Genies Don’t Ride Bicycles

CHALLENGING WORDS

assignments
coincidence
decorations
demonstration
entrapment
instruments
interrupted
laryngitis
suspiciously
unfortunately

SUMMARY

There are some pretty weird grown-ups living in Bailey City. But could the cheerful guy with the gold earring really be a genie?
The Bailey School Kids going to find out!

--- Conversation Questions---

(1) / Give me a short summary of the book.
(Answer) / Any logical answer.
(Follow Up) / Who are the main characters?
(2) / Pretend you are Eugene, why do you always ride a bicycle?
(Answer) / Any logical answer.
(Follow Up) / What color was the bicycle?
(3) / Imagine you are the principal, what would you say to Liza when she was sent to your office?
(Answer) / Any logical answer.
(Follow Up) / Why was she sent to the principal’s office?
(4) / Describe what you would wish for if you had a genie.
(Answer) / Any logical answer.
(Follow Up) / Why?
(5) / Define “fantastic.”
(Answer) / Terrific, great.
(Follow Up) / Tell me about something fantastic.
(6) / Tell me the color of the bottle they found in the oak tree at the beginning of the story.
(Answer) / Green.
(Follow Up) / What color was the stopper?
(7) / Name the new neighbor to the school.
(Answer) / Eugene.
(Follow Up) / What did the Bailey Kids believe he was?
(8) / Explain what Eddie wished his dad had.
(Answer) / A sport’s car.
(Follow Up) / Did he get it?
(9) / Name who went to the principal’s office.
(Answer) / Liza.
(Follow Up) / Why did she go?
(10) / Recall the last wish that was made.
(Answer) / That everything would turn back to normal.
(Follow Up) / Who made the wish?
Activities
1. / Make a list of three wishes you would have for a genie.
2. / Write what you think the kids have learned from all that has happened to them.
3. / Create a poster asking people to help the kids pick up the junky yard.
4. / Write Eugene a “Thank You” note for all he has done.
Introductions
1. / Ask the students if they know what a genie is. Say, “ Today we are going to read about one.”
2. / Ask the students if they have ever made a wish and it came true. Say, “Today we will read about four kids with three wishes each.”
3. / Show the students a picture of a genie, ask them to tell you what a genie does. “Lets read and see if your right.”

Book Title: Genies Don’t Ride Bicycles

Author: Debbie Dadey, Marcia Thornton Jones / Illustrator: John Steven Gurney
ISBN: 0-590-47297-6 / # of Text Pages: 69 AR: 3.6 LEX:600
Building Oral Vocabulary
11 / brooch / 28 / laryngitis / 30 / coincidence
Prediction Questions
26 / What do you think will happen to Eddie in the next chapter?
41 / Do you think everyone’s wishes will come true?
59 / Guess what the last wish will be.

This resource is provided by THE LEARNING CORPS—Barren County Board of Education, an AmeriCorps project funded in part by the Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service and the Corporation for National and Community Service.