Introductory Activities:

Do these activities before you start reading Because of Winn-Dixie.

• Research the author of this book (Kate DiCamillo) and see what interesting information you can find to add to this page.
• Hi this is Lydia.  I reaserched Kate DiCamillo and she is cool. I found out that... She was born in Philadelphia, Pensylvania, raised in Clermont, Florda, and Curnety lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota so as you can see, she lived in lots of places in her long life and she is still living today.  She writes for both children and adaults and she likes to think of herself as a storyteller. 
• I think Kate's  books are very goog she adds many details and loves to write about Winn-Dixie well that is my opinion. Kat is a great writter for these books and I would love to read more.
• She was born in  Philadelphia , Pensylvania, raised in Clermont,Froilda, and curently lived in Minnesota. She writes for children and adults and she likes to think of her as a storyteller. She is short, loud ,hates to cook. She is single, childless but she has lots of freinds and she is a aunt of three lovely children [Luke,Roxanne,Max] and of a not so lovely dog [henry]. She thinks she is a very lucky person.  
• Previewing the Book: Look at the cover of the book and answer the five Ws: Who? What? Where? When? Why?  Based on your answers, write your prediction about what  you think this book will be about.
• Lauren: I think the who's are Winn-Dixie and the owners.The what is that Winn- Dixie caused something bad.I think the where is in the owner's house and many other places. I think the when is one day in August and July. I think the why is Winn- Dixie saw something/someone and she wants to get it.
• Hi it's Lydia again.  I think that the book is going to be about a dog that causes a lot of trouble and is sweet to.  I hope that this book will be good.  Mrs. Edwards says that it is one of her favorite books in a lot.  It most be good!
• Lydia: I think that this book will be about all the crazy and interesting things that Winn-Dixie did.  I think that Winn-Dixie will be about a dag and where he comes from, how he even did come in the book, why he came or she, and her/his life in where ever the setting is !
• Free write: Choose one of the following prompts to freewrite about it for at least 5 minutes:
  • What would you do if you moved to a new town?
  • Describe a time when you felt lonely.
  • Describe what you think Florida is like.
  • Write about a time when you considered an adult a friend.
  • Lydia: I choose question number one, What would you do if you moved to a new town? Answer: I wounld probuly fell as if I where in a compleatly new world with new colors, new launguage, new area, and new amazing things that I haven't disovered yet.
  • I thought my mom was a freind one time because she was really  nice just like a mom but she wasn't really acting like a mom!

During Reading

Here is a WebQuest for you to complete as you read through this book: http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/boswell/

Here are literature circle activities and questions that you will complete as you read through this book: http://www.ltl.appstate.edu/litcircleunits/litcirunits_Spring02/Winn_dixie/group1/group1_index.htm

Culminating and Extension Activities:

After you have read this book, answer these questions and do these activities.

1. Write a list of ten qualities that describe who you are. As models, use the lists describing Opal's mother and Winn-Dixie. (See pp. 26-30 and 162-163 for the model lists)

Lydia:1. Funny

         2. smart

         3. loves to write poems

         4. likes to draw

         5. wants to be a poet when grown up

         6. curyise

          7. loves Magic Tree House Books

           8. is acidemicly gifted

         9. favorite animal is a snake

         10. has two fun sisters

Lauren: 1. fun

2. creative

3. funny

4. intelligent

5. has two sisters

6. favorite animal is a rabbit

7. favorite restrant is italin

8. is a party lover

9. likes to read

10. good writer on stories

2. Imagine Miss Frannie the librarian has asked you to tell a story about something amazing that happened to you. Think about something that's happened in your life that would make a great story. Then write your story and share it with the group. Make sure your story has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Once I was outside and I looked up at the sky.  It was alight blue with so many swirles of pink.  As you can tell it was evening and I as at the pond witch is my nighborhood pond!  It is by the woods and is very small.  I go there all the time.  I think it is a very peiceful place.  I always like to go there and then into the woods I go.  Today I went into the woods and saw something that I had never seen before.  It was a little waterfall and very pretty to. It had a small curve and that's what semmed so speacil.  I saw then aracoon jump out from behind the bushes and then run into the woods and disipear then so I couldn't see it anymore.  I walked over and followed the stream and then found that you could go across it and end up on the other side of the bend.   From then on I could clim my way up then so I could find myself standing and then I would run over and under trees that had fallen over and logs of all sizes and shapes.  I thought that it could be like a jongle gym going up, down, this way, and that way, swirling everywhere.  I then found myself standing on a log and in the air .  Then something fell on my head.  It felt cold and then sudenly I saw the geese flieing over me and sudenly new what this cold greenish thing on my haed was and I never ever thought go up there again .  For on my head  was a long, fat, sticky, green, piece of bird I mean geese pope!!!!!!  

3. Opal wants to create a dog-care handbook for her class based on her experiences caring for Winn-Dixie. What would the handbook say? Create a handbook and make sure to include tips on feeding, grooming, and other important information.