The Houdini Box

1. The Houdini Box Compiled by: Terry Sams PES by Brian Selznick

2. Study Skills • Genre: Historical Fiction • Comprehension Skill: Compare and Contrast • Comprehension Strategy: Predict • Comprehension Review Skill: Plot and Character • Vocabulary: Synonyms/Antonyms

3. Summary Young Victor wants to be a magician like his hero, famed escape artist Harry Houdini, but his attempts at escape end up as disasters. One Halloween night, he receives a wooden box at Houdini’s house. Victor opens it many years later and discovers Houdini’s secrets.

4. Genre: Historical Fiction • Historical fiction has characters and events based on real people and events in history. As you read, look for historical details. (Different PowerPoint on Genre)

5. Comprehension Skill Tested: Compare andContrast – TE392 • A Comparison tells how two or more things are alike. • A Contrast tells how they are different • Clue words such as like or as show comparisons • Clue words such as but or unlike show contrasts.

6. Compare and Contrast PB 153 3. how they work to fool the eye: computer vs. hands 1. Both fool the eye 4. new practice vs. old 2. Both have hard work 5. One is harder to figure out.

7. Vocabulary Skill:Synonyms and AntonymsTE 394 • When you read, you may come across a word you don’t know. • Sometimes the author will use a synonym or an antonym as a clue to the meaning of the word. • Synonyms are words that mean almost the same thing. • Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Click on the title to practice this skill.

8. Comprehension Skill review – Plot and Character TE 401 • We learn about characters by noticing what they say and do. • The main character’s problem often drives the plot. The plot begins when a character has a problem or conflict. • Main events usually focus on the character’s efforts to solve the problem. • Plot (problem) builds up during rising action, is met directly at the climax, and comes to an end, as the action winds down, during the resolution.

9. Comprehension Skill review – Plot and Character PB193 1. Cory was trying out for a dance group. 2. Cory danced. Cory made it into group. Cory cheered.

10. Comprehension StrategyPredictTE 407 • Good readers think about what will happen next. • Patterns in the information in a graph or chart can help you predict.

11. Research/Study Skills – Instruction Manuals TE 415L • Procedures and instructions are directions for using something. • Instructions are given in order and often included numbered steps. • Read through the instructions before you begin. • Then do what is directed, one step at a time.

12. Research/Study Skills – Instruction Manuals TE 415L • A manual usually takes the form of a booklet or handbook. • It contains a written set of instructions that help the reader understand, use, or build something. Take note of illustrations, diagrams, headings, labels, and sections (including index and table of contents).

13. Weekly Fluency Check -Emotion TE 415a • You need to read with emotion to help listeners understand characters and events better and to make the story more enjoyable. • Read Pg. 402, paragraphs 2-3, expressing Victor’s excitement and impatience. Practice 2 echo readings.

14. Other Things • Character Bookmarks • Vocabulary Game • A Review: Houdini in Children’s Literature • Harry Houdini • Time Line • Teacher Guide

15. Question of the WeekTE 392L • Can you always believe what you see?

16. Day 2-Question of the Day • Why do you think Houdini is able to escape and seems to walk through walls, but Victor cannot?

17. Day 3 - Question of the Day • Why do people enjoy watching magic tricks so much?

18. Day 4-Question of the Day - Review • What are some things you would and wouldn’t like about being an illusionist?

19. Review Questions • How can you tell Houdini and Victor were both kind people? • Why did Mrs. Houdini cry when she read Victor’s letter? • what did Victor try to do after he learned about Houdini’s tricks? • Describe Victor’s character.

20. Review Questions • Why didn’t Victor tell his wife and son about the box? • Why did Houdini promise to write Victor a letter? • What was important about reading Houdini’s monument? • What was in Houdini’s box? • When did Victor find Houdini’s box?

21. Vocabulary - Say It • vanished • magician • escape • bustling • appeared • crumbled • monument

22. More Words to Know engraved unexplainable invisible pretending judge

23. invisible Not visible; not capable of being seen

24. pretending making believe

25. judge form an opinion or estimate about

26. was seen; came in sight appeared

27. vanished disappeared, especially suddenly

28. bustling being noisily busy and in a hurry

29. monument something set up to honor a person or an event. A monument may be a building, pillar, arch, statue, tomb, or stone.

30. monument

31. crumbled fell to pieces; decayed

32. magician person who entertains by art or skill of creating illusions, especially a sleight of hand

33. engraved cut deeply in; carved in; carved in an artistic way

34. unexplainable unaccountable; without apparent cause or reason

35. escape to get out and away; to get free

36. The clothes were invisible to people who were unfit for their jobs.

37. The clothes were invisible to people who were unfit for their jobs.

38. Victor was looking around the huge, bustling train station when he saw Houdini.

39. Victor was looking around the huge, bustling train station when he saw Houdini.

40. The king learned to judge people by their good work and not how they complimented him.

41. The king learned to judge people by their good work and not how they complimented him.

42. The weavers were only pretending to weave cloth .

43. The weavers were only pretending to weave cloth .

44. The children like Houdini because he could do the unexplainable.

45. The children like Houdini because he could do the unexplainable.

46. Houdini could escape from an iron milk can in under 20 seconds.

47. Houdini could escape from an iron milk can in under 20 seconds.

48. Victor wanted to be a magician when he grew up, just like Houdini.

49. Victor wanted to be a magician when he grew up, just like Houdini.

50. Mrs. Houdini vanished up the staircase into the library.