ECHO by Pam Munoz Ryan; A PDF and Digital Novel Study by Jean Martin

Overview:

This custom-made, ready-to-use packet is a PDF product designed for students in grades 5-8 as they read ECHO, Pam Munoz Ryan's 2016 Newbery Honor book and Kirkus Prize winner. The 40 student pages can be downloaded to create student booklets or exported as an Easel digital product and used on any device. The student pages divide the text into nine reading assignments with questions and tasks to go with each one. Included also is an answer key, a student bookmark for keeping track of the historical time frame, and a listing of common core standards (CCSS) supported in the packet.

Be sure to click on the preview above to see 24-pages of the student booklet. If you'd like to be notified when I produce new products, please follow me!

NOTE: I have also created an end-of-book test that is available in my store. The test is not included in this packet.

NOTE: Additionally, if you prefer a Google Slides version of this product, I also have that in my store which you can see here.

Skills addressed in the student pages include the following:

• demonstrating comprehension
• increasing vocabulary
• using inference
• citing textual evidence
• recognizing literary devices:
• (metaphor, simile, personification, idioms, onomatopoeia)
• noticing character traits
• comparing & contrasting
• writing to express opinions
• writing a summary
• conducting research
• using quotations
• point-of-view
• pros & cons
• interpreting expressions
• determining theme

ECHO in a nutshell:

Don’t be put off by the number of pages (590) in this book because they are wide-margined and double-spaced and the stories are so engrossing they will easily and quickly be consumed by the reader! The novel begins like a Grimm’s fairy tale and continues with three separate stories of children whose lives are changed by a harmonica that possesses magical qualities. Friedrich lives in Germany and is dealing with the rise of Hitler, Michael is an orphan living with his brother in seemingly hopeless circumstances in a Pennsylvania home for destitute children, and Ivy struggles with poverty and discrimination on the U.S. West Coast during World War II. Each of these children’s lives are forever changed by music. At the end of the book we learn how their lives are intertwined.

The book is filled with emotion and history and suspense. Kids are sure to be engaged by the elements of fantasy and at the same time will gain valuable historical perspective. ECHO is an epic story that is truly memorable.

Appropriate for students in grades 5-8. Reading level approximately 6th grade.