by Michael Morpurgo
Morpurgo, Michael. (2007).
War Horse.
New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Scholastic Press.
Copyright: 2007
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Reading Level:
Lexile: 1090L
Grade Level Equivalent: 7.9
Interest Level: 3rd -7th Grade
Genre: Historical fiction
Description: horses, World War I, adventure, friendship, military, technology
Delivery Suggestion: Whole group read aloud, small interest group
Summary: Joey enjoyed his life on the farm with a boy named Albert. Rumors that there is to be a great war reaches the farm and Albert’s father sells Joey to the army. Joey is trained to be a cavalry horse, to carry wounded soldiers off the battlefields and to drag heavy artillery. Before Joey left, Albert promised that he would find him and bring him back to the farm once the war was over. Joey and his friend Topthorn endure the hardships of living with the army. Joey wonders if he will ever be reunited with Albert.
Electronic Resources:
How did you feel when Joey finally found Albert? Compare and contrast Joey’s journey with the one that Albert made.
Morpurgo, Michael. (2007).
War Horse.
New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Scholastic Press.
Copyright: 2007
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Reading Level:
Lexile: 1090L
Grade Level Equivalent: 7.9
Interest Level: 3rd -7th Grade
Genre: Historical fiction
Description: horses, World War I, adventure, friendship, military, technology
Delivery Suggestion: Whole group read aloud, small interest group
Summary: Joey enjoyed his life on the farm with a boy named Albert. Rumors that there is to be a great war reaches the farm and Albert’s father sells Joey to the army. Joey is trained to be a cavalry horse, to carry wounded soldiers off the battlefields and to drag heavy artillery. Before Joey left, Albert promised that he would find him and bring him back to the farm once the war was over. Joey and his friend Topthorn endure the hardships of living with the army. Joey wonders if he will ever be reunited with Albert.
Electronic Resources:
- Author http://michaelmorpurgo.com/books/war-horse Students can use this site to learn more about the author and the other books he has written. If student’s like this style of writing they can explore his other books and write down the ones they think they would like to read next.
- World War I http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/0/ww1/ this book was centered around World War 1. This website provides resources for students to explore to learn more about World War I. This website will give students a better understand of the cause and other significant events during World War I.
Vocabulary: - 1. battalion -a large body of troops ready for battle
- 2. cauterized - to burn skin with a heated instrument to prevent it from becoming infected
- 3. Auf Wiedersehen - the German word for goodbye
- 4. bombardment - a continuous attack with bombs, shells or other missiles
- 5. euphoric - characterized by or feeling intense excitement or happiness
- 6. tetanus- a bacterial disease marked by rigidity and spasms of the voluntary muscles
Teaching Suggestions:
- Use this book to teach about different points of view and what happens.
- Use this book to discuss technology that comes about in the war. Compare and contrast with previous wars. Was Joey useful in this situation? Why or why not?
- Use this book to encourage students to conduct research while/after reading the book to find more information about the technology used and places that Joey was in.
Comprehension Strategies:
- Before Reading:
- Questionnaire: Ask students to predict what the book could be about. Have students read the note at the beginning of the book ask them what could be the significance of that painting.
- During Reading:
- Directed Reading - Thinking Activity: Joey has relationships with several people in the book- Albert, Captain Nicholls, Warren and Emile. Joey was a confidante to these people. Have students think about why it was so easy for these people to talk to Joey. Why would he have been so comforting?
- Directed Reading - Thinking Activity: Joey has relationships with several people in the book- Albert, Captain Nicholls, Warren and Emile. Joey was a confidante to these people. Have students think about why it was so easy for these people to talk to Joey. Why would he have been so comforting?
- After Reading:
- Modeled Writing: Create a timeline of the significant events in Joey’s life and events of World War I.
How did you feel when Joey finally found Albert? Compare and contrast Joey’s journey with the one that Albert made.