I Am David

By

Anne Holm

A Novel Study
by Nat Reed
 I Am David
By Anne Holm

Table of Contents

Suggestions and Expectations 3

List of Skills 4

Synopsis / Author Biography 5

Student Checklist 6

Reproducible Student Booklet 7

Answer Key 62

About the author: Nat Reed was a member of the teaching profession for more than 35
years. He was a full-time instructor at Trent University in the Teacher Education Program
for nine years. For more information on his work and literature, visit [Link].

Copyright © 2013 Nat Reed

Revisions Completed in 2021
All rights reserved by author.
Permission to copy for single classroom use only.
Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.
Not for public display.

2
 I Am David
By Anne Holm

Suggestions and Expectations

This 66 page curriculum unit can be used in a variety of ways. Each chapter of the novel
study focuses on one chapter of I Am David and is comprised of four different activities:

• Before You Read

• Vocabulary Building
• Comprehension Questions
• Language and Extension Activities

A portfolio cover (page 7) as well as a Checklist (page 6) are included so that students may
track their completed work.

Every activity need not be completed by all students.

Links with the Common Core Standards (U.S.)

Many of the activities included in this curriculum unit are supported by the Common Core
Standards. For instance the Reading Standards for Literature, Grade 5, makes reference to

a) determining the meaning of words and phrases. . . including figurative language;

b) explaining how a series of chapters fits together to provide the overall structure;
c) compare and contrast two characters;
d) determine how characters … respond to challenges;
e) drawing inferences from the text;
f) determining a theme of a story . . . and many others.

Themes which may be taught in conjunction with the novel include perseverance, courage,
sacrifice, loyalty, personal growth, overcoming difficulty, Communism, concentration camps.

3
 I Am David
By Anne Holm

List of Skills
Vocabulary Development

1. Locating descriptive words/phrases 8. Use of singular / plural nouns

2. Listing synonyms/homonyms 9. Listing compound words
3. Identifying/creating alliteration 10. Identifying parts of speech
4. Use of capitals and punctuation 11. Determining alphabetical order
5. Identifying syllables 12. Identification of root words
6. Identify personification. 13. Identify/create similes
7. Working with anagrams.

Setting Activities

1. Summarize the details of a setting

Plot Activities

1. Complete a time line of events 3. Identify the climax of the novel.

2. Identify conflict in the story 4. Five W’s Chart

Character Activities

1. Determine character traits 3. Relating personal experiences

2. Protagonists 4. Comparing two Characters

Creative and Critical Thinking

1. Research 5. Conduct an interview

2. Write a newspaper story 6. Write a description of personal feelings
3. Write a letter to a friend 7. Write a book review
4. Complete an Observation Chart 8. Complete a KWS Chart

Art Activities

1. A Storyboard 3. Design a cover for the novel

2. Create a collage 4. Design an Information Card

4
 I Am David
By Anne Holm

Synopsis

David lay quite still in the darkness of the camp, waiting for the signal.

“You must get away tonight,” the man had told him. “Stay awake so that you’re ready just
before the guard is changed. When you see me strike a match, the current will be cut off
and you can climb over – you’ll have half a minute for it, no more.”

David escapes from a concentration camp and flees across Europe. He is utterly alone –
who can he trust? What will await him back home?

And all the while he knows that they may catch up with him… [Courtesy of the publisher]

Author Biography
Anne Holm

Anne Holm, born Else Anne Lise Jørgensen in Oksbøl, Denmark

(Sept 10, 1922 – Dec 27, 1998) was a Danish journalist and
children's writer. Her books were written mainly for young
readers, although they are also quite popular with adults. Her
best known book is I Am David (1963) which was also published
as North to Freedom. It won the ALA Notable Book award in
1965, the 1963 Best Scandinavian Children's Book \award and
the Boys Club of America Junior Book Award Gold Medal. She
also wrote Peter (1966), which tells the story of a teenage boy
who travels in time to ancient Greece and medieval England.

5
 I Am David
By Anne Holm

Student Checklist

Student Name

Assignment Grade / Level Comments

6
 I Am David

By Anne Holm

Name:

7
 I Am David
By Anne Holm
Chapter 1

Before you read the chapter:

The protagonist in most novels features the main character or “good guy”. The main
protagonist of I Am David is a fascinating young boy, David, who is a prisoner in a
Communist concentration camp. Think back on some of your favorite characters from past
novels you have read or movies you’ve seen. What do you think makes for an especially
interesting protagonist?

Vocabulary:
Choose a word from the list to complete each sentence.

interfere intended repulsive accustomed penetrate

catastrophe disposal obstacle imperceptible partition

1. The warden never ________________ for the prisoners to be deprived of their supper.

2. The two farmers built a rock wall to act as a _________________between their fields.

3. The whisper of the hummingbird’s wings was __________________ to the listeners.

4. The _________________ of the explosives will have to be done with great care.

5. Within five minutes my mother will _________________ with our conversation.

6. The steel-tipped arrow will likely _________________ a suit of armor.

7. The moat proved to be a serious ___________________ to the attackers.

8. The spread of small pox was a _________________ to the people of Europe.

9. The neighbors soon became ________________ to the noise of the construction.

10. I found the very thought of eating an octopus to be quite ___________________.

8
 Questions

1. Anne Holm is a very skillful writer. What atmosphere does she create in the very
opening paragraph of this novel?

2. Describe the setting at the beginning of Chapter One.

3. As the novel opens, what was David being urged to do? What was David’s opinion of
the man who was urging him to do this?

Good to Know
Salonica (Thessalonica) is the second largest city in Greece. Today the
metropolitan area of the city has a population of over one million
people. It is considered as the cultural center of the country. Two of
the books of the Bible are addressed to the church in Thessalonica.

4. Cite one example of David’s courage in this chapter.

5. David used a _______________ to guide him on his journey. He was told to travel
south until he reached the city of _________________.

9
6. Describe how by taking a serious risk, David was able to speed up his journey.

7. Why do you think that David hadn’t allowed himself to think of Johannes for the past
three years?

8. Johannes died of a ____________________________.

9. Describe in detail how David reached Italy from Salonica, Greece.

10. When David finally reached the shores of Italy at the end of Chapter One, what
impressed him the most?

10
 Language Activities

A. Personification is giving human qualities to something that is not human. An example

from Chapter 1: … when fear grew to a sharp-pointed terror… In this example fear is
personified – growing as if it were a living thing.

a) Why do you think personification is a literary device used by many authors?

b) Create your own example of personification.

c) Bonus: Keep your eyes open for another example of personification. When you find
one, come back to this page and record it below.

B. Write the plural of the following nouns from this chapter. Careful – you may wish to
consult a dictionary for some of these words.

Singular Noun Plural Noun

man
match
knife
victory
person
tooth
lorry
Italian
body
beauty

11
C. Anagrams
An anagram is a word that is formed by changing the order of the letters
of another word. For example, the letters in the word PAN can also form
the word NAP. Follow these directions to form the anagrams:

a) read the clue in the right-hand column.

b) Using the word in the left-hand column move the letters around in any order, but you
must use all the letters.

Each of the words in the left-hand column are found in the first chapter.

Word Anagram Clue

spoke Prods.
others Fired again.
table Sound made by a sheep.
partly Not very much of something.
later Change.
bread Removed clothing.

D. Find three examples of the following parts of speech from this chapter.

Nouns Verbs Adjectives

12
 Extension Activities

Storyboard
A storyboard is a series of pictures that tell about an important event in a
story. A storyboard can tell the story of only one scene – or the entire novel.

Complete the storyboard below illustrating the events described in the first chapter of I Am
David. You may wish to practice your drawings on a separate piece of paper.

1 2

3 4

5 6

13
 Salonica, Greece
Italy

Map of Europe

Flag of Italy Flag of Greece

14