Four Things_SE_Guide

Transcription

Four Things My Geeky-Jock-of-a-BestFriend Must Do in Europe
by
Jane Harrington
Published by
Darby Creek Publishing/Lerner Publishing Group
School Street Media
Street Smarts
A Classroom Resource
www.schoolstreetmedia.com
Student Edition
A School Street Media Street Smarts Classroom Resource for
Four Things My Geeky-Jock-of-a-Best-Friend
Must Do in Europe
by Jane Harrington
Table of Contents
About the Author ....................................................................................................3
Prereading Activities ..............................................................................................4
Friday: Somewhere Over the Atlantic (pages 3–25) ..............................................7
Saturday: Italy at Last (pages 27–47) ..................................................................11
Party Girl—Or Not (pages 49–71) ........................................................................15
When in Spain (pages 73–99) .............................................................................19
Being Nice in Nice (France, That Is) (pages 99–117) ..........................................22
Back to Italy (pages 119–145) .............................................................................25
Back in the U.S.A. (pages 147–160) ....................................................................28
Wrap-up ...............................................................................................................30
Library and Writing Applications ..........................................................................31
Suggestions for Further Reading .........................................................................32
Correlations to National Standards ......................................................................33
A school may reproduce copies of the pages in this book for use in its
classrooms or library. Any other reproduction is strictly prohibited.
Copyright © 2011 Jane Harrington and School Street Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be transmitted, stored, or recorded in any form without written permission from the publisher.
For permissions questions, contact School Street Media: [email protected] or Jane Harrington
via her website.
NOTES
Copyright © 2011 School Street Media. All rights reserved.
2
About the Author
A child of the Washington, D.C. suburbs, Jane Harrington grew
up with two brothers and three sisters, a mom and a dad, a beagle
named Charlie, and a parakeet named Pudgie. Summers were
spent submerged in the local swimming pool, and winter days
waned in front of TV reruns of Laugh-In and The Twilight Zone.
Despite many hardships (no computers, cell phones, DVDs, or
microwave popcorn, to name just a few), she reached adulthood
in the late 1970s. By 1990 she had three daughters, to whom
she’d read aloud the entire collection of children’s books at the
local public library. That’s when she started writing.
For almost twenty years, Jane's writing has been inspired by her three daughters. Their
lively personalities regularly surface in her fiction. Meghan, her oldest daughter, held the
spotlight in her first published short stories in Hopscotch Magazine. Her youngest, Lucy,
was strikingly similar to the central character of her first published book, Lucy’s
(Completely COOL and Totally True) E-Journal. And though her "middlest" daughter,
Emma, may not be just like Brady, her adventures and friends sparked Four Things My
Geeky-Jock-of-a-Best-Friend Must Do in Europe, as well as the spin-off novel, My Best
Friend, the Atlantic Ocean, and Other Great Bodies Standing Between Me and My Life
with Giulio.
Since the three girls have set off on their own real-life adventures, Jane looks to her
cute husband, Jon, for amusement, and has devoted time to teaching both language
arts and science. Her science classroom, filled with reptiles and a variety of arthropods,
inspired her 2006 non-fiction book, Extreme Pets!
In 2010, Jane earned a Master of Arts in the Teaching of Writing and Literature from
George Mason University. Though she was determined to get her graduate degree
before one of her children did, she was beat in 2009 when Meghan got her law degree.
(Yay for Meghan, anyway!) Jane is now tutoring and teaching around her writing life.
She’s an adjunct instructor at Southern Virginia University, teaching writing.
She loves to hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains, watch Washington Nationals baseball,
and visit Ireland—the setting of her latest (hopefully greatest) writing endeavor.
To learn more about Jane Harrington and her books, visit www.janeharrington.com.
3
Prereading Activities
Book Summary
Brady and her mother take a mother-daughter cruise on the Mediterranean Sea and visit lots of
great places in Europe, and all the while, Brady is writing letters to her BFF Delia, recording the
hysterical, nerve-wracking, amazing things that happen—which is the #1 thing Delia wrote on
Brady’s hand (in permanent marker!) that she MUST do on her trip. The other three things are:
#2: wear the bikini (completely embarrassing to Brady); #3: IN PUBLIC (can you spell
MORTIFYING?); and #4) meet a code-red Euro-hottie (as if). Brady does meet some great new
friends, does some daring stuff, and figures that three out of four isn’t so bad—until...
Understanding Genre: Realistic Fiction
1. What is realistic fiction? What do you expect this kind of book to be like?
2. Can realistic fiction be humorous? Explain.
3. Why do people like to read realistic fiction? Why do you like it?
4. List some other books of realistic fiction that you’ve read. Circle the ones that were
also humorous.
4
Prereading Activities
Building Background and Making Connections
This book is mainly about a trip to Europe. Traveling can be a lot of fun, but it’s also
serious, especially when traveling to foreign countries. Think about this as you answer
the questions below.
1. In what ways would traveling to a foreign country be different from traveling in the
U.S.? Think about how you would need to prepare for each, what different kinds of
experiences you would have, and what unique issues you would have to think about.
2. Which would you prefer: to travel in the U.S. or in a foreign country? Why?
3. List some of the places where you have already traveled.
4. Brady travels with her mom, just the two of them, on this trip. Would you like to take a
trip with one of your parents or other adult family member? Who would it be? Why?
5
5. Read the dedication on the copyright/dedication page (the back side of the title page).
What do you learn about the author from her dedication?
6. How does that relate to her main character’s trip?
7. If you were going on a trip like Brady’s, what are four things you would challenge
yourself to do or try that are outside your comfort level?
6
Friday: Somewhere over the Atlantic
pages 3–25
Checking Out the Vocabulary: Connotation
Words often carry a certain feeling, either positive or negative, when you read them.
This is known as connotation (not to be confused with denotation, which is the actual
dictionary meaning of a word). For example, the word stubborn carries a negative
connotation, and the word sweet carries a positive connotation (for most people).
The following words appear on the pages indicated. Think about the word’s connotation
as it is used on the page and write the word positive or negative on the line provided.
Explain your answer on the second line.
geek (page 4)
jock (page 4)
invasive (page 5)
dilapidated (page 6)
peaceful (page 8)
big (pages 8–9)
social (page 18)
wrinkled (page 24)
☺ ☹ ☺ ☹ ☺ ☹ ☺ ☹ ☺ ☹ ☺ ☹ ☺
7
Analyze the Writing: Author’s Purpose
When you read, it’s good to think about the author’s purpose in
writing. Some write to inform, to persuade, to entertain, or to explain.
Sometimes the author has more than one purpose for writing.
✍
What Do You Think? What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this book?
Explain your answer.
Analyze the Writing: Format and Design
This book is written as a series of letters, all written by Brady to Delia about her trip to
Europe. Because of that format, some things have been done that might be different
from other novels or chapter books. Answer each of the following questions as you think
about this.
1. Each letter has the image of a charm on it. Leaf through the pages and explain what
the charms indicate about the letters.
2. Each letter is dated only with the day of the week and a general time of day. Why do
you think there is no month or year indicated?
3. As you read, you’ll see that a lot of the words are printed as ALL CAPS. How does
that affect how you read the word or words? Does this seem realistic for a letter that’s
handwritten?
4. Some titles of books are underlined instead of printed in italics. Why do you think the
publisher decided to do underlining instead?
8
Analyze the Writing: Point of View
1. Which one of the following points of view has the author chosen to use when writing
this book?
☐ first-person point of view
☐ third-person point of view
2. How do you know this?
3. How would the story be different if it were told in the other point of view?
Getting to Know the Characters: Brady, her family, and Delia
1. What did you learn about how different Brady and Delia are?
2. How would you describe Brady’s mom?
3. Describe Brady’s sisters, Clare and Irene. How did you learn about them?
Author Connection
Jane Harrington also wrote, Extreme Pets (Scholastic), a
nonfiction book about, well, extreme pets.
If you could have any animal for a pet, what would it be?
9
Connecting to the Story
1. Brady is NOT thrilled when she finds out what her name means. Look up the
meaning of your name by checking in a baby names book or on the Internet. Write
your name and its meaning below. How does your name fit or not fit you?
Name:
Meaning:
Comments:
2. Who is Longfellow? What do you think of having a pet like him?
3. What do you think of the list of things Brady “must do in Europe” that Delia wrote on
her hand? Which items would you find difficult to do?
4. Brady’s trip isn’t starting out so well. Write about a time in your life when the
beginning was not so good, but the ending turned out great.
10
Saturday: Italy at Last
pages 27–47
As You Read
Introducing Vocabulary
The following words or phrases can be found on the pages shown in
parentheses. Place a check mark in front of the words you already
know. For those you don’t know, try to figure out their meaning as you
read. If you are still uncertain of their meanings, look them up in a
dictionary. Use your own words to write a definition for each.
☐ 1. brigade (p. 28)
☐ 2. berets (p. 28)
☐ 3. deprivation (p. 28)
☐ 4. rejuvenated (p. 32)
☐ 5. schlepped (p. 33)
☐ 6. quasi- (p. 34)
☐ 7. composite (p. 34)
☐ 8. spewing (p. 37)
☐ 9. accommodating (p. 38)
☐ 10. forum (p. 40)
☐ 11. casts (p. 41)
☐ 12. fresco (p. 42)
☐ 13. crustaceans (p. 43)
☐ 14. catatonic (p. 45)
11
After You Read
Analyzing the Writing: Figurative Language
Authors want readers to experience what the characters are going through in their
books. To do this, an author uses descriptive writing, writing that uses the senses to
give you a “you are there” kind of feeling. One way to do this is to use figurative
language. Figurative language is not literal; it doesn’t mean exactly what it says, but
instead compares things in a more creative way. Look up the following terms in the
dictionary and write the definitions below:
1. metaphor
2. simile
3. hyperbole
The following examples are from the book. Complete the chart by identifying which of
the kinds of figurative language above is being used for each. Some may have more
than one correct answer.
Selection
Type of Figurative
Language
“I feel like an old sock thatʼs been worn by a hundred people...”
“That was the worst flight EVER.”
“You know those little toys with eyeballs made of goo.... Well, my
head did that.”
“It is PARADISE here, Delia, let me tell you.”
“...which makes it seem like weʼre living in a hobbit hole...”
“...makes you look like a blowfish when youʼre doing the
backstroke...”
“I stared at him like he was from Mars...”
“...was sort of like a life-sized comic strip.”
“the crowd melted away...”
5. a. Which does Brady tend to use the most often? b. What does that tell you about her
as a person?
a.
b.
12
Responding to the Story
1. Brady complains a lot about what it took to get to Italy (AT LAST!). Do you think she
has good reasons to complain? Why or why not?
2. How would you feel if you arrived at an airport and saw cute teenage boys in
uniforms carrying guns?
3. Do you think it’s weird or helpful (or both!) that the ship has mats that actually tell you
what day of the week it is? Why?
4. What makes Brady decide not to be seen in her bikini after she puts it on? What does
she do about it?
5. Brady starts thinking about her ancestors, immigrants who came to the U.S. on a
ship. How did that change her attitude?
6. What did you think was the funniest thing that happened on her first full day in Italy?
Making Connections
Brady and her mom disagree on what is and is not appropriate. Describe a time when
you and your parent(s) disagreed about “appropriateness.”
13
Geography Connection
Using a Map
Brady and her mom leave Washington, DC, to begin their trip. Use the map here to mark the cities they visit.
Use an atlas, encyclopedia, or online source to find cities that aren’t already on the map.
Here is the list:
Italy
Spain
France
Rome
Civitavecchia
Pompeii
Livorno
Barcelona
Nice
Florence
Pisa
14
Party Girl—or Not
pages 49–71
Before You Read
Making Predictions
Brady is going to a party for teens aboard the ship. Knowing Brady a
little bit by now, how do you think she feels about going? How do you
think it will turn out?
The following words or phrases can be found on the pages shown in parentheses.
Place a check mark in front of the words you already know. For those you don’t know,
try to figure out their meaning as you read. If you are still uncertain of their meanings,
look them up in a dictionary. Use your own words to write a definition for each.
☐ 1. shtetl (p. 52)
☐ 2. karma (p. 59)
☐ 3. masticated (p. 68)
☐ 4. fluency (p. 68)
☐ 5. transpired (p. 68)
☐ 6. simultaneously (p. 68)
After You Read
Checking Predictions
1. Read your prediction above. Was it correct? Explain.
15
1. Why does Brady’s baseball jersey give her confidence?
2. Lahn doesn’t say anything at dinner. Do you think it’s because of a language barrier
or something else? Explain.
3. Brady finds out that they’re supposed to eat at the same table every night. Why do
you think cruises do this?
4. Why did Brady assume the dark-haired guy at the party was Italian/Greek/Israeli?
5. Does Brady’s accidental near-choking episode seem like something that could really
happen? Why or why not?
6. How does last night’s disaster actually help Brady make some new friends?
7. How do you think this new group of friends will change things on the trip for Brady?
16
Making Connections
1. Food and vacations just seem to go together. What are some of the most delicious
our unusual things you’ve eaten when on a vacation?
2. How would you feel about having to go to a party where you don’t know anyone
there? What would you do at the party?
3. Have you ever had someone have a crush on you, but you didn’t feel the same way?
How did it turn out?
4. If you could have a friend from another country, what county would you choose?
Why?
17
Getting to Know the Characters: First Impressions
The characters in the story each bring something unique. Often the first appearance of
a character tells you a lot about him or her. As you met each new character, describe
him or her. Was your impression of the person positive or negative? Complete the chart
below.
Character
Description
Positive or
Negative?
Brady
Delia
Bradyʼs mom
AJ
Noori
Tatyana
18
When in Spain...
pages 73–99
Before You Read
The following words or phrases can be found on the pages shown in parentheses.
Place a check mark in front of the words you already know. For those you don’t know,
try to figure out their meaning as you read. If you are still uncertain of their meanings,
look them up in a dictionary. Use your own words to write a definition for each.
☐ 1. trident (p. 74)
☐ 2. repulsive (p. 77)
☐ 3. submerged (p. 78)
☐ 4. diversion (p. 81)
☐ 5. infiltration (p. 86)
☐ 6. hyperventilated (p. 88)
☐ 7. mustering (p. 88)
☐ 8. delirious (p. 89)
After You Read
Mechanics Practice: Titles—To Underline or Not to Underline
Titles of larger works—such as books, movies, newspapers, and magazines—are
underlined when written (placed in italics when typed), but shorter works—such as
songs, poems, short stories, and articles—are enclosed in quotation marks. Mark each
title below by either underlining it or enclosing it in quotation marks. (Remember:
Periods and commas go inside the end quotation mark.)
1. My dad subscribes to the Los Angeles Times newspaper.
2. One of my favorite actors is on the TV show, Glee.
3. Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven is one of the poems we read last week.
4. If you get a chance, read the novel, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak.
5. I just wrote a song entitled Last Chance to Say Goodbye.
6. The article Five Ways to Save for College gave me several great ideas.
7. The King’s Speech won the Academy Award for best movie in 2011.
19
Literature Connection: Mythology
Draw a line to connect the Greek god or goddess on the left with the Roman
counterpart on the right.
Poseidon
Jupiter
Athena
Aphrodite
Hades
Ares
Zeus
Venus
Juno
Diana
Saturn
Cupid
Hera
Artemis
Hermes
Kronos
Eros
Mercury
Neptune
Mars
Minerva
Pluto
Bonus: Which god has the same name in both Greek and Roman mythololgy?
Relating to the Story: Friends
Part of what makes realistic fiction real is that the reader can relate to the characters.
Look at the list of characters below and choose one or two with whom you can relate.
Explain how you and that character are alike.
Character
We are alike because . . .
Brady
Lahn
Noori
AJ
Tatyana
20
1. Why do they call the social director “Gilligan”?
2. Brady is definitely not into AJ, but he’s definitely into her. What do you think of the
way she and her friends handled the AJ/Noori plan?
3. Why do you think people from other countries are so interested in Hollywood?
4. It seems that Tatyana and Noori have been to a lot of countries. What are some
countries you’d like to visit someday?
5. Brady and her mom had a whirlwind day in Barcelona. If you knew you were going
somewhere new, what would you do to make sure you don’t get lost?
6. Below are some chat acronyms from the book. Can you add some more?
diku
lol
ssdd
bbiam
kiss
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
21
Being Nice in Nice (France, That Is)
pages 99–117
Before You Read
You know what to do. :)
☐ 1. slog (p. 100)
☐ 2. faux (p. 101)
☐ 3. inadvertently (p. 105)
☐ 4. oblivious (p. 105)
☐ 5. incentive (p. 109)
☐ 6. emboldened (p. 116)
After You Read
Most Embarrassing Moments
Well, Brady has worn her bikini IN PUBLIC, and it turned out to be a very embarrassing
moment for her. Write about one of your most embarrassing moments.
22
Analyzing the Writing: Conflict
A major part of any story is conflict, the struggles and
problems a character or characters have. Even
humorous stories have conflict.
Some conflicts are external: they happen outside of the person, either with other
people, with their surroundings, or with a group. Some conflicts are internal: these
happen inside a person, where thoughts and feelings are. Some conflicts are both.
Think about the following events from the book. Explain the conflict, including who the
conflict involves. Then write the word external or internal to label the conflict.
1. Gilligan wants to get the teens to do a treasure hunt, but no one is interested.
Conflict:
External, internal, or both?
2. Lahn doesn’t want to speak English, even though he knows the language.
Conflict:
3. Brady spots a handsome blond guy in the pool but won’t talk to him.
Conflict:
4. Gorkon thinks Brady is a good match for him. Brady is sure she is NOT.
Conflict:
5. Brady’s mom thinks it’s inappropriate for Brady to wear her bikini top when she’s
walking around the town of Nice.
Conflict: Her choice of clothes is in conflict with her mom’s sense of what’s okay.
External, internal, or both? external
6. Brady and her mom arrive at the beach and discover it’s a topless beach.
Conflict:
7. Brady is horrified when her mother decides to wear a bikini to the pool.
Conflict:
23
Making Connections
1. Describe a time when you met someone who liked you more than you liked him or
her.
2. Gorkon clearly has an obsession with Star Trek. What is the difference between
having a hobby or interest and being obsessed with something?
3. Regarding the idea of topless beaches or other kinds of moral issues, do you think
France is too open or that the U.S. is too restrictive? Explain why you feel that way.
4. What is one of the most embarrassing things your mom, dad, or other adult relative
has done?
24
Back to Italy
pages 119–145
Before You Read
You know what to do. :)
☐ 1. exhibitionist (p. 121)
☐ 2. discreet (p. 124)
☐ 3. reams (p. 125)
☐ 4. inherent (p. 130)
☐ 5. adverse (p. 134)
☐ 6. gondola (p. 139)
☐ 7. sappy (p. 141)
☐ 8. regurgitation (p. 143)
☐ 9. enthralled (p. 143)
☐ 10. dismember (p. 145)
After You Read
1. How is Brady’s mom more prepared for their trip to Florence than she was in
Barcelona?
2. Describe the differences between the emails Brady sent to Clare and Irene.
25
3. How is the trip affecting Brady’s athletic lifestyle?
4. Who is Rick Steves and why does Brady’s mom use his advice?
5. What does the Italian gentleman on the train warn them about?
6. What does Brady tell her mom about their trip that makes her mom cry? What do you
think about that?
Making Connections
1. If you went to Italy, what would you want to make sure you saw or did on your trip?
2. A good bit of fine art (especially Italian and French) includes nudes, whether in
paintings or sculpture. What do you think about that?
26
3. Why do you think people like to go see things like the Leaning Tower of Pisa? What
kinds of similar sights do people go to in the U.S.?
4. Brady is running out of time to accomplish her #4 thing: to find a code-red Euro hottie.
Do you think she’ll find one in time?
27
Back in the U.S.A.
pages 147–160
Before You Read
Summarizing
In 75 words or less, summarize Brady’s trip so far.
One more time!
☐ 1. surreal (p. 149)
☐ 2. nonchalant (p. 155)
☐ 3. unwittingly (p. 158)
After You Read
1. How did Brady surprise her mom on the flight back home?
2. Brady finds herself in a very uncomfortable situation when she has to take a photo of
a hottie. What happened and how does she handle it?
3. Where does Brady find her code-red Euro hottie?
28
Analyzing the Writing: Theme
A theme is a message or lesson about life that an author communicates through
characters and events in a story. What do you think the theme of Four Things is?
1. Do you think Brady was sincere when she told Gorky that she likes him because he’s
different? Explain.
2. What is your opinion of cruise or vacation romances? What usually happens? How is
it different from making new friends on vacation, if at all?
3. Do you think Brady will stay in touch with the Odd Squad? Explain.
Announcing the sequel to Four Things My Geeky-Jock-of-a-Best Friend
Must Do in Europe:
My Best Friend, the Atlantic Ocean,
and Other Great Bodies Standing
Between Me and My Life with Giulio
29
Wrap-up
Making Connections
1. Describe a time when one of your friends dared you to do something.
2. If your bestie was heading overseas for a vacation, what four things would you write
on his or her hand that MUST be done before coming back home?
1.
2.
3.
4.
3. If friends from another state or country were to come to your town, what are some of
the things you’d want to show them?
Thinking About the Genre: Realistic Fiction
1. In what ways is Four Things realistic?
2. How do you know that the author, Jane Harrington, knows what it’s like to travel in
Europe?
30
Library Applications
Famous Travelogues
A travelogue is a first-person account of a trip or journey. It can be a true story or fiction.
Obviously, Four Things is a fictional travelogue from Brady’s point of view. Here are
some other travelogues that are pretty well known that you might want to check out:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Odyssey by Homer
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Journey to America by Alexis de Tocqueville
Lewis and Clark diaries
The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin
Omoo and Typee, both by Herman Melville
The Innocents Abroad and Roughing It, both by Mark Twain
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
Here are some written for young readers:
•
•
•
•
•
•
52 Days by Camel: My Sahara Adventure by Debora Pearson and Lawrie Raskin
Climbing Everest: Tales of Triumph and Tragedy on the World’s Highest Mountain
by Audrey Salkeld
Adventure on the High Sea!: A Family’s Sailing Voyage Across the Atlantic by
Susan Blair
Going Places: True Tales from Young Travelers by Michelle Roehm McCann
Caught by the Sea: My Life on Boats by Gary Paulsen
Around the World: Three Remarkable Journeys by Matt Phelan
Writing Applications
DIY Travelogue
The next time you take a trip, take along a journal and record where you go, what you
do, what you see, who you meet, and any thoughts you have that you want to keep a
record of. If it helps, you can choose a friend as your audience, and begin each entry as
if it is being written to him or her. Have fun! It’s something you may come to treasure in
the years ahead.
31
Suggestions for Further Reading
Fiction books
Other books by Jane Harrington:
Extreme Pets. Scholastic, 2007.
Lucy’s (Completely Cool and Totally True) E-Journal, Scholastic, 2001.
My Best Friend, the Atlantic Ocean, and Other Great Bodies Standing between Me
and My Life with Giulio, Darby Creek/Lerner, 2008.
If you liked this, maybe you’ll also like:
Books by Meg Cabot
Georgia Nicholson books by Louise Rennison
Books by Carolyn Mackler
Books by Lauren Myracle
Books by Sarah Dessen
Books by Gordon Korman
Books by E. Lockhart
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books by Ann Brashares
Stupid Cupid, Pucker Up, and Flirting with Disaster, all by Rhonda Stapleton
32

Four Things_SE_Guide

Transcription

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