The diversity and multitude of personal accounts is presented in both text and voice so that there is no sense of frustration in the changes of viewpoints, but rather a better appreciation of the event as a dynamic experience from which we still have much to learn. The lesson is intended to give students an opportunity to closely examine a complex text and to discuss text-dependent questions while building academic vocabulary. “This is excellent social history as well as suspenseful storytelling. This lesson plan intended for Grade 6 titled The Great Fire by Jim Murphy from has an estimated ELA/Literacy instructional time of five 60-minute sessions. Especially helpful are maps placed at intervals throughout the book that represent the progress of the fire. This volume, beautifully printed in sepia tones, contains historic photos, engravings and newspaper clippings on nearly every page. “Strategically quoting the written accounts of witnesses-who include a 12-year-old girl and a newspaper editor-Murphy both charts the 31-hour spread of the fire and conveys the atmosphere in the streets.

It is an interesting read that will explain the multiple reasons the city burned down, and an amazing story of how the citizens rebuilt their city. The drawings and photographs of this event spaced throughout the book really show the enormity of the devastation. The book will put readers in the heart of the tragedy as readers will feel the panic of the citizens and hear the chaotic city of Chicago.

Murphy did an exceptional job tying together all the eye-witness report into an intriguing story. This is an appealing text that will get children talking about the fire and history of Chicago. 1 Plot The novel The Great Fire is about the great fire that happened in Chicago. The Great Fire was a Newbery medal honor book in 1996. Murphy has collected the stories of people who lived throughout this event to create a compelling first hand look of this great tragedy. The Great Fire is a story for children and young adults, written by Jim Murphy about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which caused the destruction of most of the city of Chicago. This is an informational book about the catastrophic, 1871 fire in Chicago.