Because of Winn-Dixie By Kate DiCamillo

1
Because of Winn-DixieBy Kate DiCamillo

• Bibliotherapy
• Patricia Irivarren

2
Objective

• Students will be able to
• Generate
• Compile
• Evaluate
• Predict
• Describe
• List
• Invent

3
Grade Level and Time Span

• Geared for grades 2nd-4th
• Oral literature and activities
• 20 minutes periods for 4 weeks

4
Synopsis

• India Opal Buloni is the young daughter of a
  reserved and introvertive preacher who moves to a
  new city. By coincidence, she meets her best
  friend in the first week she arrives to her new
  home, a friendly stray dog whom she names
  Winn-Dixie. It is through Winn-Dixie that India
  Opal makes the friends she makes and learns some
  important things about herself. India Opal has
  one unanswered question that seems to unfold in
  the story through the authors creative use of
  character traits in the people she meets. The
  question being the reason her mother left her and
  her father when she was just a little girl. She
  has a strong desire to know as many things about
  her mother as possible but the thought of her
  mother causes the preacher too much pain.
  Winn-Dixie plays an important role in Opals life
  as she acclimates into her home and as she learns
  forgiveness. She comes to an incredible
  conclusion and it was all Because of Winn-Dixie.

5
Themes

• Friendship
• Forgiveness
• Dogs
• Family
• Fears
• Loyalty

6
Introductory Activities

• Anticipation Guide
• Students will think of what the meaning is of the
  American saying, A dog is a mans best friend
  means. Share, think of examples of other books
  where this can be seen.
• As a group students will observe a picture (e.g
  magazine, newspaper, reproduction) of a nuclear
  family. Students will share their thoughts of the
  picture.
• Vocabulary word 4 square for every 3 chapters
• vocabulary word
  meaning
• similar word or synonym
  opposite word or antonym

7
Discussion Questions

• Opals dog is called Winn-Dixie. Tell why Opal
  decides to give her dog that name?
• As Opal gave Winn-Dixie a bath, she tells him
  they are a lot alike. In what ways are Opal and
  her dog alike?
• What sort of relationship does Opal have with her
  father, the preacher, at the beginning of the
  book? How does their relationship change by the
  end of the book?
• Describe Opals mother based on the 10 things the
  preacher told Opal.
• At one point Opal says, Just about everything
  that happened to me this summer happened to me
  because of Winn-Dixie. What happens to Opal to
  make her say this?
• Opal is an only child. Her mother left the family
  when she was only three, and her father moves
  from church to church. How has Opal been affected
  by these family changes?

8
Discussion Questions (cont.)

• For a variety of reasons, Opal feels like an
  outsider in her new town. Describe a situation
  when you felt like an outsider. Then compare your
  experiences to Opals
• Winn-Dixie brings comfort and joy to a lot of
  characters in this story. ..
• Opal thinks that Winn-Dixie smiles. Mini-lesson
  on personification. Students find other examples
  ..
• Opal describes Gloria Dump as the best adult she
  knows. In what ways does Gloria act like the
  mother that Opal doesnt have? Which of Glorias
  qualities bring Opal closer to her real mom ?

9
Discussion Questions (cont.)

• After the big party, Opal goes to Glorias
  mistake tree and tells her mother she wont miss
  her as much because her heart feels full. How has
  Opals like changed to make her feel this way?
• In the story Frannie Block compares life to a
  Littmis Lozenge, because the sweet and sad are
  often mixed up together. Do you agree with this
  point of view? Explain your answer.

10
On-going Activities

• For each chapter, invent a creative title that
  describes the chapter in a few words.
• Journal
• Character sketch as new characters are introduced
• Listening center
• Related books (dog breeds, Florida)

11
Follow-Up Activities

• Write a list of ten qualities that describe who
  you are. Use the list that the preacher gives
  Opal about her mother, as a model to create your
  list.
• Imagine Miss Frannie, the librarian, has asked
  you to tell a story about something amazing that
  happened to you. Think of something that has
  happened in your life that would make a great
  story.Make sure you story has a beginning, a
  middle and an end.
• 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 informaion.

12
Follow-Up Activities (cont.)

• Brainstorm a list of fears the characters faced
  such as below. Discuss the many forms that fear
  takes. Focus on Winn-Dixies fear of
  thunderstorms. Explore what happens to your body
  when you experience that kind of fear. Think
  about a scary roller coaster ride or haunted
  house experienceor something similar. Discuss
  hooks. Write a narrative about yout fearful
  experience.
• Character Fear
• Opal Abandonment
• Winn-Dixie Thunderstorms
• Preacher Expressing thoughts
• Otis Judgment (Being judged)
• Gloria Dump Mistakes (Making too many)
• Opal wants to write her mother a letter telling
  her what she has learned over the summer because
  of Winn-Dixie. Imagine you are Opal. Write a
  letter to your mom about some of the things you
  learned because of Winn-Dixie.

13
Follow-Up Activities (cont.)

• Miss Frannie told Opal the story of her
  grandfather coming back from the war to nothing.
  He opens up a candy business and invents the
  Litmus Lozenge. It is said that once the candy is
  placed in your mouth, you begin to feel any
  sadness that lives in your heart. Invent a
  special kind of candy. What creative affect does
  it have once it is put into your mouth? Write a
  brief description. As a drama activity, sell your
  new product in a 30 second commercial (props,
  posters and costumes encouraged).
• How-to writing piece. India Opal had a way of
  convincing the preacher that Winn-Dixie would
  make a great pet in order to keep him. Become the
  expert child and create a how-to guide (with
  illustrations) to convince your parents of
  something they normally would not agree with. For
  example, How-To Go To Bed Late On A Weeknight
  or How-To Eat French Fries for Dinner Instead of
  Cauliflower.

14
Follow-Up Activities

• Recall the major events of the story. Summarize
  and sequence the images in a comic strip of five
  pictures.
• Generate a group list of possible meanings of the
  word shelter. Design what you would consider an
  ideal shelter for Winn-Dixie to live in.
• Explore the saying, Into every life some rain
  must fall, (and sunshine, too). Choose one
  character from the story. List the rain in this
  characters life in one column and the sunshine
  in another column.

15
Additional Resources

• DiCamilo, Kate. Because of Winn-Dixie, 2000
  Scholastic Inc.,