Bud, Not Buddy Novel Study Unit Activities, Projects, & Assessments
$25.00
This complete Bud, Not Buddy novel study includes everything you need to teach Christopher Paul Curtis’s award-winning novel. With 80+ pages of print-and-go lesson plans, activities, comprehension questions, quizzes, and tests, this Bud, Not Buddy unit has been classroom-tested and loved by over 2,200 teachers. Perfect for grades 5–8, this resource helps students strengthen comprehension, literary analysis, grammar, and vocabulary—all while engaging in creative and critical thinking.
Why Teachers Love It
- Covers everything from prereading context to final assessments, saving hours of prep time
- Combines comprehension, literary analysis, grammar, and vocabulary in one unit
- Flexible enough for whole-class instruction, small groups, or independent work
- Provides meaningful activities that engage students in both creative and critical thinking
- Classroom-tested by over 2,200 teachers for reliability and ease of use
What’s Inside
- Pre-Reading & Support Activities: Author study on Christopher Paul Curtis, anticipation/reaction guide, informational text on the Great Depression, elements of fiction notes, and pre-reading activities to introduce themes and context
- Vocabulary, Allusions & Terminology: Vocabulary lists (with and without definitions), glossary of allusions/terms, and a vocabulary review crossword
- Active Reading Tools: Note-taking and summarizing charts for characters, events, summaries, and predictions; comprehension check questions; reading review crossword puzzle
- Literary Analysis Activities (novel-based practice in text analysis and close reading): Figurative Language, Narrator & Point of View, Elements of Plot, Symbolism, Characterization, Theme, and Mechanics (punctuation, capitalization, spelling)
- Grammar & Writing Activities (standards-based practice using the novel text): Word Origins, Context Clues, Synonyms & Antonyms, Parts of Speech, Connotation/Denotation, Dependent & Independent Clauses, and Verb Tense Agreement
- Assessment Tools: Quizzes every three chapters, two versions of the final test (one multiple choice), essay and writing prompts, project ideas and activities, and project/response rubrics
- Teacher Tools: Notes for the teacher, complete answer key, and a full novel summary
Teacher Feedback
"Excellent resource which will create a more robust reading experience for the students. Great job!!" - Barbara C.
"This is an excellent guide to keep students challenged and engaged in the book. It also covers a variety of standards and is a great resource!!" - Steffanie W.
"This was a very well-made literature unit! My students enjoyed the activities and it saved me loads of time! Thanks so much!" - Literature B.
"This was an awesome companion to our class read aloud of the novel. My students were able to use these resources very easily." - Annette N.
"This resource is packed with great activities that go along with the book. My students really enjoyed them. Awesome purchase!" - Supply Acct. S.
"This was such a useful tool and resource during this novel study. It helped me make sure to highlight the key details and standards, as well as really engaged my students to critically think and answer deeper level questions." - Nichole H.
"This was the perfect addition to my novel unit. It was full of engaging lessons for students and helped me as a teacher to make my unit more creative. Great resource!" -Kristin M.
Why It Works
This Bud, Not Buddy teaching unit is designed to save you prep time while providing students with everything they need to dive deep into the novel. Whether you’re teaching in-person or assigning independent work, these resources are comprehensive, rigorous, and engaging—making it one of the most trusted Bud, Not Buddy resources for middle school ELA.
