FREAK THE MIGHTY UNIT PLAN
This unit plan for Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick has everything you will need to teach the award-winning novel. With over 230 pages/slides of eye-catching PowerPoints, printable assignments, questions, vocabulary, and interactive class activities and assignments, you will have everything you need!
INCLUDED IN YOUR PURCHASE:
INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION
•14 slide PowerPoint introductory presentation that includes fun pre-reading discussion, an interactive class activity, an author biography, a fun review quiz, and information on the novel and genre.
HASHTAG POSTERS
• Create a "Freak the Mighty Hashtag of The Week/Day" board that includes 10 inspiring quotes from the novel. The hashtags (#) will relate to the quote and tell your students which character said the quote.
CHAPTER SUMMARY CARDS
• Chapter Summary Cards – printable cards that you can keep handy for those students who struggle with reading comprehension. They can also be useful if a student is looking for a particular part of the plot. They can check the summary cards to find the correct chapter!
READING QUIZZES
• 5 Reading quizzes that include multiple choice questions and quotes from the novel. Students need to explain what is happening at this particular point in the plot based on the quote.
• A detailed answer key for each quiz is included
VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT PRESENTATION & BOOKLET
• A PowerPoint presentation explaining to students how to determine the meaning of an unknown word using context.
• A Freak the Mighty Vocabulary Booklet for students with quotes from the novel that use challenging vocabulary. Students use context to determine the meaning of the bolded word. There is also a place for the actual definition to be inserted.
• A 29 Slide PowerPoint presentation to go over each of the vocabulary words with synonyms/definitions for students to easily understand the new terms (organized by chapter sets)
READING QUESTIONS
• Reading Questions Handout – A ready-to-print set of reading questions that include basic comprehension questions and Making Connection questions.
• A 35 Slide PowerPoint presentation that includes all the answers to the questions for easy review with the whole class.
ANALYSIS NOTES
• A 23 slide PowerPoint presentation. The notes discuss some of the most important aspects of the novel organized by 5 chapter sets in the novel. The notes address characterization, theme, setting, atmosphere, symbolism and more! Your students will have a deeper understanding of the novel after you use this resource.
VIDEO JOURNAL PROMPTS
• Included is a PowerPoint with links to 5 videos which connect to each part of the novel. Please note that the videos are not about the novel specifically, but connect to something that happens in the chapters in either content or theme. This allows students to consider how the content or themes from the novel connect to the world today. YouTube is required.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENTS
• Your purchase includes 5 print-ready worksheets with examples from the novel that include an example of either metaphor, simile, personification, idiom, hyperbole, or onomatopoeia. Also included is a detailed answer key for you to mark or review the answers with your students!
IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS
CH 1 - 5: EXAMINING STEREOTYPES & FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Students will examine a variety of images around the classroom and will complete independent questions that will elicit stereotypical responses. With their group, they will discuss their answers and examine their first impressions. This is always an eye-opener for students and it helps them empathize with the characters in the novel.
CH 6 - 10: BULLYING ROLE-PLAY ACTIVITY
In the novel, Max experiences bullying by his classmates and Freak comes to his rescue. Use this moment to help students make a text-to-world connection by examining the role that bullying plays in their school or community and offering suggestions for their classmates on how to deal if they are being bullied or if they witness someone else being bullied. Includes a presentation and prompt cards for writing bullying role-play scenarios.
CH 11 - 15: CREATE A DICTIONARY
At Christmas in the novel Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick, Freak gives Max a home-made dictionary with his own definitions. Use this moment to encourage students to create their own dictionary entries of their favorite words with creative definitions like the ones Freak uses.
CH 16 - 20: KANE CHARACTER ACTIVITIES
Use these two creative assignments to help your students analyze the character of Kane. Students create a Wanted poster for Killer Kane and/or write a letter as Kane to Max while he is in prison. Included in a template page where students can draft their letter.
CH 21 - 25: MORQUIO SYNDROME ASSIGNMENT
Kevin suffers from a condition where is body is too small for his growing body. Philbrick has stated that the condition Kevin has is called Morquio syndrome. Use this activity to have students research this syndrome and create an informative brochure.
FREAK'S OBITUARY ASSIGNMENT
Have students write an obituary for Kevin after he passes away.
POST-READING ASSIGNMENTS
DISCUSSION PROMPTS
Help your students make text-to-self connections with the with these fun discussion cards that can be used in pairs, small groups, or even as a whole-class discussion. You can also use the cards as a writing prompt!
LYRICS / MUSIC ASSIGNMENT
Have students make a musical connection between the lyrics of 3 songs and the plot, characters, and themes in the novel.
PLOT DIAGRAM ASSIGNMENT
Included is a blank student version of the plot diagram for them to fill out, as well as a detailed teacher copy/answer key.
YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
One of the recurring ideas in the novel is that you can't judge a book by its cover. This assignment allows students to examine 5 characters in the novel and discuss how that idea relates to them. Students examine Max, Freak, Iggy, Loretta, and Kane to determine how they are not what they appear to be. A detailed answer key is provided for easy marking or class review.
THE MIGHTY NOVEL MOVIE COMPARISON/REVIEW
A student organizer that can be used while they watch the movie adaptation to determine 5 things that are different between the film and the novel. Also included is a page for students to write a review of the film.
FINAL CREATIVE ASSIGNMENT
• Students will choose from 5 creative project options to complete at the end of the novel. A general rubric is included for easy marking.
© Presto Plans