Freak the Mighty. We start this novel by identifying what it means to be a friend. This starts with a class discussion, then the students do a prewrite on a particular friendship they either have or have had in the past. Throughout the novel the students post to their writing journal, different topics each day. Included in these posts are character traits, setting, word choice, imagery and action. The journal becomes a reference for later. As we read the novel, the students make a flip book and develop their own dictionary. The words they put in this dictionary are words currently used in their vocabulary - usually some slang. At the fourth grade level this can get quite interesting. After posting in their journal, every day, I ask for two volunteers to share what they have written, which promts discussion.

After we have read the novel, the students make their own "Freak the Mighty" book. Using their journals as reference, they create the cover, do a character anaylsis of both characters and pick one other character of importance. They have to draw the character and write a paragraph describing him/her. The next section of the book includes two pages of imagery. They are to create two different scenes from the book, drawing and coloring them. In these pictures they also have to use labels to describe their scene. The next secion is two pages of vocabulary from the book. The students choose the words they like and want to showcase, minimum of six words. A definition from the book is used. The next section of their book is a paragraph on friendship, what it is and how it can change and why. This is typed, cut and pasted in the book. They can then decorate the page(s) . Finally they put their own dictionary in the book.

We use a Dina Zyke design for making our books. They are simple and cheap.