A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
Lesson plans and teaching resources

Jennifer Donnelly
The author's web site.

Murder in the Adirondacks
Historical background. Follow links to photos, a letter, and frequently asked questions.

A Northern Light
Summary, learning activities, vocabulary, writing activities, journal prompts, and a link to an online reading check quiz.

A Northern Light
Booktalk, 10 discussion questions, and related titles for 8th grade and up.

A Northern Light reading strategies, word study, and writing tasks. Adobe Reader required for these resources.

• Introductory Material
  Background information, character list, vocabulary words.
• Section 1 Worksheet
  Students create a time line, practice with context clues, and make predictions.
• Section 2 Worksheet
  Students make inferences about character motivation. They work with context clues and make predictions.
• Section 3 Worksheet
  Students make predictions, work with context clues.
• Section 4 Worksheet
  Students write summaries, create semantic maps, and think beyond the novel.
• First-Person Point of View Graphic Organizer
  Students analyze what the reader knows and doesn't know as a consequence of first-person narration.
• Historical Context Graphic Organizer
  Students note examples of ways in which the characters' ideas and actions spring from the novel's historical context.
• Style—Diction and Tone Graphic Organizer
  Students record examples of colloquial speech. Then they rewrite it in standard English. They note how the change in style affects the emotional impact of the passage.
• Whole-Novel Discussion and Activities
  6 discussion questions and 2 post-reading activities.
• Multiple Choice Test
  10 questions.

A Reader's Guide to A Northern Light
Author interview, a dozen discussion questions, related titles and sites. 4 pages; Adobe Reader required.