The Tiger Rising
By Kate DimCamillo
Published by Candlewick
Copyright 2002

 Accelerated Reader: 4.0

Suggested Delivery: Small Group Reading

CAPTIVATING, FASCINATING, HEARTWRENCHING, LIVELY, REMARKABLE
Rob Horton moves to a Florida motel with his father following the death of his mother. While Rob explores in to woods, he finds a caged tiger. A real tiger! After his amazing discovery, he meets city girl Sistine who has a wicked temper but ends up befriending Rob. While Rob is isolated at home due to an unknown skin condition, Sisitine brings him his homework. There, they discuss their emotions and Rob conveys the heartache attached to being constantly bullied at school and the loss of his mother. Beauchamp, the motel manager, gives Rob the duty of feeding the tiger while he stays home because he himself neglects the beautiful creature. Sistine comes up with an idea to set the animal free, and in a sad ending, the tiger is shot and killed by Rob’s father.
Wild Earth Guardians

This site lists several species of endangered animals, including multiple species of tigers. Information about how to save lives and way to support the Wild Earth Guardians association are all incorporated
Official Site of Kate DiCamillo

This is the official website of Kate Dicamillo. This site contains personal information about the author and upcoming events, books and other fun features. 

VOCAB: Abiding, Defiant, Conjured, Immortal, Miraculously, Exertion, Reproachful, Aspire

TEACHING SUGGESTIONS:

-Use this book as an example that not all novels have happy endings and during writer’s workshop, challenge students to write their next piece with an ending such as this one. 

-Use this book to explain metaphors. Like main characters Rob and Sistine, they had to confront their own caged animal before they could move on, explain metaphors like this and others to the children and encourage them to place them in their own writing. 

-Use this book to help students understand sympathy, empathy and further understand emotion. 

Before: Engage students by providing them a copy of an excerpt from the novel as well as the cover of the book. Then, complete a read-a-loud. Ask students to predict what the novel could be about and allow them to talk to the other students around them. Finally, have them complete a paragraph and picture of what they expect to happen in the book. 

During: While reading the novel, have students study vocabulary words for each chapter. This will include words like the ones listen above. Have students playing matching games where they will match the word with the definition, have them complete crossword puzzles where the clues are definitions and other fun methods to help students better understand what they are about to read. This also will suffice as an assessment technique. 

After: Have students create a collage to use artistic means to help them explain what they thought the theme of the novel may be. Students will use poster boards and given numerous materials such as markers, colored pencils, magazines, glue and anything they can find on the internet to print. 

Writing: The previous activity has helped students address the theme of the novel. Now, students will be challenged to write their own short story using the same life lesson. Creating similar stories will be prohibited.