SISD Book of the Month: August 2013
World on a String
Genre: Fiction
Comprehension Questions1. Who is your best friend? Why?
2. What is your most valued possession? Why?
3. How does Charlie feel when he finds the balloon?
4. Predict what may happen to the balloon. What experiences make you say that?
5. How did Charlie feel during the thunderstorm?
6. Describe the changes in feelings Charlie goes through in the book.
7. Discuss the themes addressed in this book.
8. Summarize the story.
9. Share with a friend the part of the story you liked the most.
Writing Connections
1. What is your definition of a friend? What makes a good friend? A best friend?
2. Write about your most valuable/favorite possession.
3. Write about a time you had a balloon.
4. Write about a time you lost something/someone valuable.
5. Create a poem on friendship, best friend, love, etc.
6. Interview a family member or friend and write an informative essay on their most valuable possession.
7. What favorite things (if any) do you take to bed with you? / Concept Board
Suggestions:
Use the graphic organizer/thinking map that is appropriate with the book study.
Spelling Vocabulary Word Study
Create foldable or new words from the following suggested words:
· Imagined
· Tangled
· Spun
· Rumbling
· / 1. Word/picture/student definition:
2. Vocabulary cloze or matching game
3. Foldable
§ squinted
§ faded
§ boomerang
§ confused
§ mitts
§ nervous
§ boss
§ panicked
§ poisonous
§ relieved
§ crumpled
§ ingredients / -ed words, verbs
Ø floated
Ø flew
Ø bounced
Ø shouted
Ø cheered
Ø walked
Ø hugged
Ø rubbed
Ø thundered
r controlled
ü whirled
ü twirled
consonant blends
o string
o swing
o ground
o glowed
Contractions
· wasn’t
· couldn’t, wouldn’t,
· didn’t
/ Activities
Technology
v Create poems
v Brochure on how to be a good friend or favorite possession
v Link for Larry Phifer:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1072355754/world-on-a-string / Arts & Crafts
ü Wanted poster for a best friend
ü Painting of best friend
ü Make balloon friend
Author Study Literature Connections
Larry Phifer / Friendship
“Being Friends” by Karen Beaumont
“Don’t Need Friends” by Carolyn Crimi
“And to Think we Thought We’d Never be Friends”
by Mary Ann Hoberman
“The Very Best (Almost) Friends: Poems of Friendship”
edited by Paul B. Janeczko
· Layered foldable with the different feelings Charlie went through and why
· Foldables on –ed word endings
· Foldable showing beginning, middle, end
\
Larry Phifer
From El Paso, TX
Lawyer
Married with four dogs
Passion is writing
\