The Westing Game

The Westing Game

Ellen Raskin

Publish date 1978

Grade 4

Published by E.P. Dutton

Reading Level: 750L

2 starred reviews:

"A supersharp mystery...confoundingly clever, and very funny." —Booklist, starred review

“Compelling and convoluted from the start, this gripping mystery never takes its foot off the gas pedal.” - Kyle Jackson·Common Sense Media

Summary:  In The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin, it follows 16 heirs in their fight for the win. When old Samuel Westing passes away, 16 heirs are summoned to his home where they find out they will be taking part in a game. The winner of the game will receive two million dollars. The only catch is that one of the 16 heirs is Samuel Westing’s killer. The 16 heirs are split into eight groups of two.  The pairs have to decide on who they think killed Samuel Westing. But, only little Turtle Wexler is able to find out the true story behind all of it.

Description: mystery, fiction, Newbery Award Winner

Suggested Delivery: small group, whole group

Electronic Resources (2):

Westing Game Characters

 This is a link to a Weebly that includes the characters, images of the characters, the setting, summaries of each chapter, a detective notebook, and the rules and teams of the game. This can be used a as pre/during/post reading activity.

Book Trailer

            This is a link to the YouTube trailer of the text. This can be used as a pre-reading activity.

Vocabulary:

            Industrialist –  a person who owns a industry, big company

            Averted – to turn away or prevent

            Putrid – decaying or rotten smell

            Luxury – something you want but do not need

            Tenant – someone who pays rent to use property

            Grapple –  to come to terms with

            Asylum – a hospital for the mentally ill

            Corpse –  a dead body

            Facade – a showy misrepresentation, to hide something

            Rational – to be consistent

           

Teaching Suggestions:

·      Use this book to learn about clues

·      Use this book to learn about mysteries

·      Use this book to teach how to work together

Pre Reading:

Students will take part in a Read – Write – Pair – Share. The students will read the first page introduction of the text. Then write down what they believe the book might be about. Then students will be paired up and asked to share their response with one another.

During Reading:

            Students and the teacher will participate in a choral reading of the chapters containing clues either as a whole group or in small groups.

           

After Reading:

            The teacher will engage students in a popcorn review. The teacher will ask students questions about the text calling on students at random to answer. The teacher should ask at least 10 questions that revolve around the main idea of the text.

Writing Activity:  Students will create their own Will Game. This should be a one page pretend will that will include how to figure out how they died, who is going to play the game, and directions for the game. This should be formatted like an essay.