A Single Shard

Sample Pages

A Single Shard - Study Guide

The Literature Kit

In this Literature Kit™, we divide the novel by chapters or sections and feature reading comprehension and vocabulary questions. In every chapter, we include Before You Read and After You Read questions. The Before You Read activities prepare students for reading by setting a purpose for reading. They stimulate background knowledge and experience, and guide students to make connections between what they know and what they will learn. The After You Read activities check students' comprehension and extend their learning. Students are asked to give thoughtful consideration of the text through creative and evaluative short-answer questions and journal prompts. Also included are writing tasks, graphic organizers, comprehension quiz, word search, and crossword to further develop students' critical thinking and writing skills, and analysis of the text.

The Novel

Set in 12th Century Korea, Tree-ear, an orphaned little boy, lives under a bridge with a disabled older friend and caretaker named Crane-man. Tree-ear is fascinated with a local potter named Min and dreams of creating his own ceramics. The trade of potter is unfortunately passed down from father to son, therefore Min can’t teach Tree-ear the trade. The Royal Emissary tours the village in search for a new potter for the palace. Min and Kang, another pottery-maker, compete for the honor. The emissary chooses Kang but tells Min that if he can create more work and bring it to Puyo he will reconsider his choice. Now, Min’s fate rests in the hands of Tree-ear, who must deliver the pottery to the palace.

Novel must be purchased separately. Click here.