Becoming Muhammad Ali: A PDF Novel Study and Easel Digital Activity

OVERVIEW:

Two products in one: digital and printable! This is a ready-to-use, custom made, PDF and Easel Digital packet designed for use with middle graders reading Becoming Muhammad Ali by award-winning-authors, James Patterson and Kwame Alexander. The Easel activity included is a copy of the student workbook complete with textboxes allowing the teacher to assign it digitally and the student to complete the activities digitally when distance learning is necessary.

Included in both the PDF and Digital versions are 33-pages of independent student work, an answer key, and a list of CCSS supported. The student workbook divides the text into seven reading assignments of approximately 40 pages each. After each assignment are 4 pages of activities that go along with the text to support student reading and writing skills. Literary skills on those pages include:

• defining vocabulary
• writing crafts (simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole & idiom)
• identifying setting
• recognizing point-of-view
• demonstrating comprehension
• identifying character traits
• recognizing free verse, prose, poetry
• compare & contrast
• fact and fiction

The student pages provide essential practice in constructing written responses. All work is designed to support Common Core State Standards. The student booklet provides independent work allowing students to have directed, fun, and meaningful work while the teacher is working on small group or individual instruction. The teacher can determine the length of time students will be given to complete each assignment: it will likely range from one week to two weeks depending on whether students work entirely in class or also at home.

The novel studies I create are intended to make the student's reading experience richer and the teacher's life easier. They can be copied (either duplexed or single sided) and stapled along the side to make a workbook and then put-to-use that very same day! Alternatively, they may be used digitally as this is a PDF and TpT Digital product. Questions and tasks in the workbook are created to promote high level thinking and prompt quality group discussions. The student booklets can be given to a parent or aide to direct a book club or literature circle or discussion group. They can be used as class work or as homework. They can be used to assess student understanding. I hope you will find them as helpful and all-encompassing as I have!

Becoming Muhammad Ali in a Nutshell:

A unique biographical novel! What makes this book especially unique is that it is part prose and part poetry (mainly free verse). It tells the story of Ali's life as Cassius Clay, before changing his name to Muhammad Ali. Part of the story is in the voice of his best friend, Lucky, whose prose shines brightly on their close friendship. But, the bulk of the story is told in a rap-style free verse that shows the creative, confident personality of the famous boxer. Readers of all abilities and interests should find this fun and informative.

Published in October, 2020 and written by two beloved authors: James Patterson and Kwame Alexander. This is a great book for history buffs, boxing enthusiasts, and demonstrating civil rights issues in the U.S. in the 50s & 60s. It models self-esteem, perseverance, goal-setting, and the strength of family bonds. The book is written in both free verse and prose.