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Reading schedule · Grades 6–9

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in 5 Weeks: A Reading Schedule

A five-week plan for reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, one section a week. Each week gives the reading, a short summary of what happens, three discussion questions and the escape room that goes with it. For grades 6–9, in class or at home.

Pacing

Logic-stage readers (grades 6–9) can usually manage a section a week on their own, reading a few chapters most days. Use the questions to move from what happened to why it happened: motives, causes and consequences. A long section can take two weeks without spoiling the plan.

Each week ends with an escape room on that week's reading: seven self-checking locks that run in any browser, with no logins, and progress is saved, so a room can be finished another day. Every room has free taster locks to try, and members can open them all.

Print this schedule Escape rooms on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Week 1: Chapters 1–7

Read: Chapters 1–7

Tom dodges Aunt Polly and tricks his friends into whitewashing the fence for him. He falls for the new girl, Becky Thatcher, wins the prize Bible at Sunday school, enjoys a beetle in church, meets Huck Finn and his dead cat, and has a short-lived engagement.

Discussion questions

1. How does Tom get the fence whitewashed?
2. What does the prize Bible scene show?
3. Why does the engagement go wrong?

Escape room: Whitewash and Wooing (lockedlessons.com/rooms/tom-sawyer-chapters-1-7/)

Week 2: Chapters 8–14

Read: Chapters 8–14

Tom and Huck go to the graveyard at midnight and see the murder of Dr Robinson. They swear an oath of silence, Muff Potter is arrested, Tom gives the cat the Pain-killer, and Tom, Huck and Joe Harper run away to Jackson's Island as pirates.

Discussion questions

1. Why do the boys swear to keep silent?
2. How does guilt affect Tom?
3. Why do the boys run away?

Escape room: Oath at Midnight (lockedlessons.com/rooms/tom-sawyer-chapters-8-14/)

Week 3: Chapters 15–21

Read: Chapters 15–21

Tom makes a secret visit home from the island, the boys try pipes and weather a storm, and they return to attend their own funeral. Tom tells of his dream, quarrels with Becky, deals with the torn book, and school ends.

Discussion questions

1. Why do the boys come back for their own funeral?
2. How does Tom behave over the torn book, and why?
3. Is Tom's dream trick kind or cruel?

Escape room: Pirates Come Home (lockedlessons.com/rooms/tom-sawyer-chapters-15-21/)

Week 4: Chapters 22–28

Read: Chapters 22–28

Tom has a dull summer and the measles. At Muff Potter's trial Tom takes the witness stand and Injun Joe escapes; then Tom and Huck hunt for treasure, see a box of gold in the haunted house and search the rooms of a tavern.

Discussion questions

1. Why does Tom finally break his oath?
2. How does fear of Injun Joe affect the boys?
3. What do the boys hope the treasure will bring them?

Escape room: The Haunted House (lockedlessons.com/rooms/tom-sawyer-chapters-22-28/)

Week 5: Chapters 29–35

Read: Chapters 29–35

At Becky's picnic Tom and Becky are lost in the cave, while Huck spends a night on Cardiff Hill and fetches the Welshman. The children escape, the cave door is sealed, the treasure is found under the cross, and Huck begins a new life.

Discussion questions

1. How does Tom behave while lost in the cave?
2. Why is Huck's night on Cardiff Hill so brave?
3. Why does Huck find his new life hard?

Escape room: Lost in the Cave (lockedlessons.com/rooms/tom-sawyer-chapters-29-35/)