The Matchbox Diary

Title:  The Matchbox Diary

Author: Paul Fleischman

Illustrator:  Bagram Ibatoulline

ISBN:  9780763646011
 

 

Summary: 

This book is about an Italian immigrant having a conversation with his granddaughter about a collection of matchbox.  Inside the matchboxes is a single item that reminds the girl’s grandfather of a specific time in his life.  It is like a dairy of things. 

Rating:

This book is a great way to introduce journaling or diary to students.  It explains that the students do not always have to have a written journal, but the students can also draw or collect things as well and it will tell a story later.

AR Information		Lexile Information
Level	2.8	Age range	11-14 years
Quiz Point Value	.5	Book type	Fiction
Grade Interest Level	K-3	Lexile measure	800L

 (The AR and Lexile information is pulled straight from their websites.)

 Curriculum Connections: (These standards are simply the ones I found right off as some I may use for a lesson with the book listed.  I in no way am trying to state these are the only standards that fit this book.)

CCSS

RL.3.3

W.3.3

SL.3.1

SL.3.3

SL.3.4

Reading:

This would be a book I would use as a Read Aloud book. 

 

Writing and Speaking:

The students would write a story about an experience they had and could bring in an object that reminds them of their experience.

  

Additional uses:

This book could also be coupled with U.S. History when talking about immigrants arriving to the country.  Having a speaker come in and talk about their experience.  The students could prepare questions in advance to ask the speaker.

 

Related Internet Resources:

Free printable - http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763646016.btg.1.pdf

 http://cjayneteach.com/blog/2013/04/03/the-matchbox-diary-by-paul-fleischman/

 

http://www.dailyteachingtools.com/journal-writing-prompts.html