The Westing Game

The Westing Game
by Ellen Raskin

Pre-reading Exercises
Chapter 1
Chapter 4
Chapter 8
Chapter 10
Chapter 13
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 25

Schedule for Reading The Westing Game

Day # Chapters Read Activities Journal Prompts

Day #1 1, 2 & 3 Chapter 1 Prereading Exercise At the end of chapter 1 the narrator tells us that one of the tenants is a mistake. Who do you think the mistake is and why? Provide evidence in your journal.

Day #2 4, 5 & 6 Chapter 4 Prereading Exercise Pick a character from the novel. What positive and negative traits do they have? Make a list of each. Then draw a Venn diagram. Label one circle with the name of that character, in the other write the name of another character. In the two circles, write down things that you know about each. In the overlapping part, write down things that are the same about the two characters.

Day #3 7 & 8 Chapter 8 Prereading Exercise Research the writing of a will. Why might you want a lawyer to help with the writing of a will? Find out what might invalidate a will. Try and locate some funny or interesting wills online. Imagine that you are planning your own westing game. Write out your own, imaginary will. Make sure to use language that is suitable and appropriate to will-writing.

Day #4 9, 10 & 11 Chapter 10 Prereading Exercise TBA

Day #5 12, 13 & 14 Chapter 13 Prereading Exercise Pretend that you are Ellen Raskin. Your editor has told you that the book will never make the bestseller list unless you add another interesting character. What does this character do? What are they like? Describe the new character and the role they will play in changing the novel.

Day #6 15, 16 & 17 Listen to Abbot and Costello's "Who's on First" routine Who do you think killed Sam Westing? Why? Provide support from your answers.

Day #7 18 & 19 Chapter 19 Prereading Exercise No journal: Get into small groups and share your journal entries from the day before: Who do you think killed Sam Westing? Take notes and come to a conclusion as a group.

Day #8 20 & 21 Chapter 20 Prereading Exercise (for hw), Police Officer comes to school to explain how they interrogate suspects List as many reasons as possible why someone might make a false confession.

Day #9 22, 23 & 24 Chapter 23 Prereading Exercise Create a chart with three different classifications: Likely Suspects, Possible Suspects, and Least Likely Suspects. Based on your opinion, fill in the chart.

Day #10 25 & 26 Chapter Prereading Exercise Write an imaginary letter to Ellen Raskin telling her about your experiences reading this book. What was your favorite part of the book? Why? What was your least favorite part of the book? Why?

Day #11 27, 28, 29 & 30 Design a poster that will encourage people to read The Westing Game & Discussion Circle HW: Write an obituary for one of the characters in your novel. Read some of the obituaries in a local newspaper as preparation for this exercise.

Discussion Questions for The Westing Game
For more information on Ellen Raskin, check out Ellen Raskin's biography.
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Schedule for Reading The Westing Game
Day #	Chapters Read	Activities	Journal Prompts
Day #1	1, 2 & 3	Chapter 1 Prereading Exercise	At the end of chapter 1 the narrator tells us that one of the tenants is a mistake. Who do you think the mistake is and why? Provide evidence in your journal.
Day #2	4, 5 & 6	Chapter 4 Prereading Exercise	Pick a character from the novel. What positive and negative traits do they have? Make a list of each. Then draw a Venn diagram. Label one circle with the name of that character, in the other write the name of another character. In the two circles, write down things that you know about each. In the overlapping part, write down things that are the same about the two characters.
Day #3	7 & 8	Chapter 8 Prereading Exercise	Research the writing of a will. Why might you want a lawyer to help with the writing of a will? Find out what might invalidate a will. Try and locate some funny or interesting wills online. Imagine that you are planning your own westing game. Write out your own, imaginary will. Make sure to use language that is suitable and appropriate to will-writing.
Day #4	9, 10 & 11	Chapter 10 Prereading Exercise	TBA
Day #5	12, 13 & 14	Chapter 13 Prereading Exercise	Pretend that you are Ellen Raskin. Your editor has told you that the book will never make the bestseller list unless you add another interesting character. What does this character do? What are they like? Describe the new character and the role they will play in changing the novel.
Day #6	15, 16 & 17	Listen to Abbot and Costello's "Who's on First" routine	Who do you think killed Sam Westing? Why? Provide support from your answers.
Day #7	18 & 19	Chapter 19 Prereading Exercise	No journal: Get into small groups and share your journal entries from the day before: Who do you think killed Sam Westing? Take notes and come to a conclusion as a group.
Day #8	20 & 21	Chapter 20 Prereading Exercise (for hw), Police Officer comes to school to explain how they interrogate suspects	List as many reasons as possible why someone might make a false confession.
Day #9	22, 23 & 24	Chapter 23 Prereading Exercise	Create a chart with three different classifications: Likely Suspects, Possible Suspects, and Least Likely Suspects. Based on your opinion, fill in the chart.
Day #10	25 & 26	Chapter Prereading Exercise	Write an imaginary letter to Ellen Raskin telling her about your experiences reading this book. What was your favorite part of the book? Why? What was your least favorite part of the book? Why?
Day #11	27, 28, 29 & 30	Design a poster that will encourage people to read The Westing Game & Discussion Circle	HW: Write an obituary for one of the characters in your novel. Read some of the obituaries in a local newspaper as preparation for this exercise.