James and the

Giant Peach
Preview
VOCABULARY RESOURCES VOCABULARY
BOOKMARKS

WORD LIST
Students practice with two
focus words for each reading
selection. A wordlist with
definitions, synonyms, and
sample sentences from the
story is included.

WORD CARDS PRACTICE BOOK TEST WITH ANSWER KEY

PRINTABLE & DIGITAL VOCABULARY
Digital vocabulary practice is
provided though Boom
Learning Decks.
13 COMPREHENSION CHECKS
Digital comprehension questions are
provided though Boom Learning Decks.
16 Constructed Digital writing prompts are provided
through Google Slides.
Response Questions
   
This is an excellent unit that This book study unit has mazing resource! I love having everything to go
worked well with my advanced been SO FUN to do with along with the book from comprehension to
third graders. The vocabulary my students. The text is vocabulary and even grammar skills!
booklet is great! Thank you so engaging, the activities — Kathleen R.
much! are a balance between
— Amy K. text evidence and 
students' own ideas and I LOVE novel studies by Gay Miller! I have so many of
 thinking. The pacing them. It is so nice to have them and my students
Excellent, excellent, excellent. As guide was very beneficial love them!
always, Gay Miller has produced and it had everything I — Kelly M.
a quality product for an amazing needed for the whole
book. Love this! 
unit.
— CRYSTAL M. This is an amazing resource, Gay does a great job. I
— Caroline V.
cannot open the google docs that accompany
 though! Very frustrating to figure that part out.
One of the very best resources I have downloaded from TpT. It — Tiffany J.
is thought-provoking and engaging! I have purchased a few
other book units from the seller based on the quality of this 
product! Gay Miller's novel studies are my go-to units! I have
— Heidi M. use them for Number the Stars, Out of My Mind,
Frindle, Bud Not Buddy, and now James and the
Giant Peach. They do such a fantastic job of
teaching reading strategies throughout! I enjoy the
vocabulary, too!
— Susan V.
SKILL LESSONS

In this digital version,

students drag the clues to
the correct locations.
What are Boom Cards?
Boom Cards are digital task cards that students play on the Boom
Learning Website.

They…
 are fully digital – require no printing, paper, ink, etc.
 may be used on all modern browsers
 are played on devices connected to the Internet
 can be used for student practice at no cost to you

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Boom Learning Card Examples
James and
Created by
the
Giant Peach
Gay Miller
Novel Study Samples

Created by Gay Miller

 Thank you for
downloading this novel
study sample.

On the next pages, you will find the following pages

from the unit including:

• Table of Contents for the Digital + Printable Version

• Lesson Plans at a Glance for the Full Unit

FREE SAMPLE PAGES

The First Reading Selection plus Answer Keys

(These pages are found in all versions of this unit.)
• Vocabulary Practice
• Comprehension Questions
• Constructed Response Writing Prompt
(with and without the Common Core
Standards)

Are you wondering what other novel

studies I have available? You can see
the complete list here.
Table of Contents
Lesson Plans at a Glance 5
Section 1 – Links to Digital Resources 6
Materials Needed for Creating the Foldable Graphic Organizers 12
Section 2 – Vocabulary Materials 13
Teacher Information 14
Vocabulary List 17
Vocabulary Bookmarks 25
Vocabulary Word Cards 27
Vocabulary Practice Booklet 32
Vocabulary Test 55
Section 3 – Comprehension Questions and Constructed Response Writing Prompts 59
Teacher Information 60
Student Packet 66
Comprehension Chapters 1-3 67
Constructed Response – Character Traits 68
Comprehension Chapters 4-6 69
Constructed Response – Course of Action 70
Constructed Response – Setting 71
Comprehension Chapters 7-9 72
Constructed Response - Point of View 73
Comprehension Chapters 10-12 75
Constructed Response – Characters ~ The Insects 76
Comprehension Chapters 13-15 77
Constructed Response – Figurative Language 78
Comprehension Chapters 16-18 80
Constructed Response – Problem and Solution Chain 81
Comprehension Chapters 19-21 82
Constructed Response - Mood 83
Comprehension Chapters 22-24 84
Constructed Response - Summarizing 85
Comprehension Chapters 25-27 86
Constructed Response – Summarizing (Timeline) 87

Page | 3 Unit Created by Gay Miller

Comprehension Chapters 28-30 88
Constructed Response – Comparing Characters 89
Comprehension Chapters 31-33 91
Constructed Response – Character Change 92
Comprehension Chapters 34-36 93
Constructed Response – Theme 94
Comprehension Chapters 37-39 95
Plot Development Chart 96
Constructed Response – Character Traits 97
Constructed Response – Comparing the Book to the Movie 98
Section 4 – Answer Keys for Section 3 99
Section 5 – Addendum - Comprehension and Writing without CCSS 133
Section 6 – Activities 166
Character Traits Craftivity 167
Section 7 – Skill Lessons 172
Homograph Organizers 171
Prefixes, Suffixes, Root Word 183
Prefixes and Suffixes Word Lists and Organizers 184
Prefix and Suffix Puzzles 194
Prefix Game 203
Suffix Game 209
Root Word Lists 215
Figurative Language 221
Figurative Language Response Cards 222
Figurative Language Organizers 228
Figurative Language Craftivity 238
Context Clues Common Core Alignment 243
Context Clues Organizers 244
Context Clues Task Cards 254
Credits 261

Page | 4 Unit Created by Gay Miller

Lesson Plans at a Glance
Read Vocabulary Vocabulary Comprehension Constructed Skill Practice
Words Practice Book Practice Response
Question

Chapters desolate Page 1 Chapters 1-3 Character Traits Character Traits

1-3 luminous Craftivity

Chapters froth Page 2 Chapters 4-6 Course of Action Homograph

4-6 scatter Organizers
Setting
Chapters mammoth Page 3 Chapters 7-9 Point of View Prefix Organizers
7-9 spellbound

Chapters intent Page 4 Chapters 10-12 Characters ~ The Prefix Board Game
10-12 hysterics Insects

Chapters gossamer Page 5 Chapters 13-15 Figurative Suffix Organizers

13-15 insidious Language

Chapters trifle Page 6 Chapters 16-18 Problem and Suffix Card Game
16-18 perish Solution Chain

Chapters pandemoniu Page 7 Chapters 19-21 Mood Prefix and Suffix

19-21 m (Review) Puzzles
martyr Page 8
Chapters tether Page 9 Chapters 22-24 Summarizing Root Word
22-24 ascent Organizers

Chapters vital Page 10 Chapters 25-27 Summarizing Figurative

25-27 loathsome (Timeline) Language
Organizers
Chapters enthrall Page 11 Chapters 28-30 Comparing Figurative
28-30 flabbergasted Characters Language
Response Cards
Chapters sinister Page 12 Chapters 31-33 Character Change Figurative
31-33 toboggan Language Activity

Chapters plummet Page 13 Chapters 34-36 Theme Context Clues

34-36 pinnacle Organizer

Chapters commotion Page 14-15 Chapters 37-39 Plot Development Context Clues
37-39 procession (Review) Tasks Cards
Page 16
Vocabulary Character Traits
Test
Comparing the
Book to the Movie

Page | 5 Unit Created by Gay Miller

 Chapters 37-39 [commotion procession] Chapters 1-3 [desolate and luminous]

1. Fill in the word web with synonyms for procession. 1. Circle six words in the box that are synonyms of
desolate.

forsaken uninhabited jaunty

crowded deserted bleak

cheerful gleeful sunny

procession
isolated populated abandoned


2. Is desolate used correctly in the sentences below?
True or False

_______ When my family is away, the house feels
2. Write a sentence using the word procession.
desolate.
____________________________________________
______ I am in desolate over the loss of my puppy.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________ _______ The passengers were stranded on a desolate
 island after the ship sank.

3. Circle six words in the box that are synonyms of
commotion. 3. Circle six words in the box that are synonyms of
luminous.

peace uproar ruckus

shimmering shining uninteresting
accord disorder turmoil
dull dismal radiant
harmony tranquility upheaval
gloomy brilliant gleaming
stillness din silence
overcast bright deadly

Page 16 Page 1
Page | 6 Unit Created by Gay Miller
 Chapters 37-39 [commotion procession] Chapters 1-3 [desolate and luminous]

1. Fill in the word web with synonyms for procession. 1. Circle six words in the box that are synonyms of
desolate.

row forsaken uninhabited jaunty

parade
crowded deserted bleak

cheerful gleeful sunny

procession
isolated populated abandoned


line succession 2. Is desolate used correctly in the sentences below?
True or False

___T____ When my family is away, the house feels
2. Write a sentence using the word procession.
desolate.
____________________________________________
___F___ I am in desolate over the loss of my puppy.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ___T____ The passengers were stranded on a desolate
island after the ship sank.

3. Circle six words in the box that are synonyms of 
commotion. 3. Circle six words in the box that are synonyms of
luminous.
peace uproar ruckus
shimmering shining uninterestin
accord disorder turmoil g
dull dismal radiant
harmony tranquility upheaval
gloomy brilliant gleaming
stillness din silence overcast bright deadly

Page 16 Page 1
Page | 7 Unit Created by Gay Miller
James and the Giant Peach ~ Chapters 1-3

1. Which word best describes James before he 2. List the clues you used to answer question
turned 4 years old? #1.

a. contented _______________________________________
b. uncertain
_______________________________________
c. forlorn
d. heartbreaking _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
3. Name three things the author did to let the 4. What was the most likely reason the author
reader know what James’s two aunts were decided to include the song in Chapter 2?
like.
_________________________________
_______________________________________
_________________________________
_______________________________________
_________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
5. Which word best describes the making of the
magical little green things?
_______________________________________
a. attractive
_______________________________________
b. gross
_______________________________________ c. pleasant
a) sorrowful
_______________________________________
6. Draw a picture of the old man. 7. Make a prediction about what you think the
glowing crystals in the bag really are.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

Page | 8 Unit Created by Gay Miller

Constructed Response – Character Traits of Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge
Draw a picture of the two aunts based on details in Chapters 1-3 of James and the Giant Peach.
Picture of Picture of
Proof from Text Aunt Sponge
Aunt Spiker Proof from Text
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________

Proof from Text Proof from Text

__________________________________ _______________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
_________________________________
__________________________________

Proof from Text

Proof from Text
__________________________________
_______________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3
Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts,
words, or actions).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how
characters interact).

Page | 9 Unit Created by Gay Miller

James and the Giant Peach ~ Chapters 1-3

1. Which word best describes James before he 2. List the clues you used to answer question
turned 4 years old? #1.

a. contented . . . happy life, living peacefully with his mother

b. uncertain and father in a beautiful house beside the
c. forlorn sea. There were always plenty of other
d. heartbreaking children for him to play with, and there was
the sandy beach for him to run about on, and
the ocean to paddle in. It was the perfect life
for a small boy.

3. Name three things the author did to let the 4. What was the most likely reason the author
reader know what James’s two aunts were decided to include the song in Chapter 2?
like.
The song revealed to the reader the emotions
 The author provided several paragraphs and desires of the aunts.
telling the reader what they looked like and
described their overall personalities. 5. Which word best describes the making of the
 The author included a scene that showed magical little green things?
how they treated James.
 The author included a poem about what a. attractive
their personalities were like. b. gross
c. pleasant
d. sorrowful
6. Draw a picture of the old man. 7. Make a prediction about what you think the
glowing crystals in the bag really are.
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Page | 10 Unit Created by Gay Miller

Constructed Response – Character Traits of Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge
Draw a picture of the two aunts based on details in Chapters 1-3 of James and the Giant Peach.
Picture of
Picture of Aunt Sponge
Aunt Spiker
Proof from Text
Proof from Text
enormously fat and very short
lean and tall and bony

Proof from Text Proof from Text

steel-rimmed spectacles that small piggy eyes, a sunken mouth,

fixed onto the end of her nose and one of those white flabby faces
with a clip that looked exactly as though it
had been boiled

Proof from Text

. . . a screeching voice and long
wet narrow lips, and whenever Proof from Text
she got angry or excited, little
like a great white soggy overboiled
flecks of spit would come
cabbage
shooting out of her mouth as she
talked.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3
Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s
thoughts, words, or actions).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text
(e.g., how characters interact).

Page | 11 Unit Created by Gay Miller

 Constructed Response Questions
without Standards
Originally 46 states adopted the Common Core State Standards. Many
teachers have commented that they love having the standards on pages
with constructed response writing prompts for accountability reasons. Now
educational trends are changing. Many states have repealed Common Core
and adopted their own state standards. To meet the needs of teachers both
using and not using Common Core Standards, I have opted to provide the
writing questions both with and without standards. Look at the addendum at
the end of this unit containing the constructed response questions without
standards.
To make creating a printable student packet easier, the comprehension and
constructed response questions are both included in this section.

Page | 12 Unit Created by Gay Miller

James and the Giant Peach ~ Chapters 1-3

1. Which word best describes James before he 2. List the clues you used to answer question
turned 4 years old? #1.

a. contented _______________________________________
b. uncertain
_______________________________________
c. forlorn
d. heartbreaking _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
3. Name three things the author did to let the 4. What was the most likely reason the author
reader know what James’s two aunts were decided to include the song in Chapter 2?
like.
_________________________________
_______________________________________
_________________________________
_______________________________________
_________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
5. Which word best describes the making of the
magical little green things?
_______________________________________
a. attractive
_______________________________________
b. gross
_______________________________________ c. pleasant
d. sorrowful
_______________________________________
6. Draw a picture of the old man. 7. Make a prediction about what you think the
glowing crystals in the bag really are.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

Page | 13 Unit Created by Gay Miller

Constructed Response – Character Traits of Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge
Draw a picture of the two aunts based on details in Chapters 1-3 of James and the Giant Peach.

Proof from Text Proof from Text

___________________________________ Picture of ___________________________________ Picture of

Aunt Spiker Aunt Sponge
___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________
______________________________ ______________________________

Proof from Text Proof from Text

___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________

Proof from Text Proof from Text

___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________
______________________________ ______________________________

Page | 14 Unit Created by Gay Miller

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