Fever 1793 Novel Project

By Susie Rogers, ELA, 5th-8th

After finishing Fever 1793, 6th grade students brought their understanding to life through a creative and meaningful project: the one-pager. This assignment challenged them to go beyond basic comprehension and truly think about the deeper meaning of the story. Each student carefully selected symbols that represented key ideas—resilience, fear, loss, and hope—and explained how those symbols connected to Matilda’s journey.

They also chose powerful quotations from the novel, highlighting moments that revealed character growth and the harsh realities of the yellow fever outbreak. To deepen their understanding students included the historical background of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, connecting real events to the fictional narrative. A concise summary tied everything together, showing their grasp of both plot and theme.

The final products were colorful, organized, and thoughtfully designed which truly reflected their effort and creativity. Presenting their one-pagers to the class gave students the opportunity to share insights, build confidence, and appreciate the different perspectives of their peers. This project was not only artistic expression but also a powerful way to bring history and literature together in a meaningful,memorable way.