In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson Novel Study Unit Literature Guide

This In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Betty Bao Lord novel study is a complete low prep resource. Students practice multiple reading skills with a focus on similes and summarizing in this literature guide. After reading each chapter, students identify similes and write a “gist” statement (1-2 sentence summary of each chapter).

In addition, the Year of the Boar unit includes a wide variety of activities from which to choose including non-fiction reading selections, creative writing activities, and a sports trading card mini research project.

This is a zipped file with two secure PDF files for In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson. It includes a student PDF with all student activity pages that teachers can print as a whole group novel unit packet, for reading groups, or used with book clubs. The second PDF has all student pages with teacher notes, answer keys, student samples, and the link to a Google Drive file if you need to share student pages digitally.

Resource Includes:

Common Core Standards (4th)

Sample Pacing Chart

Discussion Topics

Gist Statements (summarizing)

Chapter Vocabulary

Creative Writing-- Create a Chinese Name

Character Chart (3 Phases of Shirley)

Cause and Effect Chart

Non-Fiction Reading (compare details in the book to non-fiction reading selections to see if the book is historically accurate)

Comparing Cultures

Compare/Contrast Shirley to Jackie Robinson

Mini Research Activity (create a sports trading card-- sample included, 2 versions)

3-Paragraph Expository Essay

2 Reading Comprehension Quizzes

Reading Comprehension Questions, 1-2 questions per chapter

Similes Chart

Chinese Zodiac Chart

**Teacher notes, answer keys, and student samples included**

**Page count includes digital notebook pages.

I use the picture book, The Name Jar by Choi, as a pre-reading activity before starting In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson with my students. CLICK HERE to see The Name Jar product.

You might also be interested in my biography product for Who Was Jackie Robinson? by Gail Herman.

To view more of my literature units for upper elementary students CLICK HERE.

Jackie Robinson, literature unit, novel studies, historical fiction, baseball, reading groups, book groups, guided reading