Activity Overview
A fun way to enter into the Westing mystery is to have students make predictions about the various “criminals” alluded to in the novel. These include Westing’s murderer along with the bookie, the bomber, the thief, and the mistake. Have students use the poster layout to create a Wanted poster for the heir that they suspect in one or more of these roles. Suggest using textables to add important information about the character, including physical description, motive, evidence, or suspicious quotations. For fun classroom decorations, don’t forget to print off the posters!
Teacher note: Add additional template options to the project by visiting our Wanted Poster template page!
Example The Westing Game Wanted Poster
WANTED FOR MURDER: BERTHE ERICA CROW
AGE: 57OCCUPATION: Cleaning woman
MOTIVE: anger toward her ex-husband
EVIDENCE: All the clues in Westing's will point to her
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a Wanted Poster that analyzes a character from The Westing Game.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the character and select one of the Storyboard That characters to represent them.
- Add a description, reasons, & a reward under the guise of a character analysis.
- Add an illustration using appropriate scenes, items, and characters.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
- CCSS: RL.6.1 - Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
- CCSS: RL.6.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments
- CCSS: RL.7.1 - Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
- CCSS: RL.7.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text
- CCSS: RL.8.1 - Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
- CCSS: RL.8.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text | Includes who's wanted or missing, a reward amount if found, a contact phone number, and 2-3 sentences that accurately describe the missing person. | Missing one element of text. | Missing two or more elements of text. |
| Illustrations | Illustrations depict the person or animal according to the story with clear visuals including an appropriate scene, character, items, etc. | Illustrations depict the person or animal but are unclear or incomplete. | Illustrations do not depict the person or animal. |
Activity Overview
A fun way to enter into the Westing mystery is to have students make predictions about the various “criminals” alluded to in the novel. These include Westing’s murderer along with the bookie, the bomber, the thief, and the mistake. Have students use the poster layout to create a Wanted poster for the heir that they suspect in one or more of these roles. Suggest using textables to add important information about the character, including physical description, motive, evidence, or suspicious quotations. For fun classroom decorations, don’t forget to print off the posters!
Teacher note: Add additional template options to the project by visiting our Wanted Poster template page!
Example The Westing Game Wanted Poster
WANTED FOR MURDER: BERTHE ERICA CROW
AGE: 57OCCUPATION: Cleaning woman
MOTIVE: anger toward her ex-husband
EVIDENCE: All the clues in Westing's will point to her
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a Wanted Poster that analyzes a character from The Westing Game.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the character and select one of the Storyboard That characters to represent them.
- Add a description, reasons, & a reward under the guise of a character analysis.
- Add an illustration using appropriate scenes, items, and characters.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
- CCSS: RL.6.1 - Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
- CCSS: RL.6.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments
- CCSS: RL.7.1 - Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
- CCSS: RL.7.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text
- CCSS: RL.8.1 - Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
- CCSS: RL.8.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text | Includes who's wanted or missing, a reward amount if found, a contact phone number, and 2-3 sentences that accurately describe the missing person. | Missing one element of text. | Missing two or more elements of text. |
| Illustrations | Illustrations depict the person or animal according to the story with clear visuals including an appropriate scene, character, items, etc. | Illustrations depict the person or animal but are unclear or incomplete. | Illustrations do not depict the person or animal. |
More Storyboard That Activities
Westing Game, The
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