Because of Winn-Dixie

2001 Newbery Medal Honor Book
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Copyright: Kate DiCamillo, 2000
Publisher: Candlewick Press

Reading Level:
     Ages: 8-10
     Grade Level Equivalent: 4.1
     Lexile Measure: 610L

Five keywords/phrases to describe the book:
Fate, friendship, love, acceptance, heartwarming

Suggested Delivery: Individual read

Summary: Opal Buloni and her father, who is a preacher, have recently moved from Watley, Florida to Naomi, Florida. Leaving her whole life behind, ten-year-old Opal misses her friends, who make up for the absence of her mother, who walked out on the family. When her father sends her to the grocery store for some groceries, Opal returns with a beat up dog - and no groceries. Naming the dog Winn-Dixie after the grocery store in which she found him, Opal quickly learns that this dog may be the best friend she's ever had. He introduces her to new friends, helps her establish relationships, and brings her father out of his "turtle shell," as Opal calls it. Throughout the story, readers will be excited to learn about all the things that happen in Opal's life because of Winn-Dixie.

Vocabulary:
1) Constellations (page 28)
2) Peculiar (page 47)
3) Pathological (page 75)
4) Ignorant (page 91)
5) Vermin (page 106)
6) Sorrow (page 114)
7) Melancholy (page 121)
8) Idle (page 125)

Electronic Resources:

Winn-Dixie Quiz - This is a short, ten question quiz that students can take after reading the book to ensure complete comprehension of the story. Teachers can choose to use this as a graded quiz, or just for a simple self-check to see if all students understood the book. With the quiz being online, students receive instant feedback, with their scoring popping up once they hit submit. Correct answers are also provided for questions that were answered incorrectly.

Kate DiCamillo - This is Kate DiCamillo's website that readers can go to if they want to know more about this author, or want to read more of her books because they liked Because of Winn-Dixie. Her child-friendly website is very colorful, and very easy to navigate.

Because of Winn-Dixie Movie - Like most great novels, Because of Winn-Dixie was turned into a movie in 2005. This can be used as an extra resource on a half-day or on a day that the teacher may be unexpectedly absent from the classroom. Children love to put a visual to the story they imagined in their head, which also may help reinforce the story and help students remember it. This could also spark a class discussion about the differences between the movie and the book. This specific resource is on Netflix, for those teachers who have a Netflix account. Teachers who do not have an account may have to reach out to another video source (such as Blockbuster or RedBox), or even the town library for a copy of the movie.

Comprehension Strategies:
Before: Have students complete a vocabulary search before reading this story. Teachers will give students the list of vocabulary words needed to understand this story with their corresponding pages. Students will then search for the word, read the sentence that contains it, and write their own definition that they have constructed from seeing the word in context. Once students have done this for all 8 words, they will then go find the dictionary definitions of each word, and write them down on a master sheet. Therefore, they will have this sheet to refer to while reading the story.

During: The title of the book is Because of Winn-Dixie. In order to ensure comprehension throughout the story, have students write down everything that happens in the book because of Winn-Dixie. If students are comprehending and understanding the story, they will have a complete list of what happens in Opal's and her friends' lives because of Winn-Dixie.

After: Have a group discussion with the class as a whole centered around the questions, "What is the special ingredient in a Littmus Lozenge? Can everyone taste it? Why or why not?" This concept within the story is more of an abstract concept and may be harder for students to understand. Therefore, a class discussion will clear up any confusion students may have had about this topic while reading.

Writing: In the story, Opal has a habit of making a list of ten facts about people, and memorizing them. She does this with the information about her mother that her father provides, and with what she knows about Winn-Dixie. Have students write ten things that people should know about each of them when they first meet someone. Students can make a rough draft for teacher approval, then construct a master copy full of color and decoration that reflects who they are as a person.

Citation:

DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. Cambridge, Mass.: 
          Candlewick Press.