Al Capone Does My Shirts Novel Study – FREE Day 1 Sample

Looking for engaging Al Capone Does My Shirts activities for your classroom or homeschool? Download this FREE Day 1 sample from the Al Capone Does My Shirts Novel Study and preview ready-to-use ELA resources designed to help students strengthen reading comprehension, vocabulary, close reading, and critical-thinking skills.

Written by Gennifer Choldenko, Al Capone Does My Shirts is an engaging historical fiction novel set on Alcatraz Island in 1935. Twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan moves to the island when his father takes a job as a prison guard. Living in the shadow of one of America's most infamous prisons brings unexpected challenges, especially as Moose tries to navigate family responsibilities, friendships, and life with his sister Natalie, who has autism. When Moose becomes involved in a scheme connected to Al Capone, his life becomes even more complicated. This compelling novel offers opportunities for students to analyze characters, explore historical context, and discuss themes of family, responsibility, friendship, and acceptance.

You can purchase the complete novel study HERE.

What's Included in This FREE Novel Study Sample?

This free Day 1 sample gives you a preview of the activities included in the complete Al Capone Does My Shirts novel study.

• Day 1 Teacher Lesson Plans to help you organize and teach the lesson
• Day 1 Student Activities to introduce students to the novel
• Reading Comprehension Practice to support close reading and deeper understanding
• Vocabulary Practice to develop students' understanding of important words
• Ready-to-Use, No-Prep Materials to save valuable planning time
• Sample Google File for digital classroom use, if included in your download

Use this free novel study sample to preview the format and activities before choosing the resource for your students.

Explore the Complete Al Capone Does My Shirts Novel Study

Ready to teach the entire novel? The complete Al Capone Does My Shirts Novel Study provides structured ELA activities to help students follow the story, analyze important details, and develop deeper reading and literary analysis skills.

Activities in the complete unit may support:

• Reading comprehension and text-based responses
• Vocabulary development
• Character analysis and making inferences
• Close reading and critical thinking
• Written responses and literary analysis
• Exploration of Alcatraz Island and life during the Great Depression
• Discussion of family, friendship, responsibility, and acceptance

Please see the complete product's table of contents for a detailed list of included resources.

Who Is This Free Sample For?

This Al Capone Does My Shirts free novel study sample is designed for educators and families looking for engaging middle-grade reading resources, including:

• Grades 5–8 ELA and reading instruction
• Classroom novel studies
• Homeschool literature studies and language arts lessons
• Small-group instruction and literature circles
• Cross-curricular reading and American history studies
• Reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical-thinking practice
• Teachers and homeschooling parents looking for practical, low-prep resources

Whether you're teaching a classroom or homeschooling, this sample offers a convenient way to preview a structured novel study while saving valuable planning time.

Download Your FREE Day 1 Sample

Preview the Al Capone Does My Shirts Novel Study and discover practical ways to engage students with a memorable story that blends historical fiction, family relationships, and life on Alcatraz Island. These ready-to-use resources help reduce lesson-planning time while supporting meaningful reading and discussion.

Please note: This download includes the free Day 1 sample only, not the complete novel study.

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