22 At a Glance Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini

Meeting Reading Purpose for Reading Strategy Focus Target Vocabulary

1Preface–Chapter 1 Briefl y describe two of

Houdini’s most famous tricks.

Identify Fact and Opinion

premises, sleuth, manacles, skeptic, illusion

2Chapters 2–3 What was Houdini’s early

life like?Recognize Sequence

incomparable, ambitious, duplicate, biography, conjuror

3

Chapter 4 What were some of the tricks Houdini used when he started performing in public?

Recognize Sequence, Vocabulary Development

adapted, mythical, astrology, benefi cial, sculpture

4Chapter 5 What did Houdini believe

happened when Bess joined his performances?

Identify Fact and Opinion

devotion, existence, characteristic, uncanny, superstitions

5Chapters 6–7 What major changes did

Martin Beck suggest for Houdini’s act?

Identify Fact and Opinion

solemnly, eluded, excelled, stranded, shucking

6Chapters 8–9 How did Houdini seem to

change after becoming famous?

Recognize Sequence

fraud, ovation, incandescent, shackled, mystifying

7Chapters 10–11 What tricks made Houdini

famous throughout Europe?

Identify Fact and Opinion

invincible, conferred, ethnic, forfeit, oblivion

PLANNER: Meetings 1–7

OVERALL PURPOSETo learn how Houdini became known as the world’s greatest magician

Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini

PLA

Was Houdini the world’s greatest magician,

or was Houdini the world’s greatest

showman? Maybe he was both.

Cvr_EscapeHoudini_WT.indd 1

11/5/09 3:35:47 PM11/5/09 3:35:47 PM

493_RL_Escape! Houdini_TG.indd Sec2:2493_RL_Escape! Houdini_TG.indd Sec2:2 11/6/09 11:00:54 PM11/6/09 11:00:54 PM

R45330.111026

33

Meeting Reading Purpose for Reading Strategy Focus Target Vocabulary

8Chapters 12–13 What did Houdini have to

do to maintain his fame?Identify Fact and Opinion

whimsical, bestowed, prop, revelation, publicity

9Chapters 14–15 What event led other

magicians to call Houdini a fraud?

Recognize Sequence

panic, cogent, inept, sensation, journal

1010Chapters 16–17 Why did Houdini turn to

making movies? Was he successful?

Identify Fact and Opinion, Vocabulary Development

tactical, impulse, festive, revised, stunt

1111Chapters 18–19 How did Houdini expose

the spiritualists as fakes?Identify Fact and Opinion

deception, apparition, megaphone, vicious, swindles, occult

1212

Chapter 20 What caused Houdini’s death? How did Houdini contribute to his own death?

Recognize Sequence

lecture, prestigious, abdomen, impending, submerged

1313

Chapter 21 Did Houdini ever communicate with anyone after his death? What makes you think he did or did not?

Identify Fact and Opinion

cajoled, confi dence, curious, obliged

1414

Does the author think that Houdini was the world’s greatest magician or greatest showman? What were some of the things Houdini did to become known as the world’s greatest magician?

Review Review

P f R di S F

PLANNER: Meetings 8–14

Meeting Strategy Focus Activity Description

1515Skimming and Scanning to Locate Information

Students fi nd information to learn more about vaudeville shows.

Meeting 15egy Focus Activity Des

MeeMeeCONTENT CONNTENNT CONNECTION :CONNNECCTIOON :

At a Glance Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini

SENSITIVE TOPIC ALERT: Read ahead for themes or language that may be sensitive.

493_RL_Escape! Houdini_TG.indd Sec2:3493_RL_Escape! Houdini_TG.indd Sec2:3 11/5/09 3:43:33 PM11/5/09 3:43:33 PM

R45330.111026