Title: The Matchbox Diary
Author: Paul Fleischman
Illustrator: Bagram Ibatouline
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Copyright: March 12th, 2013
Age Level: 6 - 10 years old
Lexile: AD420L
Suggested Delivery: Read aloud or Small Group
Words to describe this book: thoughtful, pictorial, fascinating, detailed, moving
Summary: The story of a young girl who visits her grandfathers home one day. While she's exploring the room, he tells her to "Pick whatever you like the most. Then I'll tell you its story." After picking up the cigar box, the granddaughter opens it to find a bunch of matchboxes. In each matchbox, there is a different object that resembles something from her grandfather's journey from Italy to America. A quick and enjoyable read!
Key Vocabulary:
Definitions found on http://merriam-webster.com
Before Reading Activity:
Electronic Resources:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/
One of the matchbox's that the granddaughter and grandfather looked at was a medallion. The grandfather explains he got the medallion while on the boat heading for Ellis Island. This website provides students with a quick tour of Ellis Island and about peoples experiences coming to America.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_UvhKtwedI
This is a read aloud of The Matchbox Diary for students who may have difficulty reading this book because of the structure of the book. There is strictly dialogue, which may be different for students to see and understand. However, students can listen and follow along with the teacher who records herself reading this book.
Writing Activity:
Activities found on http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763646016.btg.1.pdf
Author: Paul Fleischman
Illustrator: Bagram Ibatouline
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Copyright: March 12th, 2013
Age Level: 6 - 10 years old
Lexile: AD420L
Suggested Delivery: Read aloud or Small Group
Words to describe this book: thoughtful, pictorial, fascinating, detailed, moving
Summary: The story of a young girl who visits her grandfathers home one day. While she's exploring the room, he tells her to "Pick whatever you like the most. Then I'll tell you its story." After picking up the cigar box, the granddaughter opens it to find a bunch of matchboxes. In each matchbox, there is a different object that resembles something from her grandfather's journey from Italy to America. A quick and enjoyable read!
Key Vocabulary:
- cannery - a factory where food is put into a can
- typesetting - the process or job of arranging type for printing
- foundry - a building or factory where metals are produced
- immigration - to come to a country to live there
- migration - to move from one country or place to live or work in another
- Ellis Island - island in New York that served as a migration place from 1892- 1954
Definitions found on http://merriam-webster.com
Before Reading Activity:
- Throughout the story, Fleischman refers to many jobs people had who migrated to America. Display visuals (such as canneries, typesetting, foundries, etc) to students. After showing them pictorials, have them write down their definitions and draw their own visuals.
- Have students stop reading on pg. 24 where the granddaughter opens an empty matchbox. Have students predict why this box is empty. What do you think the little girl is thinking? Have students explain their conclusions.
- Note to students that Paul Fleischman tells the entire story of The Matchbox Diary without using the word "said" or any other word to indicate who is speaking. He shows who is speaking through the tone and language. Invite students to write about an event that happened to them, using dialogue alone. Ask them what made it difficult? What made it easy?
Electronic Resources:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/
One of the matchbox's that the granddaughter and grandfather looked at was a medallion. The grandfather explains he got the medallion while on the boat heading for Ellis Island. This website provides students with a quick tour of Ellis Island and about peoples experiences coming to America.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_UvhKtwedI
This is a read aloud of The Matchbox Diary for students who may have difficulty reading this book because of the structure of the book. There is strictly dialogue, which may be different for students to see and understand. However, students can listen and follow along with the teacher who records herself reading this book.
Writing Activity:
- Ask each student to bring in an item small enough to fit in a matchbox—one that represents part of his or her own history. Have students write about the ways the object is significant to them. Invite them to take turns presenting their writing to the class. Collect the stories in a class book.
Activities found on http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763646016.btg.1.pdf