The Call of the Wild | 9 Lessons, Chapter Guides & Naturalism | Grade 7

The Call of the Wild is a grade 7 novel study with 35 pages of classroom material and a separate 14-page teacher guide. It offers seven chapter guides, a lesson on naturalism as a literary lens, and a final lesson on character, theme and argument, so students read critically and support their ideas with evidence. It is written for middle school English teachers and homeschool families who want a structured companion to the novel.

The study has nine lessons, and each one uses the same three pages: an explanation page, a practice page with explanation, and a case card where students apply the idea to the text. Lessons 1 to 7 follow the seven chapters in order, and each lesson is named for its chapter. Lesson 8 introduces naturalism as a literary lens, and lesson 9 asks students to bring together character, theme and argument. Two vocabulary pages, a learning check, a short project with a record page and a reflection page complete the study. The full novel is not reproduced. A free primary-text link is provided, and students need access to the novel for chapter reading.

What's Included

• Classroom Material: 35 pages (PDF, print edition)
• Teacher Guide: 14 pages (PDF) with answers, case guidance and assessment feedback
• A free primary-text link; the full novel is not reproduced
• Editable DOCX text editions of the classroom material and the teacher guide
• Presentation with 17 slides (PPTX)
• Original illustrations; the PDF is the print reference and DOCX line breaks may differ

The 9 Lessons

• Lesson 1: 1 Into the Primitive – A chapter guide for the opening chapter, with explanation, practice and a case card.
• Lesson 2: 2 The Law of Club and Fang – A chapter guide for chapter two, built on the same three-page pattern.
• Lesson 3: 3 The Dominant Primordial Beast – A chapter guide for chapter three with evidence-based practice.
• Lesson 4: 4 Who Has Won to Mastership – A chapter guide for chapter four with practice and a case card.
• Lesson 5: 5 The Toil of Trace and Trail – A chapter guide for chapter five with practice and a case card.
• Lesson 6: 6 For the Love of a Man – A chapter guide for chapter six with practice and a case card.
• Lesson 7: 7 The Sounding of the Call – A chapter guide for the final chapter with practice and a case card.
• Lesson 8: Naturalism as a literary lens – Students use naturalism as a way of reading the novel.
• Lesson 9: Character, theme and argument – Learners combine character and theme into an argument supported by evidence.

Students Will Learn To

• Read each chapter closely and explain events using evidence
• Trace how a character is shown across the novel
• Use naturalism as a literary lens on the text
• Identify a theme and explain how the novel develops it
• Build a written argument about the novel that is supported by the text

Perfect For

• Grade 7 English teachers who want a chapter-by-chapter companion to the novel
• Teachers who want practice with textual evidence and critical reading
• Literature circles and small groups that read the novel together
• Homeschool families looking for printable lessons with a separate answer guide
• UK and Australia: roughly Year 8

Why Teachers Choose This Unit

• Each of the seven chapters has its own guide with explanation, practice and a case card
• A lesson on naturalism gives students a lens for discussing the novel
• The final lesson connects character, theme and argument
• The teacher guide includes expected responses, an assessment key with feedback and a differentiation and observation chapter
• The editable DOCX text editions let you adjust wording for your class

Every resource is built around the curriculum you teach – and if something doesn't fit your standards, the TeachLessons Guarantee applies: we adapt it for you.

Created with AI assistance. Texts and illustrations were generated with AI support and edited for classroom use; sources and production notes are at the end of the teacher guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which standards does this fit?

The content is closest to the CCSS Grade 7 reading standards for literature (CCSS RL.7), including citing evidence, theme and character. No alignment or endorsement is claimed.

Are answers included?

Yes. The separate 14-page teacher guide has expected responses and teaching notes for all nine lessons, an assessment key with feedback, and a chapter on differentiation and observation.

How long does the unit take?

The material does not state a duration. Plan by lesson: each has three pages, and the seven chapter lessons follow the reading of the novel.

Is the novel text included?

No. The full novel is not reproduced. A free primary-text link is provided, and students need access to the novel for chapter reading.