Our class started our study of the novel Rules by first exploring our prior knowledge of autism using the Autism Anticipation Guide. This launched a classroom discuss where misconceptions were corrected and insights were shared. As we dove into reading the novel together, we used the Reading Companion Questions to guide us with before reading questions, which I used as bell work, and after reading questions, which could either be assigned as homework or used to foster a whole class discussion. 

Our class extended their understanding of Cynthia Lord's novel Rules by completing an in-depth character study. The Rules Character Analysis allowed students to chose their own character from the novel to analyze.

After the main character Catherine meets her new friend Jason, our class took a deeper look at the human mind. The assignment Extraordinary Minds opened up their viewpoints to the idea that every single person on this planet is extraordinary in different ways. Following our reading of the novel Rules, I would often show Temple Grandin's film to reiterate the extraordinary capabilities of the human mind.

For fun along the way or as enrichment for early finishers, The Adventures of Cinnamon & Nutmeg was assigned to further explore the flat characters Cinnamon and Nutmeg, Catherine's guinea pigs, from the novel Rules by Cynthia Lord.

I encourage you to read this enjoyable novel with your students. A Resource Bundle is available to make all of your lesson planning a breeze!