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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. sailors magicians 13 trolls because safely chased Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12 Unit 1 – The Mansion Activity 1 Name: Parlor Sentence Spinning never generous © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 16 Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12 Unit 1 – The Mansion Activity 2 Name: Parlor More Sentence Spinning appeared immaculate © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. terribly unto 17 (continued) charming zombies Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12 Unit 1 – The Mansion Activity 3 Name: Parlor Sentence Spinner Game B © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 18 Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12 Unit 1 – The Mansion Activity 3 Name: Parlor Sentence Spinner Game (continued) B B © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 19 Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12 Unit 1 – The Mansion Activity 3 Name: Parlor Sentence Spinner Game © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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: © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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; © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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? © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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? © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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? © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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? © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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? © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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? © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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? © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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? © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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“? © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 86 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 87 Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12 Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions Activity 1 Name: Blueprint for a Mysterious Mansion © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 89 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: © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 90 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 91 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 92 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 93 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! © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 94 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. © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 © Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. 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 96 Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12