A Guide for Using Catherine, Called Birdy in the Classroom Based on the novel written by Karen Cushman This guide written by Lynda Duffy Wilson Teacher Created Materials, Inc. 6421 Industry Way Westminster, CA 92683 www.teachercreated.com 1998 Teacher Created Materials, Inc. Reprinted, 2003 Made in U.S.A. ISBN 1-57690-139-4 Edited by Mary Kaye Taggart Illustrated by Fonglee Guo Cover Art by Wendy Chang The classroom teacher may reproduce copies of materials in this book for classroom use only. The reproduction of any part for an entire school or school system is strictly prohibited. No part of this publication may be transmitted, stored, or recorded in any form without written permission from the publisher.
Table of Contents Introduction.................................................................... 3 Sample Lesson Plan.............................................................. 4 Before the Book (Pre-reading Activities)............................................... 5 About the Author................................................................ 6 Book Summary................................................................. 7 Vocabulary Lists................................................................ 8 Vocabulary Activity Ideas......................................................... 9 SECTION 1 (September October).................................................. 10 Literary Analysis: Notable and Quotable Social Studies Connection: We All Have Needs Background: Why Were the Jews Expelled from England? SECTION 2 (November December)................................................. 16 Fun and Games in the Middle Ages Writing Activity: I Wonder... Background: Crime and Punishment in the Middle Ages SECTION 3 (January February)................................................... 21 Writing Activity: How Observant Are You? Background: The Feudal System Literary Analysis: Thinking Metaphorically SECTION 4 (March April)........................................................ 25 Cooperative Mathematical Investigation: What s Your Opinion? Writing and Literary Analysis: Rollo, Called the Beast Background: Medical Care Let the Patient Beware SECTION 5 (May June).......................................................... 29 Cooperative Art Activity: Illumination Role Playing Characters: Can We Talk? Literary Analysis: A Report Card for Birdy SECTION 6 (July September)..................................................... 33 Connection to Your Life: Stages in Dealing with Change After the Book (Post-reading Activities) Transfer to Another Medium: Coming Soon to a Theater Near You...................... 35 Literary Analysis: What Every Story Must Have.................................... 36 Literary Analysis: Identifying Values Reflected in Literature........................... 38 Research Ideas................................................................. 42 Unit Test Options............................................................... 43 Bibliography of Related Reading.................................................. 46 Answer Key................................................................... 47 #2139 Literature Unit 2 Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
Introduction One of the most enjoyable things about teaching is discovering a book as riveting and as worthy of discussion as Catherine, Called Birdy. From the moment that Birdy writes in her journal that she has been commanded to write an account of her days, and that she is bit by fleas and plagued by family, Karen Cushman encourages readers to see the Middle Ages through the eyes of this rebellious teenage girl. The world Birdy describes is raucous, gritty, and primitive by modern standards, yet the issues Birdy raises are often universal and compelling even for readers today. Issues such as the role of women, the place of religion in daily life, anti-semitism, how punishment is handed out to criminals, the treatment of animals, the misuse of alcohol, the quality of medical care, and more are discussed in Cushman s carefully researched historical novel. Catherine, Called Birdy provides many opportunities for students to discuss the values of the Middle Ages and draw comparisons with contemporary life. This literature unit will entertain and provide a wealth of teachable moments. Teachers who use it will find the features listed below. It is hoped that these activities will be a catalyst for the teacher s own creativity. A Sample Lesson Plan Pre-reading Activities A Biographical Sketch of the Author A Book Summary Vocabulary Lists and Vocabulary Activity Ideas Chapters of the book, grouped by months, which include quizzes hands-on projects cooperative learning opportunities cross-curricular activities writing lessons connections to relate to the reader s own life Post-reading Activities, including a step-by-step lesson plan to examine the values presented in the novel a concept development lesson on story structure an opportunity to plan a movie from the book Research Ideas Three Different Options for Unit Tests A Bibliography of Related Reading An Answer Key We are confident that this unit will be a valuable addition to your literature planning and that as you use our ideas, your students will discover the rich companionship to be found in good books. Teacher Created Materials, Inc. 3 #2139 Literature Unit
Catherine, Called Birdy Vocabulary Activity Ideas This unit contains a vocabulary list for each section. There are many ways for the students to study the words individually, in groups, or as a class. You can help your students learn and retain the vocabulary in Catherine, Called Birdy by providing them with interesting vocabulary activities. Here are some suggestions. Preview a section word list in the following way to check your prior knowledge: a. Go through the list and put a K (know) before the words that you are sure you can define. b. Put a P before the words that you think you can pronounce correctly. c. Listen as your teacher pronounces each word and gives its definition. How well did you predict your understanding of the words? Find and copy the sentence in which the word occurs. Underline the word. Then write a synonym or synonymous phrase next to the underlined word. Look at the words for the section. Which ones have root words? Highlight them. What other words can you make from the root words that you have identified? How are these words related to the original vocabulary word? Sort your word list into three columns by connotation. Make columns for positive, negative, and neutral words. Discuss how knowing a word s connotation is important. Pick five of the words on your list and see how often you can use them while speaking and writing during the week. Tally your results for the week. What strategies did you use to remember to include these words in your speaking and writing? Have students make word search puzzles. Students can then exchange their puzzles with a partner and try to find vocabulary words on their partner s puzzle. They may use fluorescent or neon markers to highlight the words as they are located. Categorize the vocabulary words. Have students work in groups or as a class to sort the words into, for example, adjectives, nouns, and verbs. As each word is categorized, the students discuss the reason for placing the word in a particular list. They should categorize the word according to the way in which it is used in Catherine, Called Birdy. This provides an opportunity to discuss multiple meanings and how one often must know how a word is being used in context before one can know what that word means. Remind students that they also need to know how the word is being used in context in order to categorize it. Play a class Vocabulary Bingo game. Give each student a blank Bingo grid. Have students place one vocabulary word in each space on the grid. Students may place the words in any order. Then, randomly choose and read the vocabulary definitions. Students place markers over the words that match the definitions read. A student wins by covering a row or column of words. Teacher Created Materials, Inc. 9 #2139 Literature Unit
Catherine, Called Birdy Quiz Time Section 1: September October Directions: Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Write complete sentences. 1. Why does Birdy begin writing a journal? Is she happy about doing it? 2. What is the setting (time and place) of the novel? 3. What is Birdy s attitude toward her father? How do you know this? 4. What is Birdy s impression of Perkin? 5. What jobs does Birdy do at the manor where she lives? How does Birdy feel about the jobs she has? 6. What is the attitude toward Jews in England at the time of the novel? How do you know this? 7. How does the novel show that Birdy does not agree with the prevailing attitude toward Jews? 8. What does Birdy s attitude toward the Jews who stay at her manor tell the reader about Birdy s character? 9. How do her journal entries change after Birdy receives the marvelous small book of saints? 10. What are some of the jobs Birdy considers she could do if she were to run away from home? 11. Why does Birdy want to keep the book of saints rather than give it to her mother? Give two reasons. 12. What do the phrases that Uncle George teaches to Birdy (page 35) imply about the lifestyle of crusaders? 13. What worry does Birdy have about the relationship of Uncle George and her friend Aelis? #2139 Literature Unit 10 Teacher Created Materials, Inc.