Harvesting Hope - Where the Watermelons Grow (Middle School) Digital Download

Harvesting Hope is a comprehensive text set accompanying, Where the Watermelons Grow, by Cindy Baldwin. The novel follows the story of a young girl who is growing up on a family farm, trying to find her way as she is impacted by the mental health struggles of her mother. The story intertwines themes of family, mental health, and life on a farm, creating opportunity for students to explore the following essential questions based on the themes represented in the story:

1. What role does hope play in overcoming challenges?

2. How do stigmas affect individuals and what strategies can be utilized to challenge and combat stigmas?

3. How can caring for a garden nurture a person?

Included in the workbook is everything your student will need, from start to finish. Activities include:

1. Exploration of unit themes

2. Academic vocabulary

3. TED Talk and accompanying activity

4. Mini research task

5. Extensive 4-week farmstand project

6. Art analysis and accompanying activity

7. Non-fiction articles

8. Short story pairings and accompanying assignments

9. Annotation Guide and instructions for annotating while reading the text

10. Journal prompts for before and after each chapter of Where the Watermelons Grow

11. Reading Logs - an assignment that spans the entirety of the text, utilizing a research-based close reading strategy that improves reading comprehension and analytical skills. Grading rubric included.

12. Film pairing and accompanying assignments

13. Music pairings and accompanying assignments

14. Poetry pairings and accompanying assignments

15. Character analysis project

16. Expository Essay Writing, grading rubric included

BONUS RESOURCES

1. Informational Text Graphic Organizer (can be used with any informational text)

2. An original recipe that is not only delicious, but pairs well with the text

3. Invitation to join our private Facebook group, exclusively for purchasers of our curriculum (where you will have direct access to the creators of this curriculum)

Complete parent/teacher guide included - the parent guide provides all necessary information for the implementation of this unit including an example 8 week pacing guide.

You will need to purchase a copy of the anchor text, Where the Watermelons Grow, to accompany this unit. We encourage you to purchase through your local bookstore, or purchase here.

Have questions about this unit? Don’t hesitate to reach out! Contact us directly here.