Day 1: The Stakeout

Target: I can interpret non-verbal cues (body language) to understand a character.
Success: I can act out and guess emotions without speaking.
Warmup
Vocab: Agitated
Definition: Feeling troubled or nervous.
Think: Does watching someone from a distance mean you actually know them?
Read Aloud
Chapter 1: The Thief
Listen closely: Does Hugo use his ears or his eyes more to understand the Old Man?
Leader: Discuss Questions 3 & 5.
Activity
The Silent Observer
Partner Charades:
  1. Person A: Act out an emotion (No sound!)
  2. Person B: Guess the emotion based on cues.
Closing
Debrief
What was the hardest part of understanding someone without words? How does Hugo do it every day?

Day 2: Life in the Walls

Target: I can analyze how setting details reveal character traits.
Success: I can map a secret space and explain Hugo's responsibility.
Warmup
Vocab: Diligent
Definition: Showing care in one's work.
Discuss: Why does Hugo work so hard if he doesn't get paid?
Read Aloud
Chapter 2: The Clocks
Listen for descriptions of the secret apartments.
What is Decrepit (worn out) and what is kept shiny?
Activity
Mapping the Secret
Create a Blueprint Sketch of a secret room you would build inside this school.
List 3 objects you would hide there.
Closing
Invisible Work
Who are the "invisible workers" in our school (like Hugo)? How can we show them we see them?

Day 3: Ghosts & Footsteps

Target: I can explain how authors use sound to create mood/fear.
Success: I can identify what memories specific sounds trigger.
Warmup
Vocab: Illumination
Definition: Lighting or light.
Predict: The Old Man fears "Ghosts." Are they real ghosts or memories?
Read Aloud
Chapter 3: Snowfall
Pay attention to the contrast between the dark station and the bright snow.
Why does he hate the clicking of heels?
Activity
Soundscapes
Close your eyes. Identify the sound (tapping, crunching, stomping).
Share: What memory does that sound unlock for you?
Closing
Reflection
If you could erase one sound from the world, what would it be and why?

Day 4: Girl in the Window

Target: I can distinguish between being alone (solitude) and being lonely (isolation).
Success: I can write a detailed character description.
Warmup
Descriptive Writing
Look at the picture of the Girl.
Write: A 3-sentence description of her appearance (Page 17).
Read Aloud
Chapter 4: The Window
Hugo is alone. The Girl has family.
Why did she make him promise to leave? Is she an enemy or a friend?
Activity
Cliffhanger & Grammar
1. Find a sentence with a Proper Noun.
2. Predict: Will the girl keep her promise about the notebook?
Closing
The Big Idea
Solitude vs. Isolation: Which one is Hugo experiencing right now? Why?
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