The Houdini Box

Unit 4 , Week 1

Genre – Historical FictionGenre – Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction has Historical Fiction has characters and events characters and events based on real people and based on real people and events in history.events in history.

Vocabulary Strategy – Synonyms and Vocabulary Strategy – Synonyms and AntonymsAntonyms

• Synonyms are words that mean almost the same thing. Example: Mad and Angry

• Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Example: Happy and Sad

Comprehension Skill – Comprehension Skill – Compare and ContrastCompare and ContrastWhen you compare and contrast, you tell how two or more things are alike and different.

Comprehension Comprehension Strategy - PredictStrategy - Predict

Active readers predict. They use what they know as well as what the author tells them to form ideas about what might happen next.

VocabularyVocabulary

• Escape• Crumbled• Magician• Vanished• Bustling• Appeared• Monument

Escape

• To break loose; to get out and away

CrumbledCrumbled

• Fell to pieces

BustlingBustling• Being noisily busy and in a hurry; Being noisily busy and in a hurry;

scurryingscurrying

AppearedAppeared

• Came into view or sight; was Came into view or sight; was seenseen

MagicianMagician• Person who performs tricksPerson who performs tricks

MonumentMonument

• Memorial; something to Memorial; something to set up to honor a person set up to honor a person or eventor event

VanishedVanished• Disappeared, especially Disappeared, especially

suddenlysuddenly

Victor was upset because Victor was upset because he could not ---he could not ---

• Visit his Aunt Harriet• Do the things that Houdini did• Find the box with initials carved on

it.

What did Victor and What did Victor and Houdini have in Houdini have in

common?common?•They liked to perform magic tricks.They liked to perform magic tricks.•They asked people a lot of They asked people a lot of questions.questions.•They had a box with their initials on They had a box with their initials on it.it.

Right after Victor Right after Victor learned about Houdini’s learned about Houdini’s

tricks, he -tricks, he -• Told Aunt Harriet his secretTold Aunt Harriet his secret• Got stuck in Aunt Harriet’s Got stuck in Aunt Harriet’s

trunktrunk• Tried to do what Houdini had Tried to do what Houdini had

donedone.

Houdini Houdini probably probably promised to promised to write Victor’s letter because write Victor’s letter because

he was --he was --• Impressed with Victor’s determinationImpressed with Victor’s determination• Angry that Victor could not do any Angry that Victor could not do any

trickstricks• Annoyed by all of Victor’s questionsAnnoyed by all of Victor’s questions

What is the most likely What is the most likely reason the author wrote reason the author wrote

this story?this story?• To explain why magicians have To explain why magicians have

secretssecrets• To entertain with a story about a To entertain with a story about a

boy who wants to be a magicianboy who wants to be a magician• To persuade children to do To persuade children to do

magic tricks for their friendsmagic tricks for their friends

What kind of person was Victor?

• Fearful because he never wanted to Fearful because he never wanted to try new thingstry new things

• Daring because he approached Daring because he approached Houdini at the train stationHoudini at the train station

Why did Mrs. Houdini cry when Why did Mrs. Houdini cry when she read the letter that Victor she read the letter that Victor

showed her?showed her?

• She was sad because her husband had just died

• She was embarrassed because she did not know how to read

Victor was excited after Victor was excited after reading Houdini’s monument reading Houdini’s monument

because he --because he --

• Had always wondered what Had always wondered what Houdini’s real name wasHoudini’s real name was

• Realized the box that he was Realized the box that he was given as a boy had belonged given as a boy had belonged to Houdinito Houdini

How was Victor the same at How was Victor the same at the beginning and the end of the beginning and the end of

the story?the story?

• He was excited about magic• He took a train to visit someone• He followed his mom’s

directions

What happened after Victor What happened after Victor played ball with his son?played ball with his son?

• He went to visit HoudiniHe went to visit Houdini• He found Houdini’s box in the He found Houdini’s box in the

atticattic• He wrote Houdini a letterHe wrote Houdini a letter

How could you tell that How could you tell that Houdini and Victor, as adults, Houdini and Victor, as adults,

were both kind people?were both kind people?

• Houdini was willing to share his Houdini was willing to share his secrets with Victor, and Victor helped secrets with Victor, and Victor helped his son learn how to hit a ball with a his son learn how to hit a ball with a bat.bat.

At the end of the story, why At the end of the story, why didn’t Victor tell his wife and didn’t Victor tell his wife and

son about the box?son about the box?

• Houdini’s secrets were meant only for him.

What was in the box that What was in the box that Houdini’s wife gave Houdini’s wife gave

Victor?Victor?

• The secrets for how to do The secrets for how to do Houdini’s tricks were in the Houdini’s tricks were in the box.box.

The Author – Brian The Author – Brian SelznickSelznick

This author is worth checking out!! He is also the illustrator for Andrew Clements!!