The Dark Is Rising: Read & Paint Literature Bundle (Grades 5–8)

Explore setting, mood, and descriptive language in Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising with a companion literature study guide and a portable watercolor postcard set. Learners translate details from their reading into miniature landscapes and written messages supported by evidence from the text.

Included Resources

• Novel: One copy of Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising, Book 2 of The Dark Is Rising Sequence, published by Margaret K. McElderry Books. Other series volumes are not included.
• Study guide: One The Dark Is Rising: Literature Study Guide by Suzanne I. Barchers, published by Teacher Created Materials. The companion is designated for grades 4–8 and supports comprehension, vocabulary, discussion, and written responses.
• Art set: One Jotblock Travel Postcard Watercolor Pencil Set containing 12 textured blank postcards with postcard markings on the reverse, five watercolor pencils, a pencil sharpener, a ballpoint pen, a brush with a water well, and a charcoal felt storage pouch.

Educational Specifications

• Subjects: Language Arts / Literature / Visual Arts
• Suggested bundle use: Grades 5–8, selected according to reading readiness. The guide covers grades 4–8; the art set listing specifies ages 6+.
• Format: Printed novel, printed literature study guide, and physical watercolor postcard supplies.
• Skills: Close reading, vocabulary, identifying mood, interpreting setting, visual composition, color choices, and evidence-based writing.
• Author, guide creator, and art brand: Susan Cooper; Suzanne I. Barchers; Jotblock.

Postcards from the Story

Choose a setting described in the novel and identify words or phrases that establish its atmosphere. Use two postcards to interpret the same location with contrasting light, shadow, and color. Paint with the included watercolor pencils and brush, or begin with dry pencil marks before adding water.

On the reverse, write a short imagined message from a character’s perspective. Explain separately which details came from the text and which were artistic choices. Compare how the two images change the viewer’s expectations, then return to the novel to discuss how the author creates mood through language.