2, "The Company.")
1. What kind of organization is the Company and who runs it?
2. What does Moon Shadow discover about the Company?
3. What benefits do the members of the Company receive from each other?
4. How did the Company help Father bring Moon Shadow to America from China?
Evidence and Inference Topic 2
People often fear what they don't know or understand. What does Moon Shadow learn when he leaves
the Tang people's town to live with Mrs. Whitlaw?
(This topic is recommended for students who have read through Chapter 7, "Educations.")
1. What does Moon Shadow think about the "demons," white Americans, while he is living in the
Company?
2. In Moon Shadow's imagination, how might the "demoness" he will be living with appear?
3. What does Moon Shadow discover about Mrs. Whitlaw's appearance when he meets her in person?
4. When Moon Shadow gets to know Mrs. Whitlaw, his opinion of her character changes. What is it about
Mrs. Whitlaw that causes Moon Shadow to change his mind about the "white demoness"?
Evidence and Inference Topic 3
Disasters can bring out the best or the worst in people. What disaster occurred in San Francisco in 1906,
and how did the various citizens react?
(This topic is recommended for students who have read Chapter 10, "Aroused.")
1. What was the tragedy that struck San Francisco in 1906? Include the month and time this event
occurred.
2. Describe the situation around the stable where Moon Shadow is living just after the disaster.
3. Describe the two different reactions people display after the tragedy.
4. Mrs. Whitlaw surprises Moon Shadow and his father with her method of convincing others to help
during the disaster. How does Mrs. Whitlaw convince people to help others in trouble?
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Book Punch® – Dragonwings
page 4 of 7
Reading Check
The Reading Check unit evaluates students’ paragraphs using a key point check to determine if the
student has read the book. See the Reading Check writing prompt below and the list of questions that
accompany it, the answers to which should be included in a satisfactory paragraph.
Reading Check Topic
In the story, Father has a lifelong ambition. Fulfilling it affects his relationship with two important people in
his life. Write a paragraph that describes Father's goal and tell how he achieves it.
1. Moon Shadow's father works in Uncle's laundry but wants to be doing something else. What does he
want to do?
2. Father has a dream that symbolizes his desire to fly. In the dream, what accompanies him when he
flies?
3. Father needs help to achieve his goal. How does Moon Shadow help him?
4. Finally, even Uncle's attitude changes. How does Uncle help Father fulfill his life's ambition?
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Book Punch® – Dragonwings
page 5 of 7
Curriculum Integration
See the Book Punch Series Manual. The Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary section and the
Beyond the Program section provide detailed instructions for implementing vocabulary, character and
pre-writing lessons. The Book Punch Series Manual includes printable worksheets for these lessons.
Vocabulary
See the Vocabulary Exploration worksheet in the Book Punch Series Manual. Thematic words from
Dragonwings that can be explored include:
VOCABULARY
DEFINITION
assimilation
Becoming part of another group
assumption
Something taken for granted
brotherhood
Fellowship
corruption
Dishonesty for personal profit
discrimination
Unfair treatment based on which group a person belongs to
harassment
Continuing annoyance
immigration
Moving to another country
stereotype
Oversimplified image of something
Vocabulary particular to the time and setting of Dragonwings include:
VOCABULARY
DEFINITION
compensation
Something given or received for services
demon
An evil spirit
dowry
A gift that a wife brings to a husband upon marriage
dung
Animal manure
endure
Survive; persist
flatiron
A non-electric iron with a flat bottom
guild
A group of people with similar professional skills
lynch
Hang to death by mob action
mealy
Powdery, soft, and dry
mouthed
Pronounced without making noise
opium
A drug made from the poppy flower
queue
A line of people
Shanghai
A city in China
skirmish
A small battle
tuberculosis
A disease of the lungs
The Word Search Puzzle and Crossword Puzzle worksheets that are included contain many of the words
above. They can be used to reinforce the vocabulary in the book.
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Book Punch® – Dragonwings
page 6 of 7
Character Exploration
See the Character Exploration worksheet and the Compare and Contrast worksheet in the Book Punch
Series Manual. Here are suggested character exploration prompts for classroom discussion:
Imagine that Moon Shadow is your friend in real life. Write words and phrases that would help
you describe him to someone who doesn’t know him. (What does Moon Shadow look like? What
kind of personality does he have? What does he like to do?)
Compare and contrast Moon Shadow with Windrider or another character in the book.
Group Work and Discussion - Pre-writing
See the Brainstorming worksheet in the Book Punch Series Manual. Here is a suggested topic for
classroom discussion:
In the story, Moon Shadow realizes that the Company provides its members with support and
help. The members of the Company are bound together like brothers. Write about a group you
belong to or have belonged to in the past in which the members support and help one another.
(This topic is recommended for students who have read through Chapter 4, "Tests.")
Additional Writing Prompts
See the Independent Follow-up worksheet in the Book Punch Series Manual. Using the context of
Dragonwings, and the Independent Follow-up worksheet, students may continue the writing process after
publishing their paragraphs from Book Punch. Here are two additional topics students can write about:
At the beginning of the story, Moon Shadow leaves his home in China to be united with the father
he has never known. Write about what you think it would be like to be separated from an
important person in your life and then to be brought together with him or her.
(This topic is recommended for students who have read through Chapter 3, "The Dragon Man.")
One of the author's purposes in writing "Dragonwings" was to dispel some of the myths regarding
the Chinese immigrants who came to this country in the early twentieth century and to describe
the difficulties they faced in order to make a life here. Write a paragraph describing some of the
difficulties and prejudices faced by the Chinese immigrants in the story.
(This topic is recommended for students who have read through the entire book.)
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Book Punch® – Dragonwings
page 7 of 7
Printable Worksheet Links
You must be connected to the Internet to access these links.
Crossword Puzzle - starter
Crossword Puzzle - challenge
Word Search Puzzle
Evidence and Inference Worksheet
See the Book Punch® Series Manual for additional printable worksheets.
copyright © 2008 Merit Software
Merit Software • www.bookpunch.com • 800-753-6488 • 212-675-8567