I used this Graphic Organizer for Finding the Titanic. The chapters were broken up according to year of events (4 total). When the organizer was finished students wrote 1 paragraph using the information. Then having students cut out the paragraph, or rewrite it, students created a news paper. they had to include pictures that tells about the article.
I grouped the students as followed
Monday: Whole group
Tuesday: table groups (3 or 4)
Wednesday: paired (students pick or teacher pick)
Thursday: individual work
Friday: finalized the news paper (either cut and paste or rewrite article, draw picture) on large construction paper.
This could be used for any close reading for the week