Jennifer Wagoner
RE 5730 – Novel Unit
Goodnight Mr. Tom
Written by: Michelle Magorian
Integrated Novel Unit
Explanation: Goodnight Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian is a heartfelt novel that touches every emotion. It is set in the English countryside during World War II. Willie Beech is evacuated from London and sent to live with Mr. Tom. Willie is meek and small; he had been perpetually abused by his mother. Mr. Tom is a large, gruff man who lost both his infant child and wife. This book is a story about these two lonely people finding each other and learning to live together. They form a very strong father-son bond. When Willie is sent back to London, Mr. Tom goes looking for him because weeks have gone by with no word from Willie. There are many other wonderful characters in this novel that bring charm, humor, and a pinch of sadness to our hearts.
I chose this novel because it is an historical fiction piece that ties in nicely with the sixth grade social studies curriculum. It is also a good coming of age story for students in my school. It teaches trust, and overcoming adversity.
Language Arts Curriculum for Sixth Grade:
Goal 1: The learner will use language to express individual perspectives drawn from personal or related experience.
Goal 2: The learner will explore and analyze information from a variety of sources.
Goal 4: The learner will use critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate print and non-print materials.
Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.
Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.
Social Studies Curriculum for Sixth Grade:
4.03: Examine key ethical ideas and values deriving from religious, artistic, political, economic, and educational traditions, as well as their diffusion over time, and assess their influence on the development of selected societies and regions in South America and Europe.
Goal 6: The learner will recognize the relationship between economic activity and the quality of life in South America and Europe
Goal 7: The learner will assess connections between historical events and contemporary issues.
Goal 11: The learner will recognize the common characteristics of different cultures in South America and Europe.
NCSCOS / GNMT ActivityELA Goal 1 / Life Connection, Reflection
ELA Goal 2 / Story Elements, Author’s Style
ELA Goal 4 / Read Like a Writer, Think Critically
ELA Goal 5 / Reader’s Theater, Comic Creator
Social Studies Goal 7 / Building Background, Abecedarium
Essential Question: Even though this is an historical fiction novel set in a different country during a completely different time in history, what connections can I make to my life and current time?
Supporting Text:
Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, 1990. Print.
In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis. 670L
Innocenti, Roberto. Rose Blanche. Mankato, MN: Creative Education, 1985. Print.
During World War II, a young German girl's curiosity leads her to discover something far more terrible than the day-to-day hardships and privations that she and her neighbors have experienced. 430L
Breuer, William B. Undercover Tales of World War II . New York, NY: J. Wiley, 1999. Print.
Chronicles seventy covert operations and insidious plots that took place during World War II and discusses how they affected the outcome of the war.
Children’s Identity Card from World War II
Hughes, Shirley. The Lion and the Unicorn. New York, NY: DK, 1999. Print.
Lenny, a Jewish boy living in London during the Blitz in World War II, must adjust to many changes and find the true meaning of courage when he is evacuated to a large mansion in the English countryside. 640L
Adams, Simon. Eyewitness: World War II. New York, NY: DK, 2004. Print.
Text and photos present the key events, battles, weapons, uniforms, and cultural phenomena, such as propaganda, of the Axis and Allies during the Second World War.
Reading grade level 7.7
Bawden, Nina. Carrie's War. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, 1973. Print.
Carrie and her younger brother spend World War II as evacuees in a small Welsh village where Carrie, upset by a family feud, commits an act that haunts her for thirty years.
Reading grade level 6.9
Always Remember Me: How One Family Survived World War II, Marisabina Russo
Remember WW II: kids who survived tell their stories, [edited] by Dorinda Makana¯onalani Nicholson
Nicholson, D. M. S. (2005). Remember World War II: Kids who survived tell their stories. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.
World War II . Perf. United States; Army Service Forces; Special Service Division. Payless Entertainment, Web. 29 Nov. 2010.
A collection of documentary films produced during or shortly after World War II. The majority of the collection was produced by the War Department and used to strenghten support for America's involvement in the War.
Crompton, M., Giedroyc, C., Armstrong, A., McEwan, G., Quirke, P., Sharp, L., et al. (2006). Carrie's war. [Boston]: WGBH Boston Video.
Annotation: At the start of World War II, 14-year-old Carrie and her younger brother Nick are separated from their mother and evacuated from war-torn London to a rural village in Wales, where they now live with a puritanical shopkeeper and his spinster sister.
Goodnight Mr. Tom – Video
General information about World War II
Internet Workshop:
Mr. Martin's World War II Internet Scavenger Hunt
Retrieved from
1. The Providence Sunday Journal
______What was the date of this edition of The Providence Sunday Journal?
2. War Letters
______Paul Spangler was a doctor treating the wounded at Pearl Harbor. In his letter, he writes that he gave the "helpless" cases a drug to kill the pain until they died. What was the name of that pain killer?
3. The Day after Pearl Harbor
______Locate the picture of President Roosevelt taken on December 8, 1941. What document is he signing?
4. The History Place
______According to the timeline, on what date did Germany declare war on the United States?
5. Four Freedoms
Scroll down to the four posters. What were the "Four Freedoms" which FDR claimed all people should enjoy?
a. ______
b. ______
c. ______
d. ______
______What is the name of the artist who created the "Four Freedoms" posters? (Click to enlarge.) (Click to see more posters listed at the bottom.)
6. Americans Remember Pearl Harbor
______In her brief remembrance of the Pearl Harbor attack, Heli Swyter recalls that she didn't see her soldier husband for how long after he left on duty?
7. It's a Woman's War Too!
______What was the nickname given to the "strong, competent woman dressed in overalls and bandana" - a symbol of patriotic womanhood?
8. What did you do in the war Grandma?
______According to the glossary, what was a World War II blackout?
9. Doodlebugs
______The poet writes that the "doodlebugs" (early German rockets) arrived over England at what time each day?
10. War in the Pacific
______What was unusual about the Sullivan brothers' deaths?
11. Science Pitches In
______You may have seen these strange-looking amphibious trucks barreling down Boston's streets. What were the initials used to identify these World War II vehicles?
12. P-40
______How many Japanese planes did the pilot of this P-40 Warhawk shoot down? ( Hint: count the number of "rising sun" flags painted on the side of the fuselage.)
13. Gen. Patton
______Ironically, the war-loving General Patton did not die in combat. How was he killed?
14. A Catalog of Political Cartoons by Dr. Seuss
______What are most of these Dr. Seuss cartoons urging Americans to do? (Click on several cartoons to enlarge.)
15. Picturing the Century
______(Photo #1) What is the name of the ship shown exploding at Pearl Harbor? (Click to enlarge each photo.)
______(Photo #2) These pilots were all assigned to which aircraft carrier? (Notice how young most pilots were.)
______(Photo #3) What is the date of the landing shown here? (Hints: Normandy coast, Operation Overlord.)
______(Photo #4) What type of burial is taking place in this photograph?
______(Last photo) What are all these signs saying on August 15, 1945?
16. United We Win
______What was the name of the African-American sailor who won the Navy Cross for heroism at Pearl Harbor?
17. Dwight D. Eisenhower
______During which years did General Eisenhower later serve as President of the United States?
18. Shot Down Over France
______a. After parachuting safely to the ground in occupied France, Yeager was helped by what organization?
______b. What type of plane was Yeager flying when he was shot down? (See picture.)
19. War Letters
______Sidney Diamond was killed a week after writing this note to his girl at home. How old was he when he died?
20. WW II In Europe
What are the last names of the three leaders pictured here at the Yalta Conference?
a. ______
b. ______
c. ______
21. The Providence Journal
______According to the newspaper, what medical condition caused FDR's death?
22. "Children of Hiroshima"
______In Masatada Asaeda's eyewitness story about the bombing of Hiroshima, what phrase does she use to describe the scene of misery in the Buddhist temple that day?
23. The War is Over
______/______In the top photo, Col. Paul Tibbets waves from the cockpit of his B-29. What was the plane's name and what was the mission given to Col. Tibbets?
24. Exhibition-Search Art
Look at all of these examples of Holocaust art. Write down the title of the choice which you think is the most powerful. ______
25. Anne Frank
______What was the name given to the hiding place where Anne and her family lived for two years during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands?
26. WW II in Europe
______About how many people died each day from starvation and brutality at the Buchenwald concentration camp?
27. Statistics of World War II
______a. Total number of U.S.S.R. deaths in World War II (include both civilian & military).
______b. Were more German soldiers or civilians killed in World War II?
______c. What percentage of Poland's population died in World War II?
______d. How many Americans died in World War II?
______e. What was the total number of people (soldiers & civilians) killed in World War II?
Section 1, Chapters 1-6
BUILDING BACKGROUND
Use this page to take notes on information you learn about the setting and the author of this book.
The author is ______. She lives in ______. This was her ______children’s novel. She likes to write novels on the subject of ______.
She was born in ______in ______. She began writing stories when she was ______years old. She studied to be an ______in London. While studying, she began to write ______. She has written ______books dating from ______to ______. She wrote Good Night, Mr. Tom in ______.
The story takes place in the ______in the year ______in a town called ______. Mr. Tom takes care of the ______. William must go live with Mr. Tom because ______
______.
This story takes place during ______. This war was fought between ______and ______. It began in ______and ended in ______. Some of the key terms for this era are:
Blackouts: ______
Anderson: ______
Chamberlain: ______
Gas Masks: ______
London Blitz: ______
Evacuees: ______
Abecedarium
Together you can create an Alphabet Book of World War II. Create a page for the book by writing about the word or words you have selected. Be sure to explain each word as it relates to World War II. Design each page with a large capital letter and an illustration. Use a vertical format for your page. We will make copies of each page for each person in our class. Be ready to talk about your page on ______.
Anti-SemitismAir Raids
Allies/Axis / Bomb Shelter
Blackouts
Battle of Britain / Winston Churchill
Concentration Camps
Neville Chamberlain / Dig for Victory
Evacuees / Fascism
Fuhrer / Ghetto
Germany
Genocide / Holocaust/Shoah
Hitler
Incendiary Bombs
Invasion of Normandy / Jews/Jewry / Kristallnacht / Luftwaffe
League of Nations
London Blitz
Mein Kampf
Gas Masks / Nazi Party
Nuremburg / Billeting Officers
Military Officers / Propaganda
Prejudice
Progroms
Queen Elizabeth / Reich
Rationing
Roma / SS
Shelters
Swastika / Trains (Cattle Cars)
Underground
United Nations / V-Weapons
V-Weapons / Wanssee Conference
W.V.S.
Warsaw Uprising / Xenophobe
Hitler Youth / Zyklon-B
Here are some web sites that may be helpful:
Meet the Characters
As we read, we will discover information about the characters in this novel. In the spaces below, tell what you find out about the characters and something that the character said that impressed you.
- William Beech
- Thomas Oakley
- Zacharias Wrench
- Mrs. Beech
- Mrs. Hartridge
- Mrs. Fletcher
- Ivor/Roe Padfield
- Lucy Padfield
- Charlie Ruddles
- Vicar Peters
- Miss Emilia Thorne
- Sammy
Tableau
Select a scene from this section of the book to present as a tableau. A tableau is the re-creation of a scene. The characters are posed, sometimes with props, to show what happened. Facial expressions and body positions reveal the feelings of those in the scene. A commentator explains what is being shown after the audience tries to guess the scene.
List the page number and provide a short description of the scene. List the characters you will need. Explain why you chose the scene.
Section 2, Chapters 7-9
Background and Review 2
As we review what we have already read, please take notes here. You may also take notes of any new background information.
- Review Notes:
- Child Abuse
- Mental Illness:
- World War II (European Theater):
Life Connection
It was evident in chapter 9 that Willie was touched deeply by the birthday celebration. Write about an experience that deeply affected you. Remember to in write complete sentences using paragraph form, correct spelling and grammar.
Reflection
After reading the first nine chapters, please think about Good Night, Mr. Tom. What did you learn or understand by reading this section? How does this section relate to your life? Please respond in the space below.
Section 3, Chapters 10-13
Words of Wisdom
Advice is given to someone to help him or her make decisions. Someone might advise you concerning jobs or volunteer opportunities available in your area. Your parents may advise you about your choice of friends. What words of wisdom are you encountering in chapters 7-12 of our novel?
Page number / Advice from / Advice to / The advice86 / Mr. Tom / Willie / “Can’t expect to be good first time. Takes practice.”
90 / Mrs. Padfield / Willie, Zach, George, Ginnie, Carrie / “Best not to go to your patch. Be nothin’ left.”
91 / George / Zach and Willie / “Come with me, “ he said, “I’ll find you a good spot.”
91 / George / Zach and Willie / “See them red berries?” “If you eats any of them you’ll die. Them’s poisonous. Don’t eat nothin’ till you’ve shown me.”
92 / Mrs. Beech / Willie / “Mum had said that if he made himself invisible people would like him and he wanted that very much.”
I Poem
After reading chapters 10-13, please select one character, object, time period, or setting to write about. Use an “I” poem to collect your insights into the character you chose. “I” poems are written as if a character or historical figure had composed them. All or most of the lines begin with the word “I.” The poems are unrhymed. You may use the form below for your “I” poem, or you may write your “I” poem using a form that you create.
I am ______
I wonder ______
I hear ______
I see ______
I cry ______
I pretend ______
I feel ______
I touch ______
I worry ______
I am ______
I understand ______
I say ______
I dream ______
I want ______
I am ______
Story Quilt
After reading chapters 10-13, please select what you consider to be the most important sentence and write it in the space below. Note the page number. Then, explain why you think the sentence is so important. In class, you will write your sentence on a “quilt” piece and explain your choice.
Section 4, Chapters 14-17
Sketch to Stretch
Select a scene or section from this part of the book and draw a picture that presents your interpretation of it. Do not draw an illustration, or a picture of what is described in the text; rather, draw something that symbolizes or represents the feeling, emotion, or meaning related to a scene. Be ready to show your drawing and explain it to us.
Read Like a Writer
Read from the last paragraph on page 210 to the end of the chapter. As you read, write down words you like or phrases that grab your attention. Whatever you notice about the writing, make a mark. This exercise is to give you practice in the craft of reading like a writer.
Think Critically
This year we have been asking some “big idea” questions that relate to what we are reading. In your group, come up with four “big idea” questions to share with the rest of the class. Remember these questions cannot be answered with a yes or no, and they cannot be answered with a single sentence. There is no wrong or right answer as long as you can use text to support your answer.
Section 5, Chapters 18-23
Reader’s Theater
Reader’s Theater is a dramatization of a particular scene. The actors read the lines from the book just as they are written but adding action to them. Choose a scene from this section to act out. You may need to elicit the help of a classmate or two to help you with your scene.
Describe the scene you have chosen to act out. What is it about? Why did you choose this scene? Will you need others to help you?
Comic Creator
After reading chapter 20, create a digital image of Spooky Cott. You may use or
Poem for Two Voices
At the end of the book Mr. Tom and Willie finally become father and son. Create a poem for two voices describing the journey to this important milestone. Remember that poets choose their words very carefully and one word can convey multiple meanings and feelings. Choose your words carefully.
On Going and Culminating Activities:
Research
Choose one of the topics below to research and report back to the class. You may use the internet, encyclopedias, library books, cook books, personal interviews, or any other resource that you may need. Check with your teacher or the media specialist for help in looking for internet sites.