Edward meets many different people on his journey, and learns the important lesson that love is what matters most. Rather than creating a traditional plot diagram, students can summarize and illustrate Edward’s time with each of the new people that he met throughout his journey. Their finished products should be in chronological order, and have 6 cells, covering Abilene, Lawrence and Nellie, Bull and Lucy, Bryce, Lucius Clarke, and Abilene and her daughter. This sample activity contains spoilers. This activity is best to use as a culminating activity once students have finished reading the novel, or it can be done along the way, with students creating a new cell after they have finished each part of the story.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a 6 cell storyboard of Edward’s travels in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
Student Instructions:
Invite students to reflect on moments in their own lives when they felt lost, changed, or found new friendships. Encourage personal connections by asking them to write a short journal entry about a time they learned something important from someone else, just as Edward did. Sharing these experiences can deepen empathy and engagement with the story.
Ask students to list challenges or lessons Edward faced, then identify any similar experiences from their own lives. Use a Venn diagram to visually compare and contrast their journeys. This helps students see universal themes and relate the novel’s message to themselves.
Lead a conversation where students share what love means to Edward and what it means to them. Encourage respectful listening and open sharing. Highlight how Edward’s understanding changes and grows throughout the book.
Let students create a drawing, poem, or short story inspired by a key moment in Edward's journey. Offer choices for creative expression so all students feel comfortable participating. This builds deeper comprehension and personal investment.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane follows a china rabbit named Edward as he travels from owner to owner, learning the true meaning of love and empathy through his experiences with different people. The story highlights personal growth, loss, and the importance of caring for others.
Students can make a storyboard by dividing Edward's journey into six major parts: Abilene, Lawrence and Nellie, Bull and Lucy, Bryce, Lucius Clarke, and finally Abilene and her daughter. For each part, they should draw a scene and write a short description to show Edward’s growth and experiences.
Edward learns that love, loss, and connection are what matter most. Through his journey, he discovers compassion for others, the pain of heartbreak, and the joy of opening his heart to new relationships.
A plot diagram or storyboard helps students visually organize the main events and characters in Edward’s journey, making it easier to understand the story’s structure and the changes Edward undergoes. It also encourages creativity and deeper comprehension.
Engaging activities include creating storyboards, character maps, discussion circles, and creative writing prompts. These activities help students connect with the novel’s themes, practice summarizing, and express their understanding in multiple ways.