Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Vocabulary

ACCIDENTAL ASSEMBLY AUDIENCE COMPLEXION CONCENTRATE

CUE GALLERY GRADUATE HEIGHT IMAGINARY

PROJECT SKELETON SKETCH TYPICAL VOLUNTEER

1. to offer to do a job, usually without pay

2. the people who watch or listen to a performance, speech or movie

3. happening without intent or through carelessness and often with unfortunate results

4. a meeting of lots of people

5. the framework of bones that supports & protects the body of animals with a backbone

6. where paintings, sculpture, photographs, etc. are exhibited and sometimes sold

7. a school assignment worked on over a period of time

8. a quick, rough drawing of something

9. a measurement of how high something is

10. to focus your thoughts and attention on something

11. existing in the imagination and not the real world

12. having traits or qualities that are normal for a type or class; conforming to a type or class

13. any signal to do something

14. to finish a course of study in a school and receive a diploma

15. the color and look of the skin, especially that on your face

1. It is for children to be scared or nervous on their first day of school.

2. Giving the table back its former beauty was just the kind of restoration she loved.

3. The child had an friend that only he could see.

4. The artist did the with colored pencils and charcoal.

5. Jill needed peace and quiet to on her math homework.

6. The man just happened to be standing in front of the building that was being featured on the news, so his

appearance on TV was just .

7. While she was sick, her became ashen.

8. The coach wanted Bobby to try out for the basketball team because of his impressive .

9. They passed through a sort of picture on the way to the museum shop.

10. The teacher needed a to come to the hospital and read to some of the patients.

11. She waited for the conductor’s before she began playing her part in the symphony.

12. She was a famous pianist playing a concerto before a packed at a symphony hall.

13. Ross shut the door without a glance.

14. Next year, over three hundred students will from high school and go on to college.

15. “How many bones make up my ?” Fernando asked the doctor.

Knowledge

1. Define the following poetic terms: simile, metaphor, alliteration, rhyme, personification, and hyperbole.

2. Quote three favorite lines of poetry from the book, and explain why they are your favorites. (Be sure to write down page number, title of poem, and author.)

3. In three of the student poems, identify as many of the poetic elements as you can find.

Comprehension

1. Discuss why Open Mike gets so many students to reveal their dreams and fears more than a typical class. Discuss whether it would work at your school or not.

2. Cite examples of which students in Mr. Ward's class are most affected by Open Mike Fridays.

3. Predict what happens next year in Mr. Ward's English class.

Application

1. Pretend you are writing a feature article about Mr. Ward's Open Mike Friday. Write at least five questions you might ask to one of his students. Then, choose a student, and answer them as you think they would.

2. Try to write another poem through the eyes of your favorite character. Compare it to the other pieces from that student and be sure it has a similar voice and format.

3. Write a one-paragraph book review for Bronx Masquerade. Try to distill the premise of the book into just a few short sentences. Check out sample reviews in journals like School Library Journal, The Horn Book, and Kirkus. You can even post your review at Amazon.com!

Analyze

1. Examine the types of poems in the book: free verse, rhymes, and concrete. In a short paragraph explain why the author chose a variety of formats, and which one you find most compelling and why.

2. Focus on a single character and show how he or she changes over the course of the book. Give specific examples to show the change in attitude or actions.

3. Compare and contrast the problems of the teenagers in Mr.Ward's class with those you think are in your current class. How are they alike? How are they different?

Synthesize

1. Create a new character for Mr.Ward's class. Write two journal entries and one poem through the eyes of your new character.

2. Explain how the urban setting operates as the 19th character in the class. How does setting affect story? How would this book be different if relocated to rural Montana? Or you own hometown?

3. Make a handout of ways that a poet can revise before a final copy.

Evaluate

1. If you were Mr. Ward would all students get an "A" for their Open Mike Friday performances? Why or why not?

2. Pretend that the school administration has threatened to pull the plug on Open Mike Fridays, believing it is not contributing to the new focus on standards of learning and is a waste of time. How would you defend the practice? What have students learned? How has it changed them?

3. Predict the future for each of the students in Mr.Ward's class.

Verbal / Linguistic

Write your own poem by Thursday. Review examples from the text for inspiration. One way to get started with a poem like this is to write a journal entry that focuses on one theme or experience and just see how long you can write. Then, use that as a jumping-off point and mine out rich details to start building your poem. Remember to play with the poetic elements, and refine and pare down your words until each one has maximum impact.

Logical /Mathematical

Choose any two characters from the book and create a Venn diagram (two intersecting circles, where things that are similar are put into the part that overlaps.)Be sure to think about all aspects of their lives: home, family, appearances, relationships, dreams, conflicts, how others describe them, even the poetry they write.

Visual /Spatial

Using any media (from crayons and oils, to charcoal and magazines)create a self-portrait. These can be abstract or realistic. When that's complete, design a paper frame to go around your portrait, and then turn them in together.

Musical /Rhythmic

Write a brief compare/contrast essay (even Mr. Ward's students had to write essays) about lyrics and poetry. What makes them similar? How are they different? Which one, do you think, has the most influence and why? Give examples.

Intrapersonal

In Mr. Ward's class they are studying the Harlem Renaissance. Research an artist from that period. You must create a poster about the artist's life.