Song of the Trees--Complex Text Novel Unit by Mildred D. Taylor

This comprehensive novel unit uses proven strategies that hold students accountable for high levels of engagement in rigorous, high-interest complex text. The Song of the Trees is a highly acclaimed historical fiction novel that is based in 1930's Mississippi. Its author Mildred D. Taylor has long been recognized as one of the most distinguished authors of historical fiction. This book reveals themes and issues regarding race that every child of every background should reflect upon. This book is small in size but rich in content and is a must-read novel for any 4-9th grader-- especially in studies of civil rights. This unit helps to scaffold reading comprehension for many types of readers in various formats. This unit serves as an ideal vehicle for engaging students in high quality independent reading with scaffolded support. This can be used for homework with high accountability for engaged thinking or to prepare for Literature Circles. It can be used for highly engaging intervention groups, book groups, and novel studies for at-risk to advanced readers (and everyone in between). This unit includes character analysis activities, an essay project based on theme that requires the reader to find evidence throughout the novel, three sections of scaffolded comprehension questions, three sets of vocabulary support worksheets and answer keys.