This comprehensive Sarah, Plain and Tall Novel Study includes over 90 pages of no-prep, ready-to-use resources—everything you need to teach Patricia MacLachlan’s award-winning novel. With vocabulary, comprehension questions, literary analysis activities, grammar practice, quizzes, tests, and more, this unit saves you hours of planning while keeping students engaged and on track.

Perfect for whole-class novel studies, small group instruction, or independent work.

Why Teachers Love It

• A complete, standards-aligned novel unit with everything in one place
• Ready-to-use lessons—just print or assign digitally
• Activities designed for close reading, character study, and deeper analysis
• Integrates grammar and writing practice directly into the novel study
• Includes quizzes and three final test options for flexible assessment
• Printable AND digital for versatile classroom use

What’s Inside

Pre-Reading & Context Activities

• Fiction vs. Non-Fiction Comparison
• Informational Text on Realistic Fiction (with questions)
• Guided Research Project: Life in America in the 1890s
• Author Biography: Patricia MacLachlan (with questions)
• Creative Writing: “Best Friend” Personal Ad
• Informational Text: Paul Bunyan Tall Tale (with questions)
• Active Reading Graphic Organizer & Book Summary
• Glossary of Terms & Vocabulary Lists

Character Study Activities

• Character Inference
• Character Motivation
• Point of View

Grammar & Writing Practice

• Parts of Speech
• Subject/Verb Agreement
• Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement

Assessments & Extras

• Study Guide Comprehension Questions
• Reading Quizzes (print & digital)
• Three Final Tests (print & digital, including multiple-choice option)

Why It Works

This unit is built with busy teachers in mind—it integrates vocabulary, grammar, and writing lessons into the study of the novel itself, ensuring students build ELA skills while engaging with the text. The variety of activities and assessments gives you the flexibility to differentiate instruction, keep students motivated, and check comprehension at every stage of the book.

What Teachers Are Saying

Excellent! More than I expected! THANK YOU SO MUCH! - Susan S.

In love with this resource!!! - Alicia S.

I've taught Sarah, Plain and Tall for over 15 years, and this unit had a ton of stuff for me to add. The activities presented make it easier for students to understand some difficult concepts. Thanks! - Marilyn V.

This is so well done! I can't believe it. It is going to make this novel so much more meaningful to the children, and it is so aligned to the common core. Absolutely worth the money! - Dawn L.

This unit is amazing! The kids were so engaged and I loved the activities that extended their thinking and connected to other content areas. - Erin G.