Maniac magee novel study unit for grades 48 common core. It is a quick and fun activity meant to get the kids interested in reading the novel. How could we not, when maniac magee finally ends with maniac simply content that finally, truly, at long last, someone was calling him home 46. After reading maniac magee, students will view the film and analyze the differences. As they look for meaningful, sensory descriptors in jerry spinellis novel, readers connect to the story and craft a found poem rich in detail. Because of this, maniac had to move in with his aunt and uncle. One day maniac ran away because the hated in his aunt and uncle house. A newbery medal winning modern classic about a racially divided small town and a boy who runs. This lesson will give a summary of the popular book maniac magee, a novel written by jerry spinelli. They have a conflict when maniac magee wants to move out of the beales house and back into the deer pen. Maniac magee novel unit is a common core standard aligned book study to be used with maniac magee by jerry spinelli. This is a complete novel study that includes many individual products bundled together to o. After the miles and miles maniac s seenbetterdays sneakers chewed up, the book ends with him heading home to the place hes been looking for this whole time.
Here is a prereading power point to view with your students before diving into the book, maniac. Major themes cliffsnotes study guides book summaries. Maniac magee novel study unit by jerry spinelli questions, projects, and activities this huge maniac magee novel study unit contains everything you need to teach a complete novel study on maniac magee by jerry spinelli. When maniac jogs into two mills, he says hi to everyone he passes. This humorous yet poignant story tells of a superathletic teenager who bridges his small towns racial gap. Maniac magee by jerry spinelli is a young adult novel published in 1990. Aug 08, 2016 maniac magee is a heartwarming book first published 25 years ago. Maniac didt like their house because they cant share. When he was in the east end one day he met a girl named amanda.
The perents of maniac magee died in a trolley crash. Jerry spinelli is the author of over fifteen immensely popular books for young readers, including eggs, stargirl, space station seventh grade, newbery honor winner wringer, and maniac magee, winner of more than fifteen state childrens book awards in addition to the newbery medal. Maniac magee book summary maniac magee is about jeffrey lionel magees search for home and the racial prejudice in the town of two mills. Maniac magee maniac magee maniac magee maniac magee maniac magee maniac magee maniac magee. Spinelli has written the novel in third person he said, as opposed to i said, which is called first person, using an objective viewpoint in which the thoughts and feelings of the characters are not. Maniac doesnt like seeing the kids laugh at their older brother, so he invents a story about john throwing a pitch he couldnt hit hes actually describing. This book report was made by, valentina, julia, abby, will, and devon.
The perfect companion to jerry spinellis, maniac magee, this study guide contains a chapter by chapter analysis of the book, a summary of the plot, and a guide to major characters and themes. Maniac magee plot diagram storyboard by elizabethpedro. The protagonist of maniac magee is a most unusual character living a very different kind of life than most boys his age. The novel received critical acclaim upon release and in 1991 won the prestigious newbery medal. Parents need to know that jerry spinellis maniac magee is an exciting, moving, and sometimes funny story, brilliantly told, about an orphan boy who runs away from his feuding aunt and uncle at age 8 and makes a name and legend for himself in a. Bookcap study guides do not contain text from the actual book, and are not meant to be purchased as alternatives to reading the book. Maniac magee was an orphan so his aunt and uncle adoped him. Get answers to your maniac magee questions like what are the major events in order of happening in the book of maniac magee. It won the 1991 newbery medal and remains a vital, relevant classic. Parents need to know that jerry spinellis maniac magee is an exciting, moving, and sometimes funny story, brilliantly told, about an orphan boy who runs away from his feuding aunt and uncle at age 8 and makes a. Maniac magee by jerry spinelli chapters 1 4 before you read the chapters. Amanda says she was just about ready to let him read her encyclopedia a but since hes leaving, he cannot. When the little boys find out who maniac is, they cant stop laughingthey know the story of maniac bunting giant john s fastfrog pitch.
Found poem lesson plan is suitable for 4th 6th grade. It has been eight years since maniac magee won both the prestigious boston globehorn book award and the newbery medal, and its popularity among young. The students in elementary school also read it as a part of the curricula. Maniac magee book summary maniac magee is about jeffrey lionel magee s search for home and the racial prejudice in the town of two mills. He performs phenomenal athletic feats, yet he shows wisdom and. Maniac magee is considered as an important literary work. Improve your students reading comprehension with readworks. Maniac magee is the story of jeffery lionel magee, a homeless drifter who finds his way to the racially divided community of two mills, pennsylvania. After the miles and miles maniac s seenbetterdays sneakers chewed up, the book ends with him heading home to the. Maniac becomes a legend in two mills, a town with an east end for blacks and a west end for whites. Maniac magee novel study unit for grades 48 common core aligned. Maniac tries to find a home, soothes tensions between rival factions on the tough side of town, and becomes a true hero. He came into this world named jeffrey lionel magee, but when his parents died and his life changed, so did his name.
Detailed maniac magee comprehension questions, answer keys, vocabulary words. The author of maniac magee used characterization in the book in a couple different ways. Maniac magee is a book that stuck with me long after i read it in fifth grade for the first time. Maniac magee is a realistic fictionbook because maniac is invented but it could happen in real life. This is a complete and engaging novel study for the book maniac magee by jerry spinelli. In this lesson, well go into greater detail about the main characters youll meet in the book. Read maniac magee by jerry spinelli available from rakuten kobo. The main character jeffrey maniac magee had a very pleasant and descent life at first. Exploring themes of racism and inequality, it follows the story of an orphan boy looking for a home in the fictional town of two mills. Think back on some of your favorite characters from past. Maniac learns that piper and russell run away from home almost every other week. Instruct your readers to scrounge through the pages of maniac magee in search for descriptive passages or words they may use to write poetry. At long last, maniac knew that finally, truly, at long last, someone was calling him home.
Maniac magee is a very funny, sometimes touching, story of jeffrey lionel maniac magee, a young man who is a legend in his youth. It deals with racism and its effects on a young man who, though white, finds more warmth and kindness on the black side of town than on his own side. They say if you knew he was coming and you sprinkled salt on. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of. Maniac magee is a novel written by american author jerry spinelli and published in 1990.
A newbery medal winning modern classic about a racially divided small town and a. The people are taken aback because people just didnt say that to strangers, out of. Two boys a slow learner stuck in the body of a teenage giant and a tiny einstein in leg braces forge a unique friendship when they pair up to create one formidable human force. Maniac magee is the story of jeffery lionel magee, a homeless drifter who finds his way. A wonderful story of this beloved newbery medalwinning book is the first of five books in patricia maclachlans chapter. This lesson talks about the novel maniac magee, written by jerry spinelli. This opens up a bunch of fun and criticalthinking co. It stuck with me more than in just a lifelong love of butterscotch krumpets, but also in the sweetness of the main character and the good that he finds in well, everyone. Racial prejudice is another major theme of maniac magee.
The author created certain characters to play different roles in maniacs the main character life. Middle and highschoolers will subconsciously enjoy the design of this 2. Well explore the major events and problems in the book, and discuss its conclusion. Jeffrey lionel maniac magee is an orphan searching for a loving home when he finds himself in a small, segregated town in pennsylvania. He ran away from his aunt and uncles house because they were not.
The book s protagonist, jeffery or maniac magee, is orphaned at a young age and runs away to two mills in search of a home. Here is a prereading power point to view with your students before diving into the book, maniac magee. Jeffrey gets the nickname maniac after performing athletic feats of mythic proportions and appearing fearless in the face of bullies and other terrifying situations. Maniac magee jerry spinelli winner of the newbery medal before the story they say maniac magee was born in a dump they say his stomach was a cereal box and his heart a sofa spring. Maniac magee by jerry spinelli was published in 1990. Novel comparison this 2page organizer will help your students compare the novel to the movie. Books similar to maniac magee goodreads share book.
He ran away from his aunt and uncles house because they were not getting along. Access thousands of highquality, free k12 articles, and create online assignments with them for your students. Jeffrey lionel magee is living a normal life until his parents are killed in a tragic trolley accident when hes three. Maniac magee by jerry spinelli paperback book the parent. This summary of maniac magee includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. The relationship of kids to racial identity in maniac magee has been used as a topic in a number of studies. Be sure to check out the novel study i use for this book. They say he kept an eightinch cockroach on a leash and that rats stood guard over him while he slept. Feeling a little guilty about taking your familyhome for granted. Maniac magee is a young adult novel centered on the theme of homelessness and racism. The main character, jeffrey lionel magee, became an.
Maniac says he will just get a library card and amanda says he cant. Maniac magee by jerry spinelli goodreads share book. He becomes a legend for his interaction with both blacks and whites as well as his amazing feats such as bunting the frog jokingly pitched to him in a baseball game, untying the huge knot that has long hung in front of a. Little, brown and company takes great pleasure and pride in announcing that, effective immediately, we will be the sole publisher of the paperback edition of jerry spinellis classic newbery medal winner, maniac magee. He becomes a local legend for feats of athleticism and helpfulness, and his ignorance of sharp racial boundaries in the town. The protagonist in most novels features the main character or good guy. Availability based on publisher status and quantity being ordered. Parents need to know that jerry spinellis maniac magee is an exciting, moving, and sometimes funny story, brilliantly told, about an orphan boy who runs away from his feuding aunt and uncle at age 8 and makes a name and legend for himself in a racially divided town. Maniac magee conflict graphic organizer 6 types of.
One way the author of maniac magee used characterization in the novel is by creating specific characters. But the thing maniac magee is best known for is what he did for the kids from the east side and those from the west side. Its a great book for class discussion on racial prejudice and finding a place to belong. He is an 11 year old whose parents died on a trestle. Hes sent to live with his aunt dot and uncle dan, and, despite dots sporty name, its not a fun household.
After the miles and miles maniacs seenbetterdays sneakers chewed up, the book ends with him heading home to the place hes been looking for this whole time. Maniac magee conflict learners will explore the 6 major types in the novel. Maniac magee is a heartwarming book first published 25 years ago. His life made a dramatic change when his parents were killed when their trolley crashed into a river. He was special all right, and this is his story, and its a story that is very careful not to let the facts get mixed up with the truth. Maniac magee plot chart organizer by spinelli while reading.
1184 677 617 834 345 642 134 1445 1131 1645 642 622 32 1433 531 824 1279 1659 106 326 1095 1492 1362 629 173 207 787 189 878 514 1038