Green Jolene and the Neighborhood Swap

by Wendy Mass

Green Jolene finds joy in the community swap, learning that giving and receiving can bridge connections between neighbors. As she organizes the neighborhood exchange, she discovers the value of items and the importance of generosity.

Big Idea

The things we share with others often become more meaningful than the things we keep for ourselves.

Discussion Questions

1.What does it mean to swap items instead of buying new ones?
2.How did the community change because of the swap?
3.Why was it hard for some characters to let go of their things?
4.What item would you bring to a neighborhood swap?
5.How does Jolene help build a stronger neighborhood?

Lesson Plan

⏱ 60 minutes📦 Desks, index cards for descriptions, items to swap.

Learning Goals

Practice persuasive speaking
Understand the economic concept of bartering/trading
Develop empathy for the perspectives of others

Activity Steps

1.Discuss the value of objects and the concept of a 'swap'.
2.Have students bring an item and write a short blurb about it.
3.Set up stations for the swap.
4.Students rotate and 'pitch' their items to others.
5.Reflect on how it felt to trade an item.

Standards Connections

SL.K-5.1
W.K-5.1
SS.K-5.ECON

Printable Teacher’s Guide

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Pace-Write-Read Study with Pace-Write It!

Green Jolene demonstrates how character development is driven by meaningful interaction with one's environment. The pacing of the book slows down during moments of reflection and decision-making, teaching writers that not all scenes need high-octane action to be compelling. Students learn to use dialogue to reveal what characters value, turning a simple neighborhood event into a vehicle for emotional growth. This lesson emphasizes the power of observation in craft—writing about the little details that show a character's heart.

Element	How to notice or teach it in the novel
Pacing	Use longer, flowing sentences to describe the atmosphere and the emotions during the swap.
Plot	Build the plot around a community goal that brings diverse characters together.
Prosody	Encourage students to read with a conversational tone that sounds like a friendly neighborhood chat.
Word	Focus on descriptive adjectives to explain why an item is special or worthy of a trade.
Voice & Worldview	Write from a perspective of community-mindedness and altruism to shape the story's tone.

Pace-Write It!

Students write a 20-minute character profile for their favorite object, focusing on its 'backstory' and why someone else might want it.

Classroom Activities

Classroom Swap Day

Students bring a pre-approved, gently used book or classroom supply to swap with a classmate while explaining why that item was valuable to them.

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Discussion questions PWR workshop PDF download