Activities for Because of Winn-Dixie

Because of Winn-Dixie is a great book to read with 2nd-3rd graders. Activities for Because of Winn-Dixie can cover a wide range of skills and relate to the reading interests of that age group. You can teach SO many standards throughout reading! Today, I am going to share a few activities you can do with your students while reading Because of Winn-Dixie. 

Activities for Because of Winn-Dixie During Reading

Visualization 

Visualization is an essential tool when reading chapter books. Especially when you are just moving into chapter books, I have the students visualize throughout this novel several times.

• After reading chapters 1-3, they draw what they believe Opal and Winn-Dixie look like by using inference skills and looking at the detail within the writing.
• After chapter 4, they state the novel’s setting and visually represent what it looks like. 

This is a great way to start the book and get students thinking about how the author explains different aspects of the novel. 

Civil War Integration in Chapter 16

In chapter 16, Opal, Miss Franny, and Amanda sit and have a discussion about the Civil War. Have students create five detailed questions (asking and answering questions standard practice) and then go and research the answers! 

Chapter Plans

It is super easy to plan out how to teach each chapter. For myself, I taught one or two chapters a day, depending on the time. 

But for the activities for Because of Winn-Dixie, I would make it look like this.

• Read a chapter or two and review discussion questions as you read (read together, with partners, alone, etc.)
• Then, practice one reading skill (theme, point of view, setting, etc.) 
• Take a quiz every few chapters to check for understanding of the novel
• Throughout, do fun activities, like having students draw and visualize, act out parts of the story, or even rewrite parts! 

Activities for Because of Winn-Dixie After Reading

Book Commercials Before and After

I always start by showing my students a book commercial for a book! You can watch this one below, it really creates excitement and engagement.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh0bTBwgkb4&w=560&h=315]

Then, one of the project choices I give students at the end of the novel, which is an excellent activity for Because of Winn-Dixie, is to create a book commercial of their own! 

Create a House

Do a STEM project after reading the novel! Have students create a house that would be perfect for Opal, Winn-Dixie, and the Preacher to live in. Use any recycled materials and then have them explain why it would be perfect by pointing out parts of the characters.

Other Projects

Want more projects you can do with your students? PLUS, everything I mentioned above (discussion questions, skill sheets, quizzes, tests, etc.), then just head here to grab the whole unit!