6-8 The Wednesday Wars Curriculum Guide

Some stories make students laugh, think, and grow — all at the same time.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt is one of those stories. This ready-to-use curriculum guide brings Holling Hoodhood's unforgettable seventh-grade year to life with everything you need to teach it well — and teach it deeply.

What's Inside:

The Teacher Guide includes chapter summaries, discussion questions with answer keys, vocabulary instruction, literary terms with examples drawn directly from the text, and visual aids — maps, scene references, and Venn diagrams, and four Shakespeare plays written in modern language that correlate with the story — to help students connect the story to its rich historical and literary context.

The Student Packet features chapter-based vocabulary, DOK-leveled comprehension questions, a paired informational text, and an opinion writing prompt — all designed to move students from recall to critical thinking.

Who It's For:

This guide is perfect for middle school ELA classrooms, Christian schools, and homeschool families looking for a rigorous, meaningful novel study. Fully aligned to Common Core State Standards, it works beautifully as a standalone unit or as part of a broader coming-of-age and historical fiction thematic study.

A Note for Faith-Based Educators:

Holling's story is rich with opportunities to explore timeless Christian values. This guide naturally invites conversations about integrity, perseverance through difficulty, and what it truly means to grow into a person of good character. It is a wonderful resource for Christian classrooms and homeschool families who believe great literature and great character go hand in hand.

📚 Grades 6–8 | Middle School ELA | Common Core Aligned ✅ Teacher Guide + Student Packet Included ✝️ Easily Adaptable for Faith-Based Classrooms