Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys Novel Study - Updated February 2022

Inspired by the real-life tragedy of the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff, the greatest maritime disaster in history, this historical fiction story will not be forgotten by readers! As in Between Shades of Gray, Sepetys unearths a shockingly little-known casualty of a gruesome war and proves that humanity and love can prevail, even in the darkest of hours.

Summary

As World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Joana, Emilia, and Florian, paths converge as they travel to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff.

This Unit contains: (69 Total Pages) – pdf files and editable Word documents included

· Pre-Reading Small-Group Assignment – Students read and construct a Timeline Wall (Includes Teacher’s guide) – (23 pages) Updated Feb 2022

· Novel Study Suggested Reading Guide – Containing suggestions for the 3 weeks of the novel study. Includes a step-by-step guide for each day, ideas for reading strategies, and video resources at the end of the novel study. (2 pages)

· Novel Study Questions Handout – There are over 400 questions (by chapter) that can be used as “running quiz questions” as students read. Since the chapters are not numbered, students numbered them as they read them. (12 pages)

The questions are only literal questions that can be used as daily running quizzes as students read the novel. Instructors are free to create their own higher order thinking questions for this novel.

· Novel Study Answers for Question which includes page numbers where answers can be found (13 pages)

· Vocabulary Handouts for 2 sections of the novel study (Part 1 & 2) (2 pages)

· Two Novel Tests - Tests 1 & 2 Each includes an optional Essay assignment (8 pages) Updated Feb 2022

· Three Grading Rubrics for Optional Essays Test 1 (3 pages) Added Feb 2022

· Grading Rubric for Optional Essay for Final Test (1 page) Added Feb 2022

· Answers included for both tests (2 pages)

· End of the novel Pamphlet Assignment with links to online resources (1 page)

· Pamphlet Example to show the students (2 pages) Updated Feb 2022