Teacher Materials Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12

Transcription

Teacher Materials Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Teacher Materials
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
0362001
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Author
Deborah Hayes
Design and Layout
Tony Gervase
Editors
Deborah Cherlin, Ed. M.
Pamela Blanford
Reproduction of these pages by the classroom teacher for use in the classroom is permissible.
The reproduction of any part of this book for an entire school or school system or for commercial use is strictly prohibited.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
Reading Blaster is a trademark of Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries.
All trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
2
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Table of Contents
Program Overview
Introduction
4
Unit 2 - Bizarre Tales
Introduction
Answer Key
1-2 He Turned Me Into a Wimp
3 Take Me Out to the Ball Game
4-5 My Dreams of a Hollywood
Comeback Were Smashed!
6 Here Kitty, Kitty
7-8 The Joke Was on Me
9 Knock-Knock Comic Strip
10-11 My Life as a Vacuum Cleaner
12 Political Hardball
13-14 I Was a Human Garbage
Disposal
15 The Garbage Gourmet
16-17 He Called Me “Queen of
the Flies”!
18 There Was an Old Lady
5
Unit 1 - The Mansion
Introduction
Answer Key
1
Sentence Spinning
2
More Sentence Spinning
3
Sentence Spinner Game
4
It’s a Party!
5
Party Time at the Mansion
6
You Are Cordially Invited
7
To Catch a Ghost
8
More To Catch a Ghost
9
Homonym Happenings
10
Personal Digital Assistant
11
Your On-line Journal
12
Write a Travel Article
13
Fortune Cookie Says…
14
Secret Messages
15
Fortune Flag Critters
16
Cloud Walking
17
Revenge of Cloud Walking
18
The Six Degrees of You
19
Spooky Sentences
20
Spookier Sentences
21
Horrifyingly Humorous
Headstones
7
8
13
15
18
22
23
25
28
31
34
35
36
39
41
43
45
47
49
51
53
56
70
72
73
75
76
78
79
81
82
84
Unit 3 - Dr. Dabble’s Diversions
Introduction
Activity Instructions
1
Blueprint for a Mysterious
Mansion
2
Publish a Bizarre Yearbook
3
The Catch-a-Clue Crash Course
85
86
87
89
91
Appendices
59
A
B
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61
62
67
69
3
Travel Article
Yearbook
95
96
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Activity Components
Personal Digital Assistant
Use an on-line computer pad for navigation
and keeping track of clues and progress.
Parlor
Play the resident ghost in a word-spinning
game of identifying parts of speech.
Levels: For Ages 9-12
Grades: 4-6
Dining Room
Use your reading comprehension skills to
sequence Dr. Dabble’s plans.
Kitchen
Match wits with some ghostly creatures as
you find words with similar and opposite
meanings.
Curriculum Skills
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sentence Building
Parts of Speech
Antonyms and Synonyms
Reading Comprehension
Inferences and Deductions
Word Connections
Context Clues
Drawing Conclusions
Sequencing
Main Idea and Supporting Details
Graveyard
Put spooky sentences in order by the light of
the cemetery moon.
Bedroom
Read the fortune cookies or secret bottled
messages to solve puzzles.
Library
Play the cloud-walking game, where you link
words with commonalities.
Special Features
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Interesting, Engaging Characters
High Degree of Interactivity
Three Levels of Difficulty
Game-Within-a-Game Format
Print Kit
On-line Reading
Two Modes: Mystery and Explore
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
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4
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Introduction
W
skill or as a follow-up to one of the computer
activities.
elcome to the weird, wacky, and
always bizarre town of Bizarroville.
Bizarroville, the banana peel capital of the
United States, is in a state of panic! Six of the
town’s most prominent citizens have disappeared and the local mad scientist, Dr. Dabble,
was the last one to see them. Your students join
forces with Rave, Bizarroville’s bravest young
sleuth, to search the creepy mansion and bring
back the missing citizens. Only by using their
reading and language skills can players solve
the mystery and become heroes of the game.
There are six distinct skill areas in
Reading Blaster Ages 9–12: parts of
speech, sequencing/reading comprehension,
synonyms/antonyms, inferences, word
connections, and sentence ordering. Unit 1,
“The Mansion,” provides many off-line
activities for each skill area.
Reading Blaster Ages 9–12 offers a print
kit, which allows you to print the stories of
each of the missing Bizarroville characters.
Unit 2, ”Bizarre Tales,” offers many reading
comprehension activities to go with these stories.
Unit 3, “Dr. Dabble’s Diversions,”
offers three culminating activities.
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12 is an exciting
adventure game in which students use a variety
of reading comprehension and language arts
skills. Students will enjoy getting to know the
weird characters of Bizarroville and exploring
a spooky mansion.
Your students will have fun solving this bizarre
missing persons‘ case and outsmarting Dr. Dabble
and the many traps he sets.
This teacher’s guide provides off-line activities
that complement the computer program. Each
lesson can be used as an introduction to a given
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5
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
6
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
INTRODUCTION
The activities in Unit 1 cover a wide variety of language arts skills, including
parts of speech, reading comprehension, sequencing, synonyms, antonyms,
inferences, and word connections. These activities correlate with the Reading
Blaster games and can be utilized as an introduction to a particular skill or for
review purposes. Each set of lessons provides activities with two levels of
difficulty, the second activity being the more challenging.
Learning Objectives
•
•
•
•
Reading for understanding
Understanding and correctly using
parts of speech
Sequencing events
Understanding and using related
words, such as synonyms and
antonyms
•
•
•
Making inferences and deductions
from text
Summarizing and paraphrasing
text
Identifying details from text
Activities
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Sentence Spinning
More Sentence Spinning
Sentence Spinner Game
It’s a Party!
Party Time at the Mansion
You Are Cordially Invited
To Catch a Ghost
More To Catch a Ghost
Homonym Happenings
Personal Digital Assistant
Your On-line Journal
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7
Write a Travel Article
Fortune Cookie Says…
Secret Message
Fortune Flag Critters
Cloud Walking
Revenge of Cloud Walking
The Six Degrees of You
Spooky Sentences
Spookier Sentences
Horrifyingly Humorous
Headstones
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Answer Key
Activity 1 – Sentence Spinning
Activity 3 – Sentence
Spinner Game
Review parts of speech (subject, adjective, verb,
adverb) with your students before assigning this
activity.
1. jolly, climbed, safely
2. jolly, sailors
3. jolly, climbed
4. extremely, magicians, chased
5. delightful, magicians (or dragons)
6. magicians (or dragons), chased
7. generous, never
8. detectives, encourage, us
9. never, encourage
10. generous, never, us
Make Sentence Spinners
This activity is a sentence-making game.
Reproduce pages 18–19 on cardstock. Cut
out the circles and arms. Connect an arm to
the center of each circle with a brad. Adjust
the tightness of the brad so the arm will spin
easily. Then cut out the game cards, shuffle
them, and set them in the middle of the
game playing area.
Play Sentence Spinning Game
One die is needed for each group of players.
The game is best played with 2–4 players.
Students will each need a piece of paper to
record their sentences.
Activity 2 – More Sentence
Spinning
The first player rolls the die. The number on the
die dictates which spinner a player uses.
Use the same instructions for Activity 1. Review
more parts of speech, such as pronouns, direct
objects and prepositions.
1. forgetful, cherish
2. scientist, patiently, them
3. creepy, spiders
4. fairly, devour
5. armadillos (or hedgehogs), spectacular,
hedgehogs (or armadillos)
6. venture, between
7. distinctively, seemed, confident (or clever)
8. clever (or confident), patriots
9. zombies, immaculate (or charming)
10. immaculate (or charming), appeared,
terribly
Dice Code
1 adjective
2 adjective
3 subject
4 subject
5 adverb
6 verb
Students take turns. The first student spins the
proper spinner and writes down the word on
which it lands. If the arm lands on the word
CARD, the student takes a word card from
the center pile. If the arm lands on the word
FREEBIE, the student chooses a word of his own
as long as it is the part of speech represented
on the spinner.
The game progresses in this fashion, with each
student taking a turn. The object of the game is
to be the first to create a sentence. Determine a
set time for the length of game play. At the end
of this time, students use all of the words
collected to create their sentences.
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8
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Answer Key
Activity 7 – To Catch a Ghost
Note: When using the verb sentence spinner,
players may change the tense to fit the sentence.
Review synonyms and antonyms with your
students before assigning this activity.
Create Your Own Words
Page 20 offers a blank spinner circle so students
can create their own words. This can be helpful
for spelling and vocabulary enrichment.
laugh
castle
talk
smart
yell
exit
agree
near
rough
clear
Activity 4 – It’s a Party!
1. Gloria Ghastly, Jackie O’Cassidy, Lou
Fright, Bobbi Fright
2. Gloria Ghastly, Coach Gulliver Lilliput,
Bobbi Fright, Gorky Barf
3. Bobbi Fright, Lou Fright, Jackie O’Cassidy,
Coach Gulliver Lilliput, Gloria Ghastly
tiny
weak
Activity 5 – Party Time
at the Mansion
Activity 8 – More To
Catch a Ghost
1. Gorky Barf, Coach Gulliver Lilliput,
Gloria Ghastly, Jackie O’Cassidy,
Lou Fright
2. Lou Fright, Bobbi Fright, Jackie
O’Cassidy, Coach Gulliver Lilliput,
Gloria Ghastly
3. Gloria Ghastly, Jackie O’Cassidy, Gorky
Barf, Coach Gulliver Lilliput, Bobbi Fright,
Lou Fright
This activity is the same as Activity 7 except it
uses more challenging words.
annoy
pester, tease, disturb, irritate,
bother
abundant plentiful, generous, full,
overflowing
guard
protect, defend, shield
stroll
saunter, amble, wander, dawdle
legend
saga, epic, story, tradition
pioneer
colonist, leader, settler,
homesteader
clear
cloudy, smoky, hazy, foggy
weak
strong, tough, brave, powerful
misery
elation, joy, happiness, delight
boring
exciting, rousing, stimulating,
thrilling
hidden
obvious, clear, evident, apparent
luxurious humble, modest, lowly, poor,
ordinary
Activity 6 – Your Are
Cordially Invited
Encourage students to be creative when arranging a personalized dinner party.
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chuckle, giggle, snicker, titter
mansion, manor, palace, fortress
chatter, discuss, murmur, speak
bright, clever, sharp, intelligent,
genius
shout, shriek, squeal, scream
disappear, escape, flee, leave
argue, disagree, quarrel, bicker
distant, far, faraway, removed
gentle, soft, tender, smooth
cloudy, hazy, foggy, smoggy,
smoky
jumbo, huge, giant, gigantic
strong, sturdy, brave, tough
9
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Answer Key
Activity 9 – Homonym
Happenings
You can also create a class e-mail diary by
collecting the stories and putting them in a
folder for all to read.
The two previous activities (7 and 8) focus on
antonyms (words that are opposite in meaning)
and synonyms (words that are similar in
meaning). Another type of word relationship
is that of homonyms, words that sound alike
but have different meanings and spellings.
Introduce or review with your students the
concept of homonyms, then distribute Activity
9 for them to complete.
1. knew
7. bee
2. hair
8. not
3. would, heal
9. sight
4. won, one
10. creak
5. weak
11. bury
6. foul
12. pleas
Activity 12 – Write a
Travel Article
Have students read the travel article found in
the living room of the mansion (on the
armchair). Access the article on-line by
clicking the magazine on the armchair. When
off-line, reproduce page 95 (Appendix A) of
this teacher’s resource manual. Gather further
examples of travel writing by collecting samples
from the travel section of your local newspaper
or a travel magazine.
For an extended activity, gather brochures
on a specific place from a travel agency and
have students write about faraway destinations.
Information can also be gathered on the
Internet.
Activity 10 – Personal
Digital Assistant
Refer to the Personal Digital Assistant used
by Rave and your students when playing the
game. Encourage creativity. Encourage really
ambitious students to create a 3-D model.
Activity 13 – Fortune
Cookie Says
1. C
2. C
3. A
Activity 11 – Your
On-line Journal
Before assigning this activity, have your students
read Lydia‘s e-mail diary. You can print it from
the on-line print kit on the Reading Blaster Ages
9–12 CD.
4. B
5. B
6. C
Activity 14 – Secret Messages
1. B
2. B
3. B
4. C
After they‘ve read the story, have your students
write their own e-mail diary on pages 36-38.
Have them share the stories with the class either
orally or on a bulletin board display.
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10
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Answer Key
Activity 15 – Fortune
Flag Critters
3. heart, organ, piano, instrument, tool,
hammer, nail, finger, glove
4. book, library, hospital, doctor, dentist,
drill, saw, wood, fire
5. circle, shape, form, make, produce, fruit,
banana, monkey, zoo
6. oyster, pearl, necklace, throat, windpipe,
breathe, oxygen, gasoline, automobile
This activity is enjoyed by students of all ages
not only for the fun they have creating a unique
critter, but also for the fun of eating the finished
product!
As an extended activity, you may want to order
personalized fortune cookies for the class. For
more information:
Activity 18 – The
Six Degrees of You
Wonton Food Inc.
220-222 Moore Street
Brooklyn, NY 11206
Tel: 800-776-8889
Web site: www.wontonfood.com
e-mail: wonton@worldnet.att.net
This activity is a fun word-connection game.
Cut the word strips on page 51, fold once and
place them in a shoebox. When small groups
of students play this game, each student has a
turn. When the whole group plays students can
be rotated. Each student chooses six word strips.
After reviewing each word, he must connect
them so they all relate to each other and,
ultimately, to himself.
Activity 16 – Cloud Walking
1. ink, pen, pencil, wood, tree, bird, mouse,
cheese, milk
2. inches, feet, hands, clock, cuckoo, bird,
egg, breakfast, morning
3. ocean, wave, hand, foot, yard, grass,
green, lime, lemon
4. Mars, planet, star, movie, popcorn, salt,
ocean, shark, fin
5. photo, camera, lens, glasses, drink,
water, lake, boat, sail
6. salad, lettuce, carrots, rabbits, ears,
hear, sound, loud, explosion
For example:
President Clinton, pizza, soccer,
Elvis Presley, tacos, guitar
Six Degrees:
President Clinton is from the South. The
South is also the birthplace of Elvis Presley.
Elvis played the guitar. Guitars are from
Mexico, which is also where tacos are
from. Taco shells are round before they
are folded. Soccer balls are round like
flat taco shells. After my soccer games
we always go out for pizza.
Activity 17 – Revenge of
Cloud Walking
To personalize the game, have students use the
blank page (pg. 52) to write in their own words.
1. dragon, fire, smoke, cloud, rain,
umbrella, raincoat, shirt, button
2. bride, wedding, cake, sweet, honey,
bee, wing, bird, condor
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11
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 - The Mansion
Answer Key
Activity 19 – Spooky
Sentences
3.
4.
5.
Accept reasonable answers as students may
create sentences others than the ones listed.
1. The graveyard gates creaked open.
2. Skeletons rattle in the attic.
3. Wolves howled throughout the night.
4. The strong wind holds its breath.
5. One by one, the skeletons rose.
6. A stranger called my name.
7. The glowing moon was my only friend.
8. He screamed in horror and never
returned.
9. The moonlight shown into an empty
grave.
10. The still pond reflects the moonlight.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Activity 21 – Horrifyingly
Humorous Headstones
Activity 20 – Spookier
Sentences
It would be beneficial for students to read the
stories about each character before doing this
activity. Or, have students write the epitaphs for
the characters based solely on their names, then
read the stories to see how their epitaphs
compare. Use page 60 for student work.
Accept reasonable answers as students may
create sentences other than the ones listed.
1. The light flickers through the dusty
window.
2. Mysterious things take place in the
graveyard.
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Her smile faded as the door swung open.
The candles burned out and only
darkness remained.
Haunting melodies played through the
still of the night.
Read the headstones by the light of the
pale moon.
When the rooster crows at dawn,
skeletons flee and are gone.
The full moon sheds an eerie glow on
the dark wood below.
When the stars come out at night
ghouls and ghosts delight.
If you are wise, you will not venture
into the graveyard alone.
12
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 1
Name:
Parlor
Sentence Spinning
Complete each of the sentence boxes below with the correct part of speech.
jumped
dragons
jolly
climbed
delightful
extremely
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sailors
magicians
13
trolls
because
safely
chased
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 1
Name:
Parlor
Sentence Spinning
never
generous
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encourage
(continued)
except
14
us
detectives
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 2
Name:
Parlor
More Sentence Spinning
Complete each of the sentence boxes below with the correct part of speech.
scientists
them
forgetful
cherish
patiently
until
spiders
devour
them
creepy
unless
fairly
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15
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 2
Name
Parlor
More Sentence Spinning
(continued)
between
carefully
venture
armadillos
hedgehogs
spectacular
patriots
seemed
distinctively
clever
confident
for
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16
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 2
Name:
Parlor
More Sentence Spinning
appeared
immaculate
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terribly
unto
17
(continued)
charming
zombies
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 3
Name:
Parlor
Sentence Spinner Game
B
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18
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 3
Name:
Parlor
Sentence Spinner Game
(continued)
B
B
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19
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 3
Name:
Parlor
Sentence Spinner Game
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its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
20
(continued)
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 3
Name:
Parlor
Sentence Spinner Game – Word Cards
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21
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 4
Name:
Dining Room
It’s a Party!
Read the story puzzles and solve them by placing the items in the correct order.
1. In what order did the guests RSVP to Dr. Dabble’s party invitations?
Bobbi Fright thought that Lou had sent RSVPs for both Frights, but Lou had only sent his in.
Therefore, Lou’s RSVP was third and Bobbi’s RSVP was sent last. Gloria Ghastly couldn’t wait to
respond so she got hers in the mail first. Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy wanted to be first, but she got
her RSVP in the mail second.
1.
2.
Lou
Fright
3.
4.
Bobbi
Fright
Gloria
Ghastly
Jackie
O’Cassidy
2. In what order did the guests receive their invitations to Dr. Dabble’s party?
During the same week, Gorky Barf got his invitation on Friday. Glamorous movie star Gloria
Ghastly got hers on Monday. Bobbi Fright found her invitation in the mailbox on Thursday,
while Coach Gulliver Lilliput got his Wednesday.
1.
2.
Bobbi
Fright
3.
Gorky
Barf
4.
Gloria
Ghastly
Coach
Lilliput
3. In what order did Dr. Dabble invite the guests to his party?
Dr. Dabble invited Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy third, just after he invited Lou Fright. Lou was invited
after Bobbi, because she is his wife. Coach Gulliver Lilliput was invited fourth because the fourth
down is always lucky for the coach. Dr. Dabble invited Gloria Ghastly after the coach.
1.
2.
Gloria
Ghastly
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3.
Bobbi
Fright
4.
Coach
Lilliput
22
5.
Lou
Fright
Jackie
O’Cassidy
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 5
Name:
Dining Room
Party Time at the Mansion
1. In what order did the guests arrive at the party?
Gloria Ghastly made a brief publicity appearance at the Bizzaroville Theater, so she arrived just
before Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy. Gorky Barf, who prides himself on promptness, arrived before
everyone else. Lou Fright forgot to set his watch and showed up after the rest of the guests.
Coach Gulliver Lilliput was the second guest to arrive.
1.
2.
Gloria
Ghastly
3.
Lou
Fright
4.
Gorky
Barf
5.
Jackie
O’Cassidy
Coach
Lilliput
2. In what order did Dr. Dabble put the place cards on the table?
Dr. Dabble wanted to sit next to glamorous Gloria Ghastly, so he saved her place card for
last. He put Lou and Bobbi Fright’s cards next to each other, his before hers. Just after placing
the Fright’s cards, Dr. Dabble put Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy’s card down, followed by Coach
Gulliver Lilliput’s.
1.
2.
Jackie
O’Cassidy
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3.
Lou
Fright
4.
Gloria
Ghastly
23
5.
Bobbi
Fright
Coach
Lilliput
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 5
Name:
Dining Room
Party Time at the Mansion
(continued)
3. In what order did the guests drop their handkerchiefs when they disappeared?
Gorky Barf dropped his hanky at 8:30 p.m. As usual, Gloria Ghastly dramatically disappeared
an hour before everyone else. Jackie O’Cassidy, who dropped her hanky after Gloria, left
around 7:45 p.m. The Frights vanished around 10:00 p.m. (Lou let his wife Bobbi go first.)
Gulliver Lilliput let his hanky go 1⁄2 hour before the Frights.
1.
2.
Gorky
Barf
4.
3.
Gloria
Ghastly
5.
Jackie
O’Cassidy
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Bobbi
Fright
6.
Lou
Fright
Coach
Lilliput
24
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 6
Name:
Dining Room
You Are Cordially Invited
Here is your opportunity to host the dinner party of the century! The sky is the limit, so use
your creativity and excellent host or hostess skills to arrange an unforgettable event for
six interesting guests.
The Theme
All great parties have a theme. Your theme could center around a holiday or time of year, a
birthday, or a tribute to your favorite kind of music.
Dinner Party Theme:
The Guest List
Whom will you invite? You can invite famous people (politicians, singers, sports figures, writers,
actors) as well as your friends and family.
1.
4.
2.
5.
3.
6.
The Menu
What will you serve for dinner? A smorgasbord of tasty treats from all over the world? Or your
own favorite dishes? Keep in mind your theme for the dinner party as you may want to serve
foods which complement it.
Appetizer:
Side Entree:
Main Entree:
Side Entree:
Side Entree:
Dessert:
Side Entree:
Beverage:
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25
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 6
Name:
Dining Room
You Are Cordially Invited
(continued)
Seating Arrangement
Who will sit by whom at your table? Don’t forget to seat yourself.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
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26
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 6
Name:
Dining Room
You Are Cordially Invited
(continued)
You’ll need to send invitations to your guests. What will they say?
Please come …
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
27
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 7
Name:
Kitchen
To Catch a Ghost
Look at the word in the center of each ghost. Draw a line from the word in the center to the
surrounding words which are closest to it in meaning.
knight
clown
king
candy
chuckle
mansion
manor
LAUGH
giggle
palace
CASTLE
bird
fortress
frown
snicker
chatter
queen
bridge
titter
discuss
brou
ght
dumb
quiet
cleve
r
silent
brigh
t
peak
SMART
sharp
TALK
vocabulary
silly
murmur
speak
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
intell
igent
28
geniu
s
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 7
Name:
Kitchen
To Catch a Ghost
whisper
(continued)
shriek
arriv
e
lever
shout
enter
squeal
flee
shorts
EXIT
escap
e
YELL
queasy
flea
quiet
scream
disap
ear
leave
Draw a line from the word in the center to the surrounding words which are furthest from it
in meaning.
far
disagree
ask
argue
hear
close
removed
said
AGREE
next
NEAR
quarrel
distant
bicker
respond
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
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faraway
show
29
ear
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 7
Name:
Kitchen
To Catch a Ghost
(continued)
Draw a line from the word in the center to the surrounding words which are furthest from
it in meaning.
bright
gentle
cloudy
soft
bumpy
clean
hazy
ROUGH
tender
foggy
CLEAR
smooth
glass
coarse
uneven
jumbo
smoky
smoggy
rocky
baby
stron
g
week
small
day
animal
tough
huge
WEAK
sturd
y
TINY
gigantic
brav
e
giant
little
wrea
k
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
30
brain
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 8
Name:
Kitchen
More To Catch a Ghost
Look at the word in the center of each ghost. Draw a line from the word in the center to the
surrounding words which are closest to it in meaning.
pester
irritate
plent
iful
scarc
e
tease
rare
bother
gene
rous
respect
ABUNDANT
full
ANNOY
ove
flowinrg
disagree
disturb
show
precio
us
few
race
protect
amble
defend
allow
saunter
pull
player
GUARD
STROLL
plot
shield
ferry
house
freedom
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
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dawdle
shack
31
wander
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 8
Name:
Kitchen
More To Catch a Ghost
(continued)
settler
essay
tiger
poem
saga
colonist
president
LEGEND
PIONEER
epic
teacher
story
leader
tradition
long
homesteader
sage
skater
Draw a line from the word in the center to the surrounding words which are furthest from it
in meaning.
clean
smoky
stron
g
week
cloudy
tough
hazy
day
glass
WEAK
brav
e
CLEAR
foggy
powe
rful
crystal
shiny
wrea
k
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
32
wrec
k
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 8
Name:
Kitchen
More To Catch a Ghost
(continued)
Draw a line from the word in the center to the surrounding words which are furthest from
it in meaning.
happiness
sadness
excit
ing
lonel
y
joy
exac
ting
pain
rousi
ng
elation
BORING
thrill
ing
MISERY
stimu
atingl-
sickness
delight
sorrow
trust
ing
dull
modest
shadowed
poor
obvious
clear
wealthy
humble
apparent
HIDDEN
smooth
LUXURIOUS
apparel
riches
evident
covered
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
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ordinary
dirty
33
lowly
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 9
Name:
Kitchen
Homonym Happenings
Complete the sentences by circling the correct homonym.
1. Dr. Dabble (knew, gnu, new) he would have revenge at long last.
2. “Do you like my (hare, hair)?” Gloria Ghastly asked her Hollywood agent.
3. Lou was hoping that the old wound between him and Dudley Dabble (wood, would)
(heel, heal).
4. “I (one, won), I (won, one)!” exclaimed Jackie O’Cassidy upon winning the election for
student council president.
5. “Dabble was a (week, weak) little kid who couldn’t play ball even with all the help I
gave him,“ grumbled Coach Gulliver Lilliput.
6. If Rave hadn’t gotten to the captives in time, (fowl, foul) play would have occurred.
7. Bobbi Fright was pondering how to add a (bee, be) to her favorite song about the Old
Lady Who Swallowed a Spider.
8. Dudley could (not, knot) tolerate one more of Gorky Barf’s knock-knock jokes.
9. “What a wonderful (cite, sight)!” Dr. Dabble said as he viewed all the prisoners in his lab.
10. The stairs began to (creek, creak) as Rave headed to the second floor.
11. “My Poopsie would never (bury, berry) your son!” Gloria Ghastly told Dudley’s mother.
12. Unfortunately, their desperate (pleas, please) for help could not be heard from the lab.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
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34
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 10
Name:
Living Room
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
In Reading Blaster™ 4th Grade Rave relies on his Personal Digital Assistant to read saved
clues and navigate through Dr. Dabble’s mysterious mansion. If you could have your own
personal digital assistant for school, what features would it have? Would it have a map of
the playground? Or, maybe a daily cafeteria menu? Perhaps a homework helper? Design
your own Personal Digital Assistant with at least three different features. You can add more
features if you wish.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
35
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 11
Name:
Living Room
Your On-Line Journal
Date
Dear Diary,
Today, I received my first
e-mail message. It was from a
complete stranger. The
message read as follows:
Date
Dear Diary,
Yet another strange e-mail
message arrived for me. It
read:
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
36
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 11
Name:
Living Room
Your On-Line Journal
(continued)
Date
Dear Diary,
Today was a very bizarre day.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Date
Dear Diary,
I haven’t received an e-mail from my
anonymous pen pal in some time. I wonder
what this means.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
37
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 11
Name:
Living Room
Your On-Line Journal
(continued)
Date
Dear Diary,
This experience has
been quite interesting!
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
Date
________________________
Dear Diary,
________________________
Well, I received another e-mail
message today. You would not
believe what it said and whom
it was from. That’s right! The
anonymous writer told it all!
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
38
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 12
Name:
Living Room
Write a Travel Article
In the living room of Dr. Dabble’s mansion is a travel magazine featuring an article about the
town of Bizarroville. The author of the article is a travel writer. Travel writers visit places all
over the world and write about their experiences. Travel magazines and articles are helpful
to people who want firsthand information about their destination from someone who has been
there. Travel writers enjoy their career because they have the opportunity to see the world.
Choose a Location
Choose a place to write about. It could be a place you
have been before, one you would like to visit,
or an imaginary place like Bizarroville.
Be Sure to Include:
Geographical Features
What is the climate like at your destination?
What kind of clothes should a visitor bring?
Special Events
Bizarroville hosted the annual Have-a-Banana
festival. What special events happen at the place
you chose to visit?
Unique Food
Describe the different kinds of food offered at this vacation destination.
Accommodations
Where can a visitor stay? Hotel, bed and breakfast, lodge, or inn? Describe the kinds of
lodging available.
Web Address
If a future traveler would like to get more
information about this place, what might
its Internet address be? For example, an
Internet address for Bizarroville might be
www.bizarroville.com
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
39
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 12
Name:
Living Room
Write a Travel Article
(continued)
Title: ________________________
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
40
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 13
Name:
Kitchen
Fortune Cookie Says…
Read each clue, then choose the correct fortune cookie message.
1. After reading his fortune, Coach Lilliput believed his team would win the National Extreme Red
Rover championships.
Cheers will follow your efforts.
Many try but few succeed.
Victory will be yours.
2. When he read his fortune, Dr. Dabble decided to buy a supply of seasick tablets.
Health, wealth and happiness are yours.
Happy is the man who is the captain of his ship.
You will be crossing a large body of water soon.
3. Bobbi “Sox” Fright thought that her best friend from school would be coming for a surprise visit
when she read this fortune.
A long lost friend will soon be knocking on your door.
You cannot escape the mistakes of your past.
Memories are more precious than gold.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
41
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 13
Name:
Kitchen
Fortune Cookie Says…
(continued)
Read each clue, then choose the correct fortune cookie message.
4. After reading her fortune, Mayor O’Cassidy couldn’t wait to find out who she would be having
dinner with.
You will be alone and hungry for the rest of your days.
The evening will bring good food and company.
Nighttime brings music and laughter.
5. Coach Lilliput immediately checked his bank account when he read this fortune.
You are rich in friends and family.
Problems with money are soon to be yours.
Someone you love will soon receive a surprise.
6. After reading his fortune, Gorky Barf was certain that Dr. Dabble would return the book he had
checked out of the library 26 years before.
Books are a man’s best friend.
You will turn over a new leaf.
A lost treasure will be returned to you.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
42
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 14
Name:
Kitchen
Secret Messages
Read each clue, then circle the correct title from the messages in the bottles.
1. Dr. Dabble, the world-renowned scientist, purchased Lydia Novella’s mansion for an undisclosed
sum. A spokesperson for the scientist said that he plans to move into the historic mansion next
week.
New Research Center to Open
Scientist Comes to Live in Bizarroville
Intrigue on the Hill
2. Bizarroville’s favorite Coach, Gulliver Lilliput, is being honored tonight at the Feeding Trough for
his long years of service to the community. Dinner and dancing will follow the ceremony.
Feeding Trough Opens for Dancing
Town Celebrates Coach
Teacher to Give Speech
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
43
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 14
Name:
Kitchen
Secret Messages
(continued)
Read each clue, then circle the correct title from the messages in the bottles.
3. Sheriff John Law announced that newly discovered evidence proved that famous writer Lydia
Novella has continued to leave messages in the Bizarroville mansion she occupied 150 years
ago. Special cameras have detected the figure of a woman seated at a writing desk, holding a
writing quill. Notes in her handwriting have been recently collected, further supporting rumors
that the old house is haunted.
Sheriff Proves Ghost Is a Hoax
Sheriff Uncovers Ghostly Evidence
Ghost Poses For Photographers
4. Gloria Ghastly reported that her pink poodle, Poopsie, is safe at last. After weeks of searching,
Ms. Ghastly’s devoted pet was returned to the famous movie star by her number one fan, Rave.
Posing for photographers with her dog and her hero, Ms. Ghastly states, “Rave, you are my
hero! I simply couldn’t live without Poopsie!”
Famous Star to Make Dog Movie
Gloria Ghastly Pets Poodle
Star’s Best Friend Returns Home
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
44
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 15
Name:
Kitchen
Fortune Flag Critters
Students will have a great time creating their own bizarre version of a fortune cookie by
making critters or cyborg-type inventions from tasty treats. Each critter is constructed
from chewy candies, marshmallows and toothpicks. Top off the critter with a fortune flag.
Materials
(Note: Quantities will vary depending on class size.)
1 bag of regular-size marshmallows
1 bag of miniature marshmallows
1 bag of multicolored gumdrops
1 bag of multicolored jelly beans
1 bag of gummy worms (or other gummy animal)
2 boxes of toothpicks
fortune flag for each critter
Making a Flag
Message
Students decide what message their flag will bear. These messages can be funny, inspirational or
predictions. Be sure to check student messages for appropriateness before fortune critters are
handed out.
Making the Flag
Cut out the strips on page 45.
Distribute one strip and one toothpick to each student.
Students write their message on one side of the strip, leaving a one-inch margin on the left.
On the back of the message, rub a glue stick over the one-inch left margin.
Wrap the strip around the toothpick, pinching the glued space shut with fingers. Let dry.
Making the Critter
Provide students with a variety of chewy treats and plenty of toothpicks. Encourage them to be
creative when constructing their fortune flag critters. When the critters are complete, poke the
fortune flag into a sturdy section of the creation.
Sharing Fortunes
Place all the critters on a cookie sheet or on a table covered with waxed paper. Have students
close their eyes when choosing a critter (so they won’t read the fortunes before choosing). Let the
students share their fortunes with the rest of the class, and then enjoy munching!
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
45
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 15
Name:
Kitchen
Fortune Flag Critters
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
46
(continued)
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 16
Name:
Library
Cloud Walking
Put the words in each set on the cloud staircase so that each word has something in
common with the word before it.
milk
pencil
rd
bi
se
ou
m
cheese
pen
tree
1
d
woo
ink
inches
clock
feet
2
rd
bi
o
ko
c
cu
ha
nd
s
eggs
breakfast
morning
ocean
grass
ha
nd
yard
n
gree
3
e
lim foot
wave
lemon
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
47
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 16
Name:
Library
Cloud Walking
(continued)
fin
vie
mo
popcorn
ocean
st
ar
t
e
an
pl
shark
salt
4
Mars
photo
water
ink
dr
at
bo
5
lake
gl
as
se
s
lens
era
cam
sail
6
explosion
ra
bb
its
s
t
o
hear
carr
ears
d
un
o
s
lettuce
loud
salad
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
48
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 17
Name:
Library
Revenge of Cloud Walking
Put the words in each set on the cloud staircase so that each word has something in
common with the word before it.
button
raincoat
ra
in
shirt
a
l
l
re
umb
smoke
fire
cloud
1
dragon
bride
sweet
2
ng
wi
y
ne
o
h
bee
wed
din
g
cake
bird
condor
glove
organ
tool
instrument
hamm
er
il
na
er
fing
3
piano
heart
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
49
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 17
Name:
Library
Revenge of Cloud Walking
(continued)
fire
de
nt
ist
wood
or
ct
do
w
sa
drill
hospital
4
ry
libra
book
circle
banana
produce
5
rm
fo
y
ke
n
mo
fruit
make
e
shap
zoo
automobile
windpipe th
ro
at
l
ar
breathe
pe
en
yg
ox
6
necklace
line
gaso
oyster
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
50
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 18
Name:
Library
The Six Degrees of You!
B
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
51
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 18
Name:
Library
The Six Degrees of You!
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
52
(continued)
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 19
Name:
Graveyard
Spooky Sentences
Place the words from the gravestones in order to make spooky sentences.
graveyard
The
open.
gates
creaked
1.
rattle
attic.
the
Skeletons
the
through
in
2.
night.
howled
Wolves
3.
wind
The
breath.
holds
its
strong
4.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
53
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 19
Name:
Graveyard
Spooky Sentences
skeletons
One
(continued)
one
by
rose.
the
5.
stranger
A
my
called
name.
6.
glowing
The
was
friend.
moon
only
my
7.
screamed
He
and
never
horror
returned.
in
8.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
54
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Introduction
Name:
Graveyard
Spooky Sentences
(continued)
grave.
The
into
moonlight
empty
an
shown
9.
moonlight.
still
reflects
The
pond
the
10.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
55
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 20
Name:
Graveyard
Spookier Sentences
Place the words from the gravestones in order to make spooky sentences.
light
the
the
through
dusty
window
flickers
1.
graveyard
take
open
door
the
place
her
faded
the
candles
mysterious
take
smile
as
in
things
the
swung
and
burned
2.
3.
remained
only
darkness
out
4.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
56
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 20
Name:
Graveyard
Spookier Sentences
melodies
haunting
of
the
(continued)
played
night
still
through
the
the
moon
headstones
by
light
are
and
dawn
flee
the
at
rooster
gone
the
woods
moon
sheds
the
full
an
dark
5.
pale
of
read
the
the
6.
skeletons
when
crows
7.
below
eerie
on
glow
8.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
57
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 20
Name:
Graveyard
Spookier Sentences
ghouls
delight
and
come
venture
you
wise
alone
(continued)
the
at
ghosts
night
out
if
the
not
into
are
will
stars
when
9.
you
graveyard
10.
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
58
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 21
Name:
Graveyard
Horrifyingly Humorous Headstones
A headstone, otherwise known as a gravestone or tombstone, is the stone marking a grave.
Each headstone contains an epitaph, information about the deceased person such as name,
birth and death dates, surviving family members, and often an inspirational quote or
comment about the life of the deceased. Choose one of the Bizarroville characters and write
a horrifying yet hilarious epitaph for his or her headstone.
Lou Fright
Jackie O’Cassidy
Bobbi Fright
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
Here lies the
smelly body of
Dr. Dudley Dabble
*
Born October 31, 1936
Died April 1, 2001
(No joke!)
*
Survived by no one
because the
only person who liked
him was his mother
and the ole gal is
long gone.
*
Bizarroville’s weirdest
and most despised
citizen. Best known for
the revenge plot that
backfired on him
at his mansion.
59
Coach Gulliver
Lilliput
Gloria Ghastly
Gorky Barf
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 1 – The Mansion
Activity 21
Name:
Graveyard
Horrifyingly Humorous Headstones
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
60
(continued)
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
INTRODUCTION
The activities in Unit 2 center around the important skill of reading comprehension.
For each Reading Blaster story, there are two activity pages, one easy and the
other more challenging. An illustration page accompanies each story so students
can give their artistic interpretation of the text.
NOTE: It may be helpful for students to write their answers on a separate sheet
of paper.
Learning Objectives
•
•
•
•
Reading for understanding
Reading for contextual clues
Making inferences and deductions
from context
•
Summarizing and paraphrasing
context
Identifying details from text
Activities
•
•
•
•
•
•
• 10-11 My Life as a Vacuum
1-2 He Turned Me Into a
Wimp
3 Take Me Out ot the Ball
Game
4-5 My Dreams of a
Hollywood Comeback
Were Smashed!
6 Here Kitty, Kitty
7-8 The Joke Was on Me
9 Knock-Knock Comic Strip
© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or
its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
•
12
• 13-14
•
15
• 16-17
18
61
Cleaner
Political Hardball
I Was a Human Garbage
Disposal
The Garbage Gourmet
He Called Me “Queen of
the Flies!”
There Was an Old Lady
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Answer Key
Activity 1 – He Turned Me
Into a Wimp
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
7.
Accept any or all of the following: catch
pop flies with his forehead, bat with his
foot, round the bases in a go-cart.
Batting Machine
Five-foot by five-foot
He made Dabble the team mascot.
He didn’t like it because he whined to
his parents.
Dabble didn’t participate successfully in
class and wasn’t able to complete the
athletic tasks asked of him.
To thank him for teaching good
sportsmanship when he was a kid
A human baseball-pitching machine,
with baseballs shooting out of his
nostrils, belly button and mouth
Bizarroville Chicken Wings
Dabble was allergic to flowers when he
was a kid.
8.
9.
10.
Activity 3 – Take Me out to
the Ball Game
Accept reasonable work.
Activity 4 – My Dreams of a
Hollywood Comeback Were
Smashed!
1.
2.
3.
Activity 2 – He Turned Me
Into a Wimp
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
4.
A) Accept any or all of the following:
catch pop flies with his forehead,
bat with his foot, round the bases in
a go-cart.
B) Accept reasonable answers.
Accept reasonable answers.
He made Dabble the team mascot.
Dabble continued to whine to his
parents.
Banana. Accept appropriate answers.
Accept reasonable answers.
Hazard School of Video Games and TV
Repair
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He felt it his responsibility to assign a
fair grade for Dabble’s performance;
doing his job as a fair teacher was
important to him.
Cowardly plan of retaliation
He thinks the team is lousy.
Dr. Dabble left flowers all over the house.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
62
Hollywood
40 years
85. Her face was not in the shape it
should be. Her nose was where
he right ear should be and vice versa.
Supervillain Scramble-Face. Her face
was unique and the parts were
“scrambled”.
Dudley
He said that Poopsie had buried him
in her backyard along with a beef
bone and that he was underground for
five hours.
After school job at dog grooming store
tying bows on the dogs’ hair after their
fur-cuts
A human kitty-litter box
Poopsie wouldn’t come near her
because she was afraid of cats.
She was offered the chance to star in a
movie about her ordeal.
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Answer Key
Activity 5 – My Dreams of a
Hollywood Comeback Were
Smashed!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
5.
A fan letter
Accept reasonable answers: unrealistic
looking, cartoony, impressionistic, crazy
A woman who has the starring role in a
movie
The Creature That Wouldn’t Stop Burping
He was an annoying 12-year-old boy who
used to make constant complaints to the
Bizarroville Animal Control about her pets.
He said that Poopsie had buried him in
her backyard along with a beef bone
and that he was underground for five
hours. Accept reasonable answers.
Accept reasonable answers.
1– Being turned into a human kitty litter
box 2 – Scaring her dog, Poopsie,
owing to the significant number of cats
around her. 3 – Missing the opportunity
to revive her career
Accept reasonable answers.
She wondered where all those beautiful
flowers came from.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Activity 8 – The Joke
Was on Me
1.
2.
3.
Activity 6 – Here Kitty, Kitty
4.
Accept reasonable work.
5.
Activity 7 – The Joke
Was on Me
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.
Twenty years
Stand-up comic
His father welcomed him happily and
offered him a job at the town library.
The Ulysses S. Barf Memorial Library;
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Gorky’s great-great-great-great-great
grandfather
He started an After-Hours Comedy Club
and made kids with overdue books
listen to his new jokes.
Seltzer bottles, kazoos, springy snakes,
whoopee cushions
Knock-knock jokes
Rubber chicken head for face/head,
and a giant inflated whoopee cushion
with joy buzzers all over it for the body
An old-fashioned writing quill
1 – Is Dabble taking up a new career as a
writer? 2 – To whom did the quill belong?
7.
8.
63
A person who tells jokes or funny stories,
to audiences
Las Vegas (or just Vegas), Atlantic City,
Ypsilanti
When theater acts are very bad, the
audience sometimes throws rotting
tomatoes and other fruit at the
actor/comic. Apparently, Gorky’s act
was very bad, so he must have had
many tomatoes thrown at him.
A joke that follows a pattern: Knock!
Knock! Who’s there? XXXXX. XXXXXwho? Punchline. Accept reasonable jokes.
He returned a failure. When dogs do
something wrong, they bow their head
and put their tail between their legs.
The people of the area liked the club;
they came from far and near just to hear
his knock-knock jokes.
In the book storage room
An absent-minded-genius type
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Answer Key
10.
9.
Dudley was always late returning his
books, so he often ended up in the
book storage room.
10. Since Gorky was such a jokester, it
was appropriate for his revenge to
include objects related to comedy, such
as a rubber chicken and a whoopee
cushion.
Activity 11 – My Life as a
Vacuum Cleaner
1.
2.
Activity 9 – Knock-Knock
Comic Strip
Accept reasonable work.
3.
Activity 10 – My Life as a
Vacuum Cleaner
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
4.
All the party attendees should have had a
cozy after-dinner chat in the mansion
library.
He took the mayor to a horrid laboratory
with a disgusting chemical stench.
Dr. Dabble attached a vacuum cleaner
attachment to the mayor’s nose.
Student council president
Her mother was mayor.
Jackie O’Cassidy threatened to hold her
breath if she wouldn’t help her.
Jackie’s mother approved a Wildlife
Skunk Refuge to be built next door to the
Dabble family home. The whole
neighborhood smelled bad.
She allowed the end of Bizarroville’s
airport runway to be connected to the
Dabbles‘ driveway.
She allowed the Billy Bob Barf Memorial
Freeway to be built right through Dudley
Dabble’s bedroom.
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The mayor thought Dabble had finally
come to his senses and wanted to make
up with her.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
A fist in the mouth; to punch someone
Domestic means ”something made in the
country“. The mayor thinks a beverage
that comes from another country
(imported) is of better quality and more
fitting for her stature.
A politician, such as a mayor, has
power and influence. If you stay on
good terms with such a person, he or
she may be able to help you.
He bribed other students with
homemade candy and all the super-fizzy
soda they could drink.
She would resort to unfriendly tactics in
order to win the presidential race.
The young mayor’s big brother’s sweaty
sock drawer
Coughed, wheezed and hiccupped
Building the Billy Bob Barf Memorial
Freeway through his bedroom
A quitter
She kept seeing the old-fashioned quill
floating around the house.
Activity 12 – Political Hardball
Accept reasonable work.
64
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Answer Key
Activity 13 – I Was a Human
Garbage Disposal
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Activity 15 – The Garbage
Gourmet
No. His only friend was Dudley Dabble.
They didn’t like each other.
Mother: Host of “The Garbage
Gourmet” TV cooking show
Father: Garbageman
Both were inventors and were “weird”.
They both liked the same girl at school
and she liked Lou best.
They felt very happy.
A creation that is part human and part
household appliance
Since Lou had a lifelong interest in
recycling, Dabble thought it was fitting.
Coffee grounds, corncobs, banana peels
Whose beautiful gems he kept seeing
pop up around the house
Accept reasonable work.
Activity 16 – He Called Me
“The Queen of the Flies”!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Activity 14 – I Was a Human
Garbage Disposal
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
8.
9.
10.
They were best friends.
Being a garbage collector would mean that
he brought actual garbage home with him.
“Pyew” is the sound someone makes
when there is a bad odor present.
Compulsive garbage collecting from his
dad; creative flair from his mom
Dudley always made fun of Lou’s
experiments and inventions.
She was the high school debating team’s
cheerleader.
He and Bobbi got married and he
became a full-time inventor.
“Bury the hatchet” means to forgive and
forget. Dudley didn’t want to do this
even though Lou did.
Four
Accept reasonable answers.
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They both were really weird.
... a mean streak
19
An origami bouquet made from
yesterday’s newspaper
A perpetual-motion machine ate everything
inside her parents’ refrigerator.
“There Was an Old Lady Who
Swallowed a Fly,” 1,256
1 – Wrapped her up in no-pest strips to
attract flies 2 – played “There Was an
Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”
over and over again
The Queen of the Flies
She still likes it.
Jewelry
Activity 17 – He Called Me
“The Queen of the Flies”!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
65
He wanted to be her boyfriend.
The house looked exactly like a seashell,
and she said her parents were hermits.
Because there are so many weird people
in Bizarroville, the weirdest would be
really weird.
Nice, nasty
He pulled one of the moons of Jupiter. It
was a small moon so it fit in her
backyard.
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Answer Key
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
He hated her favorite song.
A refrigerator box filled to the top with
angry buzzing flies
Rejecting him
A strip of sticky paper that attracts
bugs and traps them on the sticky
material.
Gone crazy, out of my mind, lost it, etc.
(Accept reasonable answers.)
Activity 18 – There Was
an Old Lady
Accept reasonable work.
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66
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 1
Name:
He Turned Me Into a Wimp
by Coach Gulliver Lilliput
1.
Describe some of the ways Dabble tried to play baseball
when he was a kid.
2.
What is a RoboJock 2000?
3.
How big was the catcher’s mitt specially designed for Dabble’s body?
4.
Describe Coach Lilliput’s last attempt to get Dabble to participate on the baseball team.
5.
How do you think Dabble felt about Coach Lilliput’s plan?
6.
Why did Coach Lilliput give Dabble an “F” in gym class?
7.
Why did Coach Lilliput think Dr. Dabble invited him to his party?
8.
Describe in detail the kind of machine Dr. Dabble turned Coach Lilliput into.
9.
What is the name of Bizarroville‘s minor league baseball team?
10.
Tell why Coach Lilliput thinks it odd that Dr. Dabble has flowers throughout the house.
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67
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 2
Name:
He Turned Me Into a Wimp
by Coach Gulliver Lilliput
1.
Describe some of the ways Dabble tried to play baseball when he was a kid.
Have you ever had difficulty learning a sport or game? Explain.
2.
To help Dabble, evaluate Coach Lilliput’s two equipment choices, the RoboJock 2000 and
the specially designed catcher’s mitt.
3.
Describe Coach Lilliput’s last attempt to get Dabble to participate on the baseball team
and Dabble’s response to this plan.
4.
What is the mascot of Barf High? Name the mascot of
your school and tell what it represents.
5.
Do you think it was fair for Coach Lilliput to give Dabble
an “F” in gym class? Explain your reasoning.
6.
Dabble‘s “F” in gym class prevented him from attending what special school?
7.
What did Coach Lilliput mean when he said, “I always felt bad about that, but then
again, I had a job to do”?
8.
What did Coach Lilliput mean when he called Dr. Dabble’s plan “lily-livered revenge”?
9.
What did Coach Lilliput think about the minor league baseball team, the Bizarroville
Chicken Wings?
10.
What is the clue Coach Lilliput referred to at the conclusion of his story?
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68
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 3
Name:
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
In the three boxes illustrate 1) Dabble as a kid trying to hit baseballs from the RoboJock
2000, 2) Dabble wearing the life-size mitt and 3) Coach Lilliput as the human baseballpitching machine.
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69
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 4
Name:
My Dreams of a Hollywood Comeback Were Smashed!
by Gloria Ghastly
1.
Where was Gloria Ghastly heading before she decided to attend Dr. Dabble’s party?
2.
How long had Gloria planned her silver-screen comeback?
3.
How many face-lifts did Gloria have? What was the result of
these procedures?
4.
Name the movie role Gloria was offered. Why do you think
she was offered this role?
5.
What is Dr. Dabble’s first name?
6.
What story did young Dr. Dabble tell the Bizarroville Animal Control about Poopsie,
Gloria’s pink French poodle?
7.
What punishment did young Dr. Dabble receive for “harassing” Gloria?
8.
After Dr. Dabble kidnapped Gloria and brought her to his lab, what did he turn her into?
9.
What effect did Gloria’s punishment have on her dog, Poopsie?
10.
Even though her ordeal with Dr. Dabble was terrible, what good opportunity resulted from it?
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70
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 5
Name:
My Dreams of a Hollywood Comeback Were Smashed!
by Gloria Ghastly
1.
In addition to the invitation from Dr. Dabble, what else did Gloria Ghastly receive?
2.
A modern surrealist artist offered to paint Gloria‘s picture. What do you think
surrealist art is like?
3.
What is a leading lady?
4.
What was the name of Gloria‘s classic horror film of the Fifties?
5.
Describe the first thing Gloria remembered about Dr. Dabble while eating dinner at his
mansion.
6.
What did Dudley Dabble say Gloria‘s dog, Poopsie, did to him?
Do you believe him? (Why or why not?)
7.
Do you think the punishment Dudley‘s mother gave him was appropriate?
If you were Dudley’s mother, what punishment would you have given him?
8.
What were the three main parts of Dr. Dabble‘s revenge on Gloria?
9.
Create two different titles for the movie about Gloria‘s ordeal.
10.
At the end of her ordeal in the mansion, what was Gloria still haunted by?
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71
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 6
Name:
Here Kitty, Kitty
Pretend you are an editor of a pet lovers’ magazine. Create an advertisement that shows
and tells about Gloria, the Human Kitty-Litter Box.
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72
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 7
Name:
The Joke Was on Me!
by Gorky Barf
1.
How many years did Dudley Dabble hold a grudge
against Gorky Barf?
2.
What did Gorky always want to be instead
of a librarian?
3.
How did Gorky’s father respond when he returned to Bizarroville after his travels?
4.
What is the name of the Bizarroville library and who is it named for?
5.
How did Gorky punish kids who didn’t return their library books on time?
6.
Name four types of props Gorky used on young Dabble.
7.
What kind of jokes did Dudley Dabble hate most?
8.
Describe the “human joke machine.”
9.
What object did Gorky Barf keep seeing at Dr. Dabble’s mansion?
10.
What two things did Gorky wonder about when he saw the mysterious writing quill?
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73
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 8
Name:
The Joke Was on Me!
by Gorky Barf
1.
What is a stand-up comic?
2.
List some of the places Gorky performed before returning to Bizarroville.
3.
Explain what Gorky meant when he said that one night he had almost died of an
overdose of rotten tomatoes.
4.
Explain what a knock-knock joke is. Write your own knock-knock joke.
5.
What did Gorky Barf mean when he said he “went back to Bizarroville with my
tail between my legs”?
6.
What was the response of the Bizarroville Metropolitan Area to Gorky’s “After Hours
Comedy Club”?
7.
Where did Gorky make the kids with overdue books listen to his new material?
8.
How did Gorky describe the young Dudley Dabble?
9.
Why was Dudley Dabble considered Gorky’s “guinea pig”?
10.
Why was Dr. Dabble’s revenge fitting for Gorky Barf?
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74
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 9
Name:
Knock–Knock Comic Strip
Illustrate three of your favorite knock-knock jokes in the comic strips provided.
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75
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 10
Name:
My Life as a Vacuum Cleaner
by the Honorable and Esteemed Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy
1.
What did the mayor think should have occurred after the dinner at Dr. Dabble’s house?
2.
Where did Dr. Dabble take Mayor O’Cassidy after dinner?
3.
When Dabble had wheeled the mayor to this place, what
did he do to her?
4.
For what high school title did Dudley and the young mayor compete?
5.
When Jackie O‘Cassidy was 16 years old, what was her connection to City Hall?
6.
How did Mayor O’Cassidy get her mother to help her win the high school campaign?
7.
Recall the first way the mayor‘s mother tried to get Dudley to drop out of the race.
8.
Summarize the second way the mayor‘s mother helped her.
9.
Describe the third way her mother tried to get Dudley to drop out of the presidential race.
10.
Why did the mayor attend Dr. Dabble’s party when she knew he didn’t like her?
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76
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 11
Name:
My Life as a Vacuum Cleaner
by the Honorable and Esteemed Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy
1.
What does Mayor O’Cassidy mean by a
“knuckle sandwich”?
2.
Explain what ”domestic“ ginger ale is.
Why does it bother the mayor that Dabble
served domestic ginger ale?
3.
Discuss what the mayor means when she says,
“It’s best to stay on a politician’s good side, especially the town mayor‘s.”
4.
During the race for student council president, how did Dudley Dabble bribe
the other students?
5.
Tell what the mayor meant when she said she “had no choice but to play hardball.”
6.
After the Wildlife Skunk Refuge was built next door to the Dabble family home, what
did the whole neighborhood end up smelling like?
7.
List the three actions the mayor took to get her mother to help one last time.
8.
What final tactic led Dudley Dabble to drop out of the race?
9.
After all the hardball tactics the mayor used to get Dudley to quit, what did she
end up calling him when he finally did?
10.
Explain why Mayor O’Cassidy thought that Dr. Dabble’s house was haunted.
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77
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 12
Name:
Political Hardball
In the boxes below, illustrate the three ways young Mayor O’Cassidy and her mother got
Dudley Dabble to drop out of the race for student council president.
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78
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 13
Name:
I Was a Human Garbage Disposal
by Loo “Boo” Fright
1.
Was Lou a popular kid in high school? Explain your answer.
2.
How did Dudley‘s and Lou’s parents feel about each other?
3.
Name the careers of Lou’s parents.
Mother:
Father:
4.
What interests did Dudley and Lou share?
5.
Recall the event which turned their relationship from bad to worse.
6.
How did Lou and his wife, Bobbi, feel when they were invited to Dr. Dabble’s party?
7.
Explain what a cyborg is.
8.
Why did Dr. Dabble feel it was fitting to turn Lou into a human garbage disposal?
9.
Name the three things Lou, as the human garbage disposal, could taste.
10.
What was the one thing Lou couldn’t figure out after his rescue?
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79
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 14
Name:
I Was a Human Garbage Disposal
by Loo “Boo” Fright
1.
Explain the nature of Dudley and Lou’s relationship in high school.
2.
Why was it unfortunate that Lou’s dad brought his work home with him?
3.
Explain the meaning of Lou‘s dad‘s middle name.
4.
What two personality traits did Lou inherit from his parents?
5.
Why was it difficult for Lou to remain friends with Dudley?
6.
What high school activity was Bobbi “Sox” Sax involved in?
7.
Describe life for Lou after high school.
8.
Explain what Lou meant when he said, “For years, I kept trying to bury the hatchet
with Dabble but had no luck.”
9.
Besides Bobbi and Lou, how many other Bizarroville citizens were trapped in Dabble‘s lab?
10.
Describe Lou’s experience as a human garbage disposal.
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80
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 15
Name:
The Garbage Gourmet
In each of the boxes illustrate a food-related product which would be consumed by Lou, the
human garbage disposal.
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81
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 16
Name:
He Called Me “The Queen of the Flies”!
by Bobbi “Sox” Fright
1.
How does Bobbi “Sox” compare herself as a high school student with Dudley?
2.
Complete this sentence. “Dudley Dabble was a weird kid with _______________.”
3.
How many brothers and sisters did Bobbi have?
4.
Describe one of the small gifts Lou gave Bobbi in
high school.
5.
Describe the perpetual motion machine.
6.
Name Bobbi’s favorite song in high school and tell how many verses it has.
7.
Describe the two ways Dr. Dabble took revenge on Bobbi.
8.
What did Dr. Dabble call Bobbi after he turned her into a cyborg?
9.
How does Bobbi feel now about her favorite song of high school days?
10.
According to Bobbi, what did Dudley Dabble have no use for?
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82
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 17
Name:
He Called Me “The Queen of the Flies”!
by Bobbi “Sox” Fright
1.
What kind of friendship did Dudley want to have
with Bobbi when they were kids?
2.
How does the house Bobbi grew up in correspond to
her description of her parents?
3.
Interpret what Bobbi meant by saying, ”Dudley, Lou, and I were the weirdest kids in
town, and that’s saying a lot…“
4.
Complete this sentence. ”Lou was as ____________ as Dudley was _________.“
5.
Describe the spacey gift Dudley gave Bobbi in high school.
6.
Aside from Dudley‘s being mean, why wouldn‘t he and Bobbi have been a good match?
7.
Describe the wedding gift Dr. Dabble gave Bobbi.
8.
Dudley never forgave Bobbi for what?
9.
What is a no-pest strip?
10.
What did Bobbi mean when she said, ”If Rave hadn’t rescued me in the nick of
time, I would’ve gone bonkers“?
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83
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales
Activity 18
Name:
There Was an Old Lady
Do you know the song “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”?
The song begins as follows:
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly,
I don’t know why she swallowed a fly—I guess she’ll die.
There was an old lady who swallowed a spider,
It wiggled, and jiggled, and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,
I guess she’ll die.
The old lady swallowed several objects in hopes of catching the fly.
The final object she swallowed was a horse. And she died, of course.
Write your own “Old Lady” song, using a variety of objects.
Each object must relate to the previous one.
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84
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions
INTRODUCTION
The activities in Unit 3 provide culminating lessons that students complete
after spending significant time exploring the program, and after completing
the activities for Units 1 and 2. While activities 1 and 2 can be done
individually or in small groups, Activity 3 is for groups only.
Learning Objectives
•
•
•
•
Making deductions and
inferences
Exercising spatial sense
Utilizing geometric principles and
measurement skills
•
•
Using effective page design and
layout skills
Writing creatively
Working cooperatively in group
situations
Activities
•
•
•
1 Blueprint for a Mysterious
Mansion
2 Publish a Bizarre Yearbook
3 The Catch-a-Clue Crash
Course
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85
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions
Activity Instructions
Activity 1 – Blueprint for a
Mysterious Mansion
in your high school yearbooks for the students
to look at!
If possible, obtain actual architectural blueprints
for the students to examine. Home brochures
from new housing developments also provide
good hands-on materials for students.
The activity can be as simple or as complex
as you dictate. The minimum requirements
ask students to invent six high school students
and provide illustrations and personal information about them. (See Appendix B, page
96, for a copy of the text passage from the
Barf High yearbook.) For a more elaborate
project, organize students into groups of four
and assign them the task of creating and
publishing a fictitious yearbook. Sections of
the yearbook might include listings of students,
sports, members of student government, social
activities, and faculty.
Spend time observing the details in each print.
Notice that the majority of views are from an
overhead angle (as in the Personal Digital
Assistant for Reading Blaster Ages 9–12).
Inviting an architect to speak to your class
would be very beneficial as well. He or she
can bring along drafting tools and samples of
work, and discuss the skills and education
necessary to be a successful architect.
Determine whether you want students to
illustrate the photographs of their invented
students or cut out pictures from magazines.
Students can use page 88 as a “drawing
board” to draft the first plan for their mansion.
Provide students with large sheets of construction paper for the final “blueprint”. Students’
drafting tools can be pencils, fine-tipped blue
or black ink pens, rulers and compasses. When
students‘ work is complete, display their blueprints for the rest of the class to enjoy.
Activity 3 – Catch-a-Clue
Crash Course
Preparation time is necessary for this fun
activity. All of the instructions for the “Catch-aClue Crash Course” are on pages 91–94.
Activity 2 – Publish a Bizarre
Yearbook
If your school publishes a yearbook, gather
several copies, both recent and from the past,
for students to examine. If your school does not
have a yearbook, borrow some from the high
school library in your district. Be sure to bring
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Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions
Activity 1
Name:
Blueprint for a Mysterious Mansion
Rave’s Personal Digital Assistant has an important feature that allows him to navigate through
Dabble’s mansion. This feature is a map of all three stories, as well as the graveyard. However,
the map on Rave’s PDA is different from a city or country map. This type of a map is known as
a blueprint. A blueprint is a set of plans for a house or building. Blueprints are so called because
they are photographic prints that show white lines on a bright blue background. The contrast in
color gives good definition to the drawing.
Here are the blueprints for Dr. Dabble’s mansion.
Here’s your chance to design a mysterious mansion using a blueprint format. Create a mansion
with every kind of room imaginable. Will there be any rooms with secret entrances? How many
bathrooms will there be? How many bedrooms? Will the mansion be haunted or will it be even
more mysterious and bizarre? Will it have one, two, or three stories?
Use page 88 as your ”drafting table“ to sketch out
ideas for your mansion. Then, using the paper your
teacher provides, create the final blueprint for your
mysterious mansion.
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Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions
Activity 1
Name:
Blueprint for a Mysterious Mansion
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88
(continued)
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions
Activity 2
Name:
Publish a Bizarre Yearbook
The students at Ralph Waldo Barf High School are indeed bizarre. You can read about each of
them by visiting the library of Dr. Dabble’s mansion and clicking the yearbook on the table.
Yearbooks have been a long-standing school tradition. They provide a photographic record of the
events of a given school year and are fun to look from time to time.
Create your own bizarre yearbook for an imaginary school. Think up a name for the high school.
Invent several students and write about their activities and future plans. Use the following example
as a guide:
Activities
Drama Club: played Breadcrumb in
“Hansel and Gretel”; understudy to
Grandma in “Little Red Riding Hood”
Quote
“A girl can never have too many pairs
of sunglasses.”
Future Plans
To win the World’s Best Actress award
Gloria Ghastly
Favorite Barf High Memory
Receiving my first standing ovation (for
dropping a tray in the school cafeteria)
Use page 90 for your own bizarre yearbook entry.
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Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions
Activity 2
Name:
Publish a Bizarre Yearbook
(continued)
Excerpts from the _______________________ High School Yearbook
Quote:
Future Plans:
Name:
Activities:
Favorite _____________ High Memory:
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Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions
Activity 3
Name:
Catch-a-Clue Crash Course
Summary
Setting Up the Simulation
This activity is a detective-type simulation for the
entire class. Three hands-on activities make up
the simulation. The object of Catch-a-Clue Crash
Course is for students to use their deductive and
analytical skills to solve the clues. As a reward,
offer an appropriate surprise for the entire class
(such as additional recess, a tasty treat, or a
popcorn and video party).
1. Determine what the secret message will be.
For example: “Friday will be a popcorn
party!” Next determine what the three clues
will say. Following the above example, the
clues might read:
• Clue 1: T.G.I.F.
• Clue 2: Native Americans called it
maize; little did they know it would
cause such a craze.
• Clue 3: The popping sound I hear is
music to my ears.
Materials
• 2 letter envelopes
• 2 index cards
2. Write clue 1 on an index card and place
the card in a sealed envelope. Mark the
envelope clue 1 and set it aside.
Clue 1 - Fingerprinting
• index cards (one for each student)
• 1 black or blue ink pad
3. Tell students that they will be working in
detective teams to uncover and solve the
three clues which will reveal a secret
message.
Clue 2 - Invisible Writing
• white crayons
• white construction paper (one for each
•
•
student)
black paint (blue or purple will also work)
paintbrushes (one for each student)
Clue 3 - Chromatography
• coffee filters (3 per class of 30)
• plastic or glass drinking cups of water
•
•
•
•
(3 cups per group of students)
3 different types of black ink pens (ballpoint, felt-tip, fine-tip, different brands, etc.)
3 pencils per group of students
water
clear tape
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Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions
Activity 3
Name:
Catch-a-Clue Crash Course
(continued)
e. Distribute an index card to each
student. Set up a “fingerprinting
station” where students will be
fingerprinted on their index cards.
Write the name of each student
beneath his or her fingerprint.
Conducting Each Activity of the
Simulation
Read the instructions with your class before
engaging in each activity.
1. For Clue 1 - Fingerprinting
a. Select a student who will be the
undercover agent for this activity. This
student will need to keep his composure
so other students will not suspect that he
is part of the clue.
Sandi
b. Take a fingerprint of this student. Roll
his thumb or finger on the ink pad from
left to right. Then roll the finger in the
same fashion onto an index card.
Reproduce this fingerprint on the copier
so each student has a print to examine.
Tom
c. Hand the undercover agent the
envelope for clue 1. He will need to
keep it in a safe place.
d. Tell students that one of their classmates
has clue 1. It is their job to match the
fingerprint of this student with the
fingerprints of others in order to identify
the undercover agent. Pass out copies
of the undercover agent’s fingerprint to
each student.
Jessie
f.
Place the fingerprint cards in a row.
Have students analyze the fingerprint of
the undercover agent and then compare
it with the prints of the rest of the class.
g. Survey students as to the identity of the
undercover agent. Go with whatever
the majority of students decide. If this
guess is wrong, ask the students to
analyze the prints again.
h. When the correct match has been
made, the undercover agent identifies
himself then reads clue 1. Post clue 1
on the board.
Max Levon
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Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions
Activity 3
Name:
Catch-a-Clue Crash Course
(continued)
one inch wide and as long as the cup.
There should be three filter strips and
three cups per group of students. On
each strip, draw a small circle of ink
about 1-1⁄2 inches from one end of the
paper.
2. For Clue 2 – Invisible Writing
a. Gather enough white construction
paper so there is one piece for each
student.
b. Write the second clue on a piece of
paper with a white crayon. Put the
paper back into the pile.
c. Distribute a piece of construction paper
to each student. Tell them that there is
invisible writing on one piece of paper.
d. Distribute paint and brushes. Instruct
students to paint over their papers to
see if a secret message appears.
Important: Each of the three dots should
be written with a different black pen. At
the top of each strip, write the letters A,
B, C to indicate which pen was used.
Be sure to remember this yourself!
e. When a student discovers the message,
have him or her read it and show it to
the class. Post clue 2 on the board.
c. Tell students that the person who has
clue 3 has written the class a note.
Show them the note on the coffee filter.
Explain that if they can deduce who
wrote the note, they can go to him or
her for the third clue.
3. For Clue 3 – Chromatography
a. Ask another teacher, your principal,
the school secretary, or another staff
member to volunteer to help with this
activity. Have the volunteer write a note
on a coffee filter. The note should read
something like this: “If you can find me,
I will give you clue 3.” This clue should
be written with a black ink pen.
d. Tell students that the note was written
with one of three black pens. Show the
class the pens. If students can figure out
which pen wrote the message, you
will be able to tell them who wrote it.
b. Cut the other coffee filters into long
strips that will fit lengthwise into
the clear cups. Each filter should be
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Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions
Activity 3
Name:
Catch-a-Clue Crash Course
h. Once the water touches the filter strip
and travels to the dot of color, observe
how the color separates. Look for
different patterns and colors. Depending
on the type and brand of black marking
pen, the colors and patterns produced
will vary greatly.
e. Explain that students will use
chromatography to analyze the pens.
Chromatography breaks down ink into
its component colors.
f.
(continued)
Divide students up into small groups
and give each group three filter strips
and three clear cups. Pass out pencils
and clear tape. Have students tape
each filter strip to a pencil so the
end of the filter with the black dot is
farthest from the pencil.
g. Pour enough water into the glasses so
the water level just touches the bottom
of the filter strip when the pencil is
placed across the top of the glass.
(See illustration.)
i.
After all the students have studied the
ink samples, take a piece of the coffee
filter containing the message and set up
a chromatography observation station.
Let students compare this sample with
the three samples they have. Next, they
must determine which pen wrote the
message.
j.
Once students are in agreement, take
the class to the person with that pen
(if possible) to hear the third clue.
k. Once all three clues have been
obtained, tell your students what their
surprise will be and congratulate them
on their hard work!
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Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Appendix A
Travel Article
On the Road Again: Lost in Bizarroville
by Dusty Rhodes
I
If you visit Bizarroville City Hall on April 1,
you’ll find the entire building wrapped in a
giant plastic banana peel. Enter City Hall and
you’ll find the mayor and the entire city council
wearing banana suits. “Every year this whole
town goes completely bananas,” says Mayor
Jackie O’Cassidy.
f rest and relaxation are what you’re
looking for, you won’t find it in the town
of Bizarroville.
It’s worth a visit, however, during the town’s
annual Have-a-Banana festival.
For the entire month of April, Bizarroville, once
the ”banana peel capital“ of the United States,
celebrates all things banana.
For some culinary delights, visit the Bizarroville
town square. Throughout the month of April, a
multitude of food booths serve up banana splits,
banana pizza and banana burgers. Local mom
Bobbi “Sox” Fright makes the best mashedbanana pie this writer has ever tasted.
Bizarroville’s love affair with the banana began
in the year 1520, when Spanish sea captain
Vasco de Bizarro was sailing his banana boat
to India. He took a wrong turn and ended up
landing right on top of Barf Rock, in what would
later become the town named after him—
Bizarroville.
On April 30th, the Have-a-Banana Festival
ends with a banana-eating contest and the
crowning of King and Queen Banana. At
night, you’ll be treated to an extravagant,
all-yellow fireworks display.
De Bizarro only stayed long enough to leave
behind a whole shipload of rotten bananas.
But, year after year, Bizarrovillians honor their
founder by holding the Have-a-Banana festival.
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You won’t be anxious to split from this highly
appealing banana celebration.
95
Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12
Appendix B
Barf High Yearbook
Excerpts From the Ralph Waldo Barf
High School Yearbook
BOBBI “SOX” SAX
GLORIA GHASTLY
Activities: Head cheerleader for “The Geek
Rockets,” Barf High’s championship debate
team. Member of the Off-Key Glee Club
Quote: “You can never be too cheerful or
too tidy.”
Future Plans: Playing “I Know an Old Lady
Who Swallowed a Fly” on the harmonica
Favorite Barf High Memory: Dancing the
hokey pokey with future husband Lou “Boo”
Fright at the Senior Prom
Activities: Member of Drama Club. Played
Breadcrumb in school production of “Hansel
and Gretel”; understudy to Grandma in
“Little Red Riding Hood”
Quote: “A girl can never have too many pairs
of sunglasses.”
Future Plans: To win the World’s Best Actress
award
Favorite Barf High Memory: Receiving my first
standing ovation for dropping a tray in the
school cafeteria
LOU “BOO” FRIGHT
GULLIVER LILLIPUT
Activities: President of the Inventor’s Club
Quote: “If it doesn’t exist, I’ll invent it!”
Future Plans: To marry Bobbi “Sox” and raise
twins in the Bizarroville suburbs
Favorite Barf High Memory: Being tossed out
of the Science Club for reinventing the wheel
Activities: Captain of Full-Contact Chess Team
and Extreme Red Rover, Red Rover Team
Quote: “Drop and give me 20 push-ups!”
Future Plans: To always have clean socks
Favorite Barf High Memory: Scoring a perfect
checkmate after giving the opposing chess
player a power-noogie
GORKY BARF
Activities: Joke-telling, Pie-Eating Club,
Book-of-the-Month Club
Quote: “Why did the chicken cross the road? ...
uh ... I forgot the punchline.”
Future Plans: To perfect the squirting-flower
practical joke
Favorite Barf High Memory: Turning myself in
to the Principal’s office because I had
nothing better to do
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JACKIE O’CASSIDY
Activities: Vice-President of Student Council;
President of Student Council; sole member
of Student Council
Quote: “Ask not what Barf High can do for you.
Ask what Barf High can do for me!”
Future Plans: To be able to talk on the phone
from anywhere at any time
Favorite Barf High Memory: Having my own
royal throne in the school cafeteria
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Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12