The Tale of Despereaux
The Tale of
Despereaux
By Kate DiCamillo
A Book Unit
Book Units by Teachers, LLC
Scroll down for free lesson plans for the book, The Tale of Despereaux. Here, you will find a
sample lesson, questions and vocabulary for one chapter, and a portion of a test. You can also
find the scope and sequence for our complete book unit!
The unit includes lessons, quizzes, a test, writing assignments, and answer keys. We use these
lessons and tests in our own classrooms and base them on common core standards.
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http://www.bookunitsbyteachers.citymax.com/catalog/item/8283574/10160453.htm
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Book Units By Teachers, LLC
Book Units By Teachers, LLC. © 2014
Page 1
The Tale of Despereaux
Scope and Sequence
Common Core State Standards that are addressed in each chapter are in parenthesis beside the
chapter/skill.
Chapters 1-5-Setting and Main Character (RL1-3)……………………….………………..
Chapters 1-5-Questions and Vocabulary (RL1, 2, 3)………………………………………
page3
page 4
Chapters 6-10-Dictionary Skills (L4)…………………………………………………………
Chapters 6-10-Questions and Vocabulary (RL1, 2, 3)……………………………………..
page 5
page 6
Chapters 11-15-Sequencing (RL 1-3) …………………………………………………………
Chapters 11-15-Questions and Vocabulary (RL1, 2, 3)……………………………………..
Quiz on Chapters 1-15…………………………………………………………………………
page 7
page 8
page 9
Chapters 16-20-Synonyms and Antonyms (L5) ……………………………………………
Chapters 16-20-Questions and Vocabulary(RL1, 2, 3) ……………………………………
page 10
page 11
Chapters 21-25-Cause and Effect (RL1)………………………………………………………
Chapters 21-25-Questions and Vocabulary (RL1, 2, 3)……………………………………..
pages 12-13
page 14
Chapters 26-30-Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases (L1)……………………………….
Chapters 26-30-Questions and Vocabulary (RL1, 2, 3)……………………………………..
Page 15
page 16
Chapters 31-35-Use Technology to Find Information and Type a Research Paper (W6).. page 17
Chapters 31-35-Questions and Vocabulary (RL1, 2, 3)……………………………………… page 18
Quiz on Chapters 16-35………………………………………………………………………... page 19
Chapters 36-40-Compare and Contrast(RL3)……………………………………………….
Chapters 36-40-Questions and Vocabulary (RL1, 2, 3)……………………………………..
page 20
page 21
Chapters 41-45-Quotation Marks (L2)………………………………………………………
page 22
Chapters 41-45-Questions and Vocabulary (RL1, 2, 3)……………………………………… page 23
Chapters 46-52-Writing Your Opinion (W1) ………………………………………………. page 24
Chapters 46-52-Questions and Vocabulary (RL1, 2, 3)………………………………………. page 25
Book Test………………………………………………………………………………………… pages 26-28
Answer Key……………………………………………………………………………………… pages 29-32
Book Units By Teachers, LLC. © 2014
Page 2
The Tale of Despereaux
Name________________________________ Date ____________________
Chapters 21-25-Cause and Effect
We are going to learn about cause and effect. An effect is what happens. A cause is why that
happened. So here are the questions you can ask yourself when you think about cause and effect.
To find the effect: What happened?
To find the cause: Why did that happen?
Here is an example: The class had recess inside because it was storming.
Cause: It was storming.
Effect: The class had recess inside.
In chapter 23, the author writes that there is a consequence to every action. The action is the cause and
the consequence is the effect. Throughout this chapter, the author gives a lot of actions and then,
things that happen because of those actions. He is talking about cause and effect! Below, you will find
sentences that tell events that happen in this chapter. Cut each of these out, match each cause with its
effect, and glue them on the following page.
The king ordered the
death of every rat in the
land.
Roscuro’s soul was set
afire.
The princess saw Roscuro
and screamed “Rat”.
The queen died.
Roscuro went upstairs
seeking the light.
Roscuro gnawed on
Gregory the jailer’s rope.
A match was lit in
Roscuro’s face.
Roscuro fell into the
queen’s soup.
Book Units By Teachers, LLC. © 2014
Page 3
The Tale of Despereaux
Name________________________________ Date ____________________
Cause and Effect
Cause
Effect
Now, think of causes and effects. Write two of them below. They do not have to come from the
book!
Cause
Effect
Book Units By Teachers, LLC. © 2014
Page 4
The Tale of Despereaux
Name_________________________________________ Date ____________________
Chapter 21-25 – Questions and Vocabulary
1. Why was Roscuro’s heart broke after he fell into the queen’s soup?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. What did Roscuro put on his head? Why did he do that?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
3. The king ordered that all of the rats in the land be killed. Did his plan work? Why or why not?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4. What did Mig’s father get when he sold her?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Why were Mig’s ears like cauliflower?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary - Use a resource (dictionary, internet, or thesaurus) to find the meanings of
the following words. Remember to pay close attention to how the word is used in the story.
1. consequences – page 117
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
2. clout – page128
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Book Units By Teachers, LLC. © 2014
Page 5
The Tale of Despereaux
Name________________________________ Date ____________________
End of Book Test
1. Which character said this: “Will I name him? Will I name him? Of course, I will name him, but
he will only die like the others. Oh, so sad. Oh, such the tragedy.”
a. Despereaux
b. Despereaux’s mother, Antoinette
c. Depereaux’s sister, Merlot
2. What did the king first think Despereaux was?
a. He thought Despereaux was a bug.
b. He thought Despereaux was a frog.
c. He thought Despereaux was a bird.
3. Which of the following words would come between the guide words “park” and “pungent” in
a dictionary?
a. packet
b. perch
c. putter
4. Why did the mouse want to punish Despereaux?
a. He wasn’t doing his chores as a mouse since he had met the Princess Pea.
b. He had sat at the foot of a human king.
c. He had fallen in love.
This is only a portion of the book test! Download the entire unit
today for other great Common Core based lessons, writing
activities, quizzes, and the complete book test!
Book Units By Teachers, LLC. © 2014
Page 6