Echo, 2016 Newbery Honor Book, by Pam Munoz Ryan

Echo is a symphony of four stories. The introduction is a fantasy. The others are historical fiction, all connected by one musical instrument whose power saddens, comforts, revives, cheers, rejoices, and provides hope in the hands that hold it.

The Introduction, a fantasy, begins in Germany, fifty years before the war to end all wars.

In 1933, fifteen years later in the same country, the second story begins. Young Friedrich Schmitt and his family find themselves threatened by the rise of Nazism, led by Adolph Hitler, the evil Chancellor of Germany.

The third story begins in an orphanage in the United States of America in 1935 during The Great Depression. Two brothers are being raised by their grandmother who allows them to sit beside her while she teaches piano lessons. The boys become accomplished pianists. When Granny gets sick, she looks for the best orphanage for the boys and settles for Bishop's Home for Friendless and Destitute Children, convinced by the old piano in the Visiting Room.

The fourth story in the Echo symphony, set in a barrio of California in 1942. World War II is raging. Ivy, the daughter of a Mexican farm worker lives in the music she plays on her harmonica.

In the Kids Wings Literature Guide, after three of the stories, students are given the opportunity to write the last chapter as a conclusion. Going through the writing process, students will share their conclusions and compare them to those in the last chapter of Echo that provides the surprising ribbon to tie the four stories together.

Activities in 112-page Literature Guide by Suzy Red include:
Introduction and Fairy Tale:
Overview Discussion Cards
Fly Over! A Bird’s Eye View
Fairy Tale Vocabulary Game
The Prophecy, A 3-page Readers' Theater Script
Preparing Your Intellectual Tools, Dialectical Journal
Vocabulary by Chapters in Introduction
Making Connections, Predict and Confirm Questions—Fairy Tale Introduction
A Fairy Tale Introduction, Multiple Choice

Part 1
Discussion Cards for Nazi Germany
Where in the World Is Germany? Map Activities
The Power of Music
Friedrich’s Story Begins, A 2-page Readers' Theater Script
Vocabulary in Part 1, Chapters 1-26
Making Connections--Chapters 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-15, 16-21, 22-26
Chapter Titles and Pre- and Post-Reading Discussion Guides
Beginning of Change, Part 1, Chapters 1-3, Multiple Choice
5 Character Studies
Figures of Speech! Get the Picture?
The Research Song
Research and Report:
Who Was Mattias Hohner?
Who Was Adolph Hitler?
Dachau, A Research Report
The Factory, Answer and Illustrate, Chapters 4-6
Startling Revelations, Multiple Choice, Chapters 7-9
Defending What I Believe
Visualizing Chapters 10-15
Vocabulary Check-up, Chapters 16-21
Echoes of Hitler’s Germany, Visualizing Chapters 1-26
The Missing Ending, Chapter 27

Part 2
Discussion Cards
Mike’s Story Begins, 3-page Readers' Theater Script
Vocabulary in Part 2, Chapters 1-23
Making Connections, Part 2, Chapters 1-5, 6-11, 12-15, 16-20, 21-24
Titles and Pre- and Post-Reading Discussion Guides
Part 2, Chapters 1-5, Multiple Choice
6 Character Studies
Part 2: Visualizing Chapters 6-11
Understanding the Story, Part 2, Chapters 12-15, Multiple Choice & Short Answer
Hoxie’s Harmonica Wizards: A Research Report
Part 2: The Missing Ending, Chapter 25

Part 3
Pre-reading Discussion Cards
Vocabulary List with Suggestions
Making Connections, Part 3, Chapters 1-5, 6-11, 12-15, 16-21
Titles and Pre- and Post-Reading Discussion Guides
Part 3: The Missing Ending, Chapter 22
Visualizing Chapters 1-5, Part 3
Character Studies
Research and Report: "My Country Tis of Thee"
The Yamamoto Family, Part 3, Chapter 6: Finish the Sentences
A Growing Friendship, Part 3, Chapters 7-10, Multiple Choice
Discovery, Relief, and Dread, Part 3, Chapters 16-21

Part 4
From Precipice to Performance, Part 4, Finalization Chart
Comparing Four Characters
Fly Over! A Bird’s Eye View, Completed Teacher Answer Page

Plus, an interactive Jeopardy-type game!
5 Categories, 25 Questions and Answers PLUS a Bonus Question

The Literature Guide comes in both PowerPoint and PDF formats.
The interactive Jeopardy-type game is in PowerPoint.

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