Me and My Robot

Me and My Robot is so adorable! It is a great easy reader and very fun to read aloud!

(Using a robot voice- for the robot responses is a crowd pleaser.)

Summary: Reese has a robot. While they have lots of fun together, sometimes Reese has to teach Robot new things. Like when a friends kitten goes missing, Robot leads the friends to every other small and furry animal- except a kitten!

I have not read Me and My Robot #2- but I have ordered it so I can read it to our book club the DAY of our activity. We love book one so much- I can't wait to read book 2.

I stumbled upon this adorable activity to do with our kids at Family Fun Magazine.

(CLICK HERE to be directed to their site~.)

Magnets hold their features in place. This is a metallic equivalent of a Mr. Potato Head.

I plan on preparing the cans and gluing magnets on items (bolts and nuts, etc.) BEFORE book club, since you have to use a hot glue gun.

But I will also invite them to bring items from their junk drawers. That way while they play- I can glue more magnets onto their items also. (Hot glue dries quickly so they can incorporate their pieces too in their robot.)

I think this is a great project! And I love that all the extras can be stored IN the can when not in use!

AFTER they make a robot and get there's looking "just right" we'll go around the table and talk about the book.

What was the name of Reese's' robot?

What are you going to name your robot?

What kinds of things does Reese have to teach his robot?

What kinds of things will you teach your robot?

etc...

Animal Hide and Seek by Penny Smith

This is a great non-fiction book about how animals hide to protect themselves. This is a level 1 easy reader with a few challenging words.

Our Energy Game:
Play hide and seek until all book club members arrive.

Our Book Review:
We sat in a circle and I turned pages and asked questions about the book. I had a small cap full of water and if the child answered right- they splashed the water in my face. If they answered wrong- they were splashed in the face. (it's just a silly game)

Types of questions below:
Why do some animals hide?
What is it called when an animal looks like it's surroundings? (camouflage)
What does the fawn look like? (pg 7)
Who do the gray fur chinchillas hide from? (pg 14)
What do the dots on the butterfly wings look like? (pg 17)
What do the crabs add to their bodies? (pg 21)
What can a chameleon do? (change colors pg 22)
What are these seeds really? (pg 25)
Can you find the hidden animals on page (30-31)


Treat: Before the kids come, hide a treat and then make clues (scavenger hunt) that the kids can run around, read clues and find their treat. (I had transformed M&M filled candy canes into reindeer- with construction paper antlers.... )

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Short Summary: This is the first in a series of books about a boy who realizes he is a "half blood". (Meaning= one of his parents is a Greek god.)He thought he was just a troubled kid with ADHD and dyslexia. That those labels explained why he was such a poor student and had the worst luck of switching schools every year up to 6th grade. Now that he knows his biological father was none other than Poseidon, and his "learning disabilities" really are because he's wired to read Greek. His ADHD/ high energy is a must for survival in battle. And his bad luck? Well that is typical for heroes too. I mean, if monsters were stalking you since birth you might have a few mishaps yourself!

I recommend this book for Confident Readers for the sole reason that there are some pretty challenging words from Greek Mythology. (This would be a great story to read aloud- at bedtime and read together for independent readers.)

My sons and I ended up buying a picture book about Greek Mythology so we could look at the traditional stories about these gods and monsters and see what they look like. (Who are Titans? The Fates? What is a Centaur? etc.) I was actually really happy this contemporary story motivated my 12 and 10 year old to learn about the actual mythology of long ago.

With all great Movie/Book Clubs- I love to introduce the book with a clip.
Watch the Movie Trailer {HERE}

It's a nice sneak peek and helps the kids get a general feel of what to expect from the book.
I am planning on hosting my book club at the book store in the Mall: Borders has graciously offered to let us use their store.

We'll have our book club discussion there, do a quick craft and then GO SEE THE MOVIE!

Craft: We are going to paint a "camp bead" and paint a trident on it to make a camp necklace, like all the Half-bloods at camp. (Hopefully boys will want to continue with the series and their camp necklaces will gain beads with each future book they read!)

I am still gathering my supplies but I am thinking those thin leather strips as the necklace part and a simple wood bead with craft paint.

For our book club- I made these TRI FOLD book marks. (Join our Book Club Round UP and get a copy free! Just mention it in your contact form.)

Included are questions for them to answer, predict and pictures of the different gods and a few monsters to help them keep names and characters straight.

Discussion Questions:
1. When Percy talks about his mom in Chapter 3 he says that sometimes "the best people have rotten luck". Do you think that is true? Is it true in the story?

2. What is Summer and Winter Solstice? When is it?

3. When Percy is confronted by Clarissa in the bathroom, he feels he has to "earn his own reputation". What do you think he meant by that? Have you ever had to earn YOUR own reputation?

4. In Chapter 9 Percy finally has a cabin and knows who his father is- why is he so miserable?

5. Why do you think Percy has so many dreams? What did they mean?

6. While in Vegas Percy and friends find the Lotus Hotel. Would you want to stay there? Why or why not?

7. Did you predict who was going to betray Percy in the end? Make some predictions for the next book!

I just ordered our Book Club T-Shirts! Our boys are getting so excited to see the movie in the THEATER! You can order shirts for your club HERE!
Happy Reading!

Slob by Ellen Potter

What a great book!

If you would like to read an interview with Ellen Potter- click here.

Summary:

Owen might be the fattest kid in school but he’s a genius. While some kids might be tempted to run away from their fears- Owen decides to face them head on. Be that fear the school psycho who is stealing his cookies from his lunch or the next period PE class. He’s learned from the past that some fears you can never run from. Owen has a great sense of humor and my boys quickly related to his story.

Basic Outline:

Obstacle Course
Build a Catapult

Book Talk

Snacks: Oreos- but good luck rationing them to 3/boy!

Prepare: Gather items for your catapults.

I found a few videos. Here's a complex "spoon" catapult- HERE
For a simple one- Here's a different kind of catapult- HERE

(For boy scouts this would fulfill a Webelo Engineer Requirement pg 224-225)

Gather marshmallows and plastic cups or bowls for the catapult game.
Oreos
Set up an obstacle course in your yard.

Gathering Game: Obstacle Course.

Dress up as Mr. Wooly (or any other stereotypical gym teacher with whistle) and set up an obstacle course in your yard. The more absurd the better. Make sure boys have to use a variety of movements- climb over, crawl under , weave in and out, balance, etc…

(pg 80) Of course start off with a little stretching exercise - one where they hop on different feet blowing the whistle. Let each boy take a turn calling out the stretches.

(If your son is in Boy Scouts there are different exercises and drills to do with a buddy that would be fun. Boys could work on their Tenderfoot fitness pg 96, Webelos on their Athlete Requirements pg 124)

Incentive Game: Catapult Fun
Demonstrate how to make a catapult and let each boy make one. (Relates to the story: Owen likes to invent and make contraptions. Here is a "simple machine" called a Catapult. This is actually a requirement for Webelo scouts- so if you have any scouters in your book club- you are full filling one of their requirements!)

Ask the questions below in the book talk and for each right answer they earn a marshmallow. (to be used in a future game.) After you finish the book talk- and the boys have their marshmallows place plastic cups/ bowls in front of their catapults and give them opportunities to make it in the cup/bowl. For each marshmallow that goes in- that boy earns an Oreo.

Enjoy milk and cookies and marshmallows while boys continue to visit.
(Or if you know how to make Momo’s-- that would be a tasty treat!)

Book Talk-
1. Is Andre a friend or foe? (not really a right or wrong answer- they just have to tell why they think he is or isn’t.
2. What are some ways Owen tried to protect his lunch cookies? ( jaws of death and facial hair crème.)
3. Who wrote the note: SLOB?
4. Why did Owen keep it in the beginning?
5. Why did he let it go in the end?

6. How did Andre think Owen could get out of PE? ( The fat exemption, using a lawyer to sue Mr. Wooly for his leash treatment.)
7. In the story did you ever suspect Mom wasn’t his “biological” mother?
When did you first know? (pg 31 she said she had seen pictures of when Owen was skinny)
8. What did Owens parents do for a living?
9. What does his Mom do now?

10. How did Mason know there was a scheduled fire drill during PE class?
11. Is Mason a friend or foe?
12. What does this say about first impressions? What is a “First Impression”?
13. Who can explain Owen’s invention: Nemesis?
14. Ultimately, how did Owen gain respect from his classmates?
15. Why was Jeremy allowed to join the GWAB group-- without cutting her hair?
16. Why does Owen give Jeremy’s friend Arthur his old clothes?
17. Who is Nima?

18. What is a Momo? Would you ever eat one?
19. What is Karma?
20. What was really in Mason’s sock?
21. Name some of Owen’s other inventions. (The momo Ferris wheel, the poop catcher, etc.)
22. What does SLOB stand for?

For Scouts you could also extend the discussion to talk about healthy foods, snacks and what foods are good for you. Boys could complete their Webelo Fitness requirements pg246. While Boys scouts fulfill theirs on page pg 95.

City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

This is a perfect Book/Movie book club selection!
WHY?



Well this is actually the first book of a set of four. The movie only covers book one: The City of Ember. I love using movies to help readers connect to characters and settings. Once they get hooked to Doon and Lina I know my reluctant readers will be more likely to read the following three stories to continue the adventure.


Summary:


The city of Ember is a civilization encased by darkness. NO sun, moon or stars. Only the city generator provides lights and life to this people and now it is breaking down. The city was built and stocked with provisions by "The Builders" hundreds of years before and now all the knowledge that built this city has been lost. Food shortages and the failing generator threaten their future - but what can be done? No one knows of a world outside of Ember. Will The Builders come back and save them or did they leave a way out? You'll have to read to find out!


Basic Outline:
Preview the book: Before you pass out the book, watch 15 minutes of the movie.
Book Talk
Movie type Snacks

Prepare: Rent or Buy the video City of Ember

Buy movie type goodies kids can earn as they answer questions about the book- to snack on while watching the movie. (popcorn, M&M’s, etc..)

*An alternative to watching the movie- would be to make some simple machines. The Cub Scout books have sample projects like a catapult, lever, pulleys, etc.. This would fulfill Engineer Reuirements for Webelos page 212.

Gathering Game:
Have two simple puzzles and let the boys race to put them each together. Talk about the directions/puzzle Lina and Doon had to put together.

Incentive Game:
Ask the following questions and give “movie bucks” for each right answer. Let kids earn different goodies to snack on.

Book Talk-
1. What is Assignment Day? What is the significance of it? Would you like it if our society delegated work this way? What are the pro’s and con’s to this kind of system?

2. What can be done if you don’t like your job? (trade- like Doon and Lina, or after three years you could be re-assigned.)

3. Why or how did Doon and Lina grow apart as friends growing up? (the dare to climb a light pole- she laughed when he fell. Pg20)

4. What are some rules to being a messenger? (pg 27)

5. Describe the city of Ember (dark, no phones, limited paper, no grass, only plants are at the green house… ) How is it different than our city? How is it the same?

6. What do you think about the advice Doon’s father gave him about (pg 51) “You get what you get, it’s what you do with what you get that counts”. How does Doon use this advice? Can you apply this to yourself?

7. Why does Granny have the secret box?

8. What idea or message is the author trying to make when Doon is caring for the ‘worm’ or Lina the seed? (that there is a power of creation - something outside of generators and canned foods, something real- not man made or created… is just one idea.)

9. Who finds Poppy in the black out?

10. What is the trouble with anger? Why does Doon’s father warn him about losing his temper? (pg 89)

11. What do the “Believers” actually believe? (pg 99 that The Builders will come back and save them.)

12. Why do they not give tours to the storehouses where all the food is kept?

13. What does Lizzie like about her job? ( p105 she is able to taste rare foods.)

14. Describe Ember’s Library- is it helpful or useful to Doon?

15. Why does Mrs. Murdo take Lina and Poppy in? (pg 142) Is she related, is it her job? What do you think about her generosity?

16. Discuss the moral issue about eating the rare canned foods. Is it right or wrong for Lizzie to have extra? Is it fair, right, or moral?

17. Discuss the MANY differences between the book and movie.

The escape from Ember is completely different
The Mole attack

Are to just mention a few…..

Which did your boys like better? The book or movie? And why?


This is our selection for the month of May 2009- so these are my ideas of what we will do.
I am so excited that one of our more resistant readers is loving this book! 5 days after assigning the book - he is already half way through the book!

Story Time about MOM

The Above books are some of my personal favorites about the relationship between a mother and child. (There are plenty of others too- that you can add and use to your story time.)

"My Monster Mama Loves Me So...let me tell you how I know." Such a sweet story about all the ways his monster mama shows her love by baking cookies filled with bugs, taking him to the swamp to swim, etc..." A very silly book filled with love.

What Moms Can't Do... is also clever in pointing out things we moms aren't very good at. Mom's can't wait to wake their kids up in the morning, we can't hear ourselves think, and we can't let go of a hug without a kiss or two, or nine. A very clever and funny book about things mothers aren't very good at. Sure to get some giggles.

The last two books are classics I have loved from my childhood. Are You My Mother? and Just For You.


To begin your Story Time
Start with a game of Simon Says or Mother May I?
- Playing a game will help get the wiggles out and help them with their listening skills.

Then read your selection of books. (More below)
After reading Just For You brainstorm with the children things they can do for their mom- to show her they love her.

Activity: Finger Paint- while kids finger paint pictures, take a child aside one at a time and get a good hand print on a single sheet of paper. There are lots of cute poems about childhood you can print with the hand print or simply use the hand print itself as a gift the child can give to his mother.


Here is the poem I chose but there are more at the site: Can Teach.

Fingerprints
Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small,
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls.
But everyday I am growing,
-I'll be grown up someday,
And all these tiny hand prints
Will simply fade away.
So here's a final hand print
Just so you can recall,
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was very small.
I love you!

( I printed this poem out FIRST and then made the hand prints with my little guys.)

NO Talking by Andrew Clements

Summary:
Starred Review. Grade 3–6—Dave Packer's fifth-grade classmates are so boisterous and difficult to quiet down that the teachers have dubbed them "The Unshushables." Dave has just read about Mahatma Gandhi and learned that the man practiced silence one day a week to bring order to his mind. Though Dave likes to talk nonstop, he's determined to give the idea a try. An encounter with Lynsey, another chatterbox, sparks the boys and girls into challenging each other to a no-talking contest for 48 hours. They can answer direct questions from adults with three-word sentences but must otherwise remain silent. The teachers are bewildered at the extreme change in the kids until several of them figure out what's going on. Principal Hiatt demands that the quiet students return to their normal behavior. When the children continue with their silent ways, Dave finds himself at the center of the controversy. This is an interesting and thought-provoking book, similar to Clements's Frindle (S & S, 1996). The plot quickly draws readers in and keeps them turning pages. The author includes the viewpoints of both the students and the teachers, and the black-and-white pencil drawings add immediacy to the story. This lively offering would make a great book-group selection or classroom discussion starter.—Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Basic Outline:
Opening Game: Charades
Book Talk w/ snacks

Prepare: Print and cut out the actions that they boys will try to act out.
(Action words like: Fishing, cooking, camping, riding a bike, skating, skiing, playing baseball. Movies: Superman, Spiderman, Hannah Montana- just for fun, The Incredible, Finding Nemo, Peter Pan, etc…)


Opening Game: Play Charades
Let the boys one at a time take turns drawing a slip of paper and acting out the word. Remember, NO Talking…

For home schooling families: this book introduces briefly Gandhi and the way India gained her independence. This book would be a great lead into a study about these topics.
　
Book Talk
1. Why did Dave want to try and not talk for a day? (p8)

2. How did his “experiment” of not talking- turn into a competition? (pg 23)

3. Which classes were hard to keep the rule of 3-words only? Which ones were easier?

4. Why did the teachers permit or let the kids continue- even when the principal told them to stop?

5. Why was the principal concerned in the first place? Was she right to try and make them talk? What do you think your principal would do? Or Your teachers?

6. What is the reward of the “head-to-head” competition between Dave and Lynsey? (pg 78)
7. Who won?

8. Why did Dave say the kids had a right to remain silent? (p130)

9. Why does Dave forgive the Principal? Do adults make mistakes?

10. Why did Dave offer the Principal join them?

11. Why did Gandhi have a day of silence? Was he playing a game? Is there any value to listening more?

The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan

Charlie West, a typical teenager enjoying his senior year. He likes to instant message, while working on homework and watching re-runs of Star Trek all at the same time. He's a black belt in Karate but gets tongue tied when around girls. An over-all "good kid". He studies hard, trains hard, and always tries to do the right thing. So how in the world does he end up strapped in a chair, tortured with someone outside the door ordering his death? Charlie panics as he asks himself, "WHAT IS THE LAST THING I REMEMBER?".....



Great- FAST moving- Page Turner! {Click HERE} to start reading!

This is the first in a series and is great for boys who enjoyed the Alex Ryder Series. (Older teens who aren't ready for adult suspense/thrillers yet.) So so good!

Everest Series by Gordon Korman

Everest Series by Gordon Korman
Soo-oo Good!
Reading Level: 4th grade
Would be great for older boys with lower reading skills too.
Trilogy and each is less then 150 pages!

Mount Everest: The highest mountain in the world. The ultimate climb. For four lucky mountaineers it will be their chance to be the youngest person to ever reach the summit.
The mountain has claimed the lives of many adults, so the American Junior Alpine Association hosts a competition of intensive training to weed out the real talent from the wanna-be's. This climbing contest began as a competition. Some are not ready for what they face, while others will stop at nothing to reach the top. Once on the mountain things turn life or death where no one is guaranteed to survive!

This series was so good!

And plausible! Info from Wikipedia says,
"The highest mountain in the world attracts climbers of all levels, from well experienced mountaineers to novice climbers willing to pay substantial sums to professional mountain guides to complete a successful climb."




In book 3: The Summit there is alot of talk about the Ice Falls.
Here is an actual picture.











How to extend the story:


Take boys to a rock wall to try their hand at climbing. I would recommend this and give your boys some experience with grips and ropes. Introduce some vocabulary of common climbing equipment. (Belaying, crevasses, and crampons).



Go for a hike, climb the biggest "mountain" hill in your area- name it something really gnarly! When I was on my High School Cross Country team we had a regular run with a huge hill- we nicknamed Old Nasty. It really did add to our sense of accomplishment- knowing if we could run up Old Nasty we would be able to handle any hill at the State tournament!


If you have scouters this series would be great for the Boy Scouts Mountaineering Merit Badge and Hiking Requirements pg 263, Webelos Outdoorsman Hiking requirements pg 362, or page 107 for Bears- go on a Hike with your family.







Great Field trips or family trips: This series introduces some popular climbs/mountains like El Capitan in Yosemite

If you ever go on a "field trip" here.. could you invite me! ;o) Just thought the boys might like to see pictures of these mountains mentioned in the story.

The Matterhorn

and Annapurna

Now I'm Reading Series- by Nora Gaydos

I found these books at Borders and reasonably priced. I just posted the pictures so you could see what these books look like. I have the Pre-Reader set called Look Around! and Level 1 series called Playful Pals

Each set has 10 small, simple books. Each page has a short phrase with a strong picture to "help" small children to "read" these books. ( The flower is red, the sun is yellow, etc...)

These are great books to encourage, build self-esteem and confidence in even the youngest readers.

Capital Mysteries Series

Reading Level: 2.5
Each book is less than 100 pages- GREAT for Reluctant Readers!

What a GREAT SET OF BOOKS!
I stumbled upon these books at the Library and instantly fell in love!
(It might have a HUGE soft spot for Washington D.C.. I grew up a mere 25 min metro ride from our Nations Capital so I relate to romping around the monuments and museums in these stories!)

Meet the Author: Ron Roy has his own site! Ronroy.com

Each book would make a great field trip of its own.
Book 2: Kidnapped at the Capital would make a great field trip to the Air and Space Museum
Book 3: The Skeleton in the Smithsonian is suspenseful and sure to peek interest in visiting the Smithsonian Castle on the Mall
Other books include plots at the Lincoln Memorial, The National Treasury, The FBI building, Washington Monument and National Zoo.

The Sherlock Files: The 100-Year-Old Secret

by Tracy Barrett



Energy Game: Soccer (or Football as they call it in England.)

Incentive Game: Play traditional CLUE board game- except when passing out the clue cards.... ask each boy a question if they get it right.. they get a card. After all cards are passed out- they get to play and solve the mystery using their deductive skills! (The more answers they answer right.. the more cards they will have and better odds at winning the game!)

Questions listed below.....

Snack: Milk and Biscuits ( Biscuits = cookies in England)

Book Club Questions: You could print these questions out and let the boys pick which questions they answer... print a copy for you with the answers and then erase the answers and print a second copy to cut up and give the boys!

What is "the game" Xena and Xander like to play? Using clues to guess what a stranger does..
Who are Xena and Xander related to? Sherlock Holmes
What kind of ink was the note written with? disappearing
What do the British call a cookie? a biscuit
What is a pub? a cross between a bar and a restaurant
What is a Shandy made of? Lemon soda and beer
What was the code animal they were to order milk in a saucer for? a snake
Who is Andrew related to? Sherlocks friend - Watson
Why does Xander keep seeing a girl dressed in purple and in that old fashion dress? She's a model for an artist.

What is the name of the painting they are trying to find? Girl in a Purple Hat
What do Xander and Xena tell people why they are interested in the painting and artist? They are doing an extra credit assignment for school.
What is "the tube" in England? the subway
What do they call Soccer in England? foot-ball
Why is an artist painting pictures of the girl with a purple hat? to sell at the exhibit..
What does she do to make them different? The girl has brown eyes instead of green
What gives Xander the idea the the girl might be a boy in the painting? Andrew sees an old picture of Xander as a daisy and thought he was a girl..
How did they find the school the artists son went 100 years ago? The mascot Sherlock Holmes drew was the same as the school Xander played soccer against. Knuckers.
Where was the painting hidden? in the wall
Why did the headmaster agree to let them pull the wall boards out? the Art teacher told the headmaster it was possible the painting could be there.

Windcatcher by Avi

This is a great book for older boys who are reluctant readers! Written at a 5.3 reading level- but only 120 pages! Not intimidating at all! There are some "boating" terms I would introduce to the boys first... maybe have them identify parts of a boat on a diagram before they start the book so they are familiar with terms like, port, starboard, tiller and stern.

What a great little book filled with adventure and hunting for sunken treasure!

(Also a great book for Scouters! Bears have a Boats Elective pg 196, and Boy Scouts have a Rowing Merit Badge click HERE to see.)

(photo from wikimedia.org.) This is a picture of what a


frigate ship looked like.... what the Swallow would have looked like.

















Preparation:


Buy trinkets and goodies to be your hidden treasure. Prepare and set up your treasure hunt- in your house, yard or neighborhood.





Snack/Dinner: Clam chowder, or corn chowder if you are worried about allergic reactions


Energy Game: "Captain- May I" (adapted version of game Mother - May I?)


Play this game with at least three players.
One player will be "Captain."
Line the players up facing the captain about 10 feet away.
Give commands to the players one at a time. Use boating terms: port =left, Starboard =right, Captain says, for example, "John, you may take one starboard step forward." ( meaning he can take one step with his right foot forward.)



Wait for the player to respond. If he says, "ey, ey Captain!"


If the player forgets to say "ey ey Captain!" he must go back to the starting line.



Captain continues to give commands to the players in any order that he chooses.
Play until one boy is close enough to the captain to touch him.. then he is the next captain.





Incentive Game: Going on a Treasure HUNT!


Use the following questions as clues to your treasure hunt. For every right answer- the boys will earn a letter and a step closer to finding the hiding spot for your hidden treasure.





(The Letters spell out the words : In the Dryer. Hide the treasure in your dryer if you use my clues exactly. Or change your clues to match your hiding spot.)





1. How did Tony earn his money?


g = by mowing lawns


t = walking dogs and washing cars


i = delivering news papers


Next clue is hidden _________________





2. What is the name of his sailboat?


n = snark


o = shark


a = spark


next clue is hidden ___________________





3. what does a Harbor Master do?


b = keeps the harbor free of sharks


t = is like a water cop


h = master of all the ships in the harbor


next clue is hidden _______________





4. What can shift and change the sea bottom?


r = earth quakes


g= tidal waves


h = hurricanes


next clue is hidden _________________





5. How were the treasure hunters looking for the treasure?


e = diving


s = digging


y= with radio waves


next clue is hidden _______________________





6. What did Chris say about respecting the sea?


b = never turn your back to the sea


d = it's always bigger than you


t = it's unpredictable


next clue is hidden____________________





7. What looks like whale bones?


r = the sides of a sunken boat


o = a whale - duh


b = dinosaur bones


next clue is hidden _________________





8. Who would the treasure belong to?


m = finders keepers , loser weepers


a = no one- it goes in a museum


y = the state of Connecticut


next clue is hidden ________________





9. why is the town called Swallows Bay?


t = a long time ago a sailor was choking and the crew chanted "Swallow!! Swallow! Swallow!" the name just stuck.


e = named after the ship that sank in the bay.


h= lots of swallows nest in the cliffs during spring.


next clue is hidden ____________





10. Why did Tony dive down to the bottom when he saw the sunken Swallow?


r = he was trying to find his shoe


s = he was trying to find his watch


n = he was trying to find his compass








Snack/Dinner: Enjoy nice warm bowl of chowder and talk about the book. What would the boys have done differently than Tony- if anything.


What would they have spent $300 on?


Would they have made a deal with the treasure hunters?

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Catling

Basic Outline:
Energy Game: Kick the Can
Incentive Game: Answer questions and earn chocolate coins
Snack: Prepare a chocolate fondue or simply make chocolate pudding with an assortment of foods to dip into
Compare & Contrast this story to classic story: King Midas' Golden Touch
(If you wanted to incorporate some scouting electives - talk about junk foods, elective 9d for Bears, or the food pyramid for Wolves!)

Energy Game:
Pg 44 Story mentions Kick the Can
How to Play the Kick the Can Game
Step 1 Gather a group of people to play. The game works best if there are at least four people.

Step 2 Draw straws to decide on who will be the ruler. The ruler will guard the ball to begin with. It is the job of the ruler to capture all the players.

Step 3 Choose the player to kick the ball. This player will kick the ball as far as he or she can, and the ruler must chase it and return it to the original spot.

Step 4 Scatter. All players must scatter to find hiding spots before the ruler places the ball back in the original spot.

Step 5 As ruler, hunt to capture players after replacing the ball. If the ruler sees a player hiding behind a tree, he or she will call their name and run to tag the ball.

Step 6 Race to the ball. The player who was called runs to beat the ruler back to the ball. If they succeed, they must kick the ball to run and hide again. If they do not beat the ruler back to the ball, they are captured.

Step 7 Free anyone captured. When the ruler is not looking, or if a player is able to get close enough, a player can run and kick the ball, thus freeing all the captured players. But, be careful, if the ruler beats the player to the ball, that player is now captured

Step 8 Capture everyone as the ruler. When everyone is captured, the ruler has done their job, and game play starts over. The job of the ruler now goes on to the first person who was captured.
(directions from eHow.com)

Book Talk/ Incentive questions: ( pass out chocolate coins for each right answer!)
1. What is John's one bad fault? (p2 pig about candy)
2. What makes his parents suspect he's had too much candy? (p5 red spot on his nose.)
3. What kind of complications come from eating too much chocolate? (no room for good food.)
4. What is the name of John's sister? (Mary)
5. What was the first thing to turn into chocolate? (toothpaste)
6. Why did john kick the hammer of the doctors hand? ( to prove he could kick harder.)
7. Why did john go to bed so early? ( so he could sneak his chocolate)
8. How much chocolate was in the box? (one small piece)
9. Why did John eat his glove? (pg 28)
10 What did John change into chocolate at school? ( silver dollar, pencil, water, lunch, fork trumpet.)
11. How does John try to eat differently?
12. When did it stop being fun? (During the test.. or when he was thirsty)
13. What was the last straw for John? ( turning his mom into chocolate.)
14. What did the doctor diagnose it? Craniums Disease or Chocolatitis
15 Whose fault, or who is to blame for his chocolate condition?
16. How was the magic broken?
17 Why do you think the sign changed from "for sale" to "Sold"?

Snack: Let the boys dip different items in chocolate.
Banana's , strawberries, pretzels, graham crackers, and strange things too... cheese, chips, carrots, etc.. talk about what it would be like to have chocolatitis.

While boys are enjoying their snack/dessert- read classic story book aloud. Compare this modern story with the classic fairytale.



Extend: Have the boys pick a classic fairytale and have them write a modern version.. it would be interesting to hear and have boys share their stories the next book club.

Frog Story Time

I started our Story time- playing a modified version of "Pin the Tale on the Donkey"- except it was more like, "Put a Frog on the Log"

Then we straightened them up and sang the song, "Five Little Speckled Frogs". I let each child take a turn picking a frog off the log and placing it in our "pond".

We sang it a few times. (Make sure when you sing the part about: eating the most delicious bugs... to add sound effects: slump.. slump like you are trying to catch flies out of the air with your tongue. They love that part.)

Then I read a few books about frogs and a few more stories that had some frogs in the pictures.

After we went on a walk- were I knew some tadpoles and baby frogs were. We just happen to visit when the baby frogs were hopping off to find new homes. (So literally hundreds of baby frogs everywhere!)

That was really fun to watch the boys chase and catch and love these baby frogs.

I think the best way to think of story time themes- is to look around you. What is happening in your world? I know- many of you are knee deep in snow right now, but this spring when your toads and frogs are laying their eggs... this will be a great story time! The boys and I really enjoyed ourselves!

Marvin Redpost- Super Fast by Louis Sachar

This book I highly recommend for reluctant readers! Written at a 2.5 reading level and with only 79 pages Louis Sachar fills every page with humor as Marvin faces his worst fears.

Summary:

Poor Marvin. The word at school is Marvin is riding down Suicide Hill on Saturday. Riding down Suicide Hill is scary enough, without adding the fact that Marvin can't even ride his new mountain bike. The truth is, he can barely climb on! So who started this rumor and what will his classmates think if he chickens out? Does he have what it takes to face his fear? Does he even want to?

(This would be a great book for scouters! Bike safety requirement 9e for Wolves, Ride Right for Bears pg 118.)

Basic Outline: Play Wizzle Fish Tag while waiting for all Book club members

Go for a bike ride: make sure everyone has helmets.

Book Talk

Game: Wizzle Fish Tag pg 15-16

(I've never heard of this game. If it is a real game and you know it- feel free to play it. Or you can play my version.)

Give each boy two paper plates.

Toss a few paper plates around in your yard or playing field.

Boys use their plates as a Frisbee to toss and tag people out. Plates that are on the ground can either be picked up and tossed OR can be used as a "base" a safe place to rest. To stand on a base- you MUST have a plate in hand to toss. (In other words: no "camping" on plates.) Run around and gather plates to toss, while dodging other people's attempts to get you out. If a boy is standing on a base, once they toss a plate they must run. They can pick up the "base" plate and move to another space.

So bases and boys are always on the move! Last boy standing- wins!

ACTIVITY: Make sure to review bike safety before you head out on your bike ride. You can just let the boys go around the block, or you can meet at a park with a bike trail and have a longer ride. If you plan on a longer ride, make sure to bring water and a snack of trail mix would be a great treat.

* You can use extra treats as rewards for answers to your book questions.

Book Talk: Your book talk can be done before you ride, while you stop for water breaks along longer bike rides or at the end of your ride. ( Or throughout the whole trip!)

1. Who is the main character? Marvin

2. Who are his best friends? Nick & Stuart

3. How did the rumor of riding down suicide hill begin?

4. What did Linzy, Marvin's sister, want to play?

5. What does frolic mean? pg 19

6. What was Jacob's advice about riding down Suicide hill?

7. What was Linzy afraid of?

8. How did Marvin encourage her to be brave?

9. How did he encourage himself to be brave- when he started down Suicide Hill?

10. Why did the Police Officer come to his school?

General Topic to discuss: Peer Pressure

What is peer pressure?

Do you ever feel pressured by friends or parents to do things?

Talk about the good and bad of peer pressure.

What do you think about the end of the story?

What is a fear or challenge you have faced?

Are you a golden unicorn?? (just kidding)

Sight Word Readers

There is a great group of books printed by Scholastics that helps build reading confidence in beginning readers. Grouping two sight words together at a time, each book re-enforces, through repetition, the memorizing of each set of sight words.

Once beginning readers know their letters and sounds, Sight Words are the next challenge. These books make memorizing manageable and fun.

Slob by Ellen Potter

RL: ages 9-12

My boys love OREOS and have an unhealthy obsession with these cookies -so how could I pass up on a book where the main character loves OREOS and obsesses about his 3/day limit?

That was what initially attracted me to this book/story but after the first page my boys and I were hooked and connected to Owen Birnbaum, the main character, his humor and ability to deal with issues of bullies and negotiating friendships and family life.

Statistically speaking: Owen Birnbaum might be fatter than the average twelve year old boy but he is also smarter. While he spends his days being teased by his classmates and tortured by his gym teacher, he finds himself trying to out-smart the new school psycho who has started stealing his oreo cookies from his lunch.

Before you judge this book to be too sad- Life isn't all bad. Something happened a few years ago and Owen's learning to deal with his past and current challenges with humor and relying on his family and friends. Plus he's a genius and can invent cool stuff like a new thief catching device--to help capture the Oreo snatcher and an invention that reflects the past that he hopes will help heal his heart.

IT IS SUCH A GREAT BOOK! Like Owen points out- most books start out with some kid's first day at a new school where everything is new and slightly scary.
"The thing is, when you are fatter and smarter than the national average, practically every day is like the first day at a new school."

SLOB is a great book to kick off our Back-to-School Season!

Don't miss the chance to win a free copy!

Later this month- I'll add our Book Club Outline for this book along with an interview with the AUTHOR!

What is a Lap Book {TM}?

For those of you who have never heard of a lap book, let me introduce you. If you are a "lap book pro" keep scrolling down for some books with lap-book ideas.

Now as a disclaimer: I'm no expert. I am actually new to the lap book tool in helping reluctant readers. But when I heard about these projects that homeschooling families use to help kids connect and get hands on with learning, I knew I had found a great tool.

I think the more the kids do and create and contribute to their the lap book- the better. I would be wary of just downloading exact templates and such. Let the lap book be your child's space to create and extend what they are reading. (For example: instead of printing off pictures let them draw their own.)

Here are some sites that really do a good job explaining the philosophies and nitty-gritty on Lap Books(TM) There are PROFESSIONALS out there.

The Home School Mom (Resource): Has a really great explanation and description of what a Lap book is. (History and creator information.)

Home School Share has dozens of lap book topics and examples. A great resource in getting started. Down-load-ables so you really can print and get to work.

Notebookingpages.com has free templates for the little books you add inside your lap book.
It's a good idea if you are just starting and want creative ways to add information to your lap books.

Templates by Donovan: has a zillion different templates! I think I fell in love.

NEW Alphabetical Listing of Book Outlines

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Blue Berry-Barf Off by RL Stein
Capital Mysteries Series by Ron Roy
Cam Jansen and Summer Camp by David Adler
(The) Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling-
(The) City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Everest Series by Gordon Korman
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Geronimo Stilton Series
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Holes by Louis Sachar
Honus and Me by Dan Gutman
How to Be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
How to Train a Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Kid Who Ran for President by Andrew Clements
(The)Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Laundry News by Andrew Clements
Marvin Redpost, Super Fast, Out of Control! by Louis Sachar
Million Dollar Goal by Dan Gutman
Million Dollar Putt by Dan Gutman
Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman
Million Dollar Strike by Dan Gutman
No Talking by Andrew Clements-
(The) Sherlock Files: The 100-Year-Old Secret -
Shiloh by Phillis Naylor
Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth Speare
SLOB by Ellen Potter
Spiderwick Series
Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
Windcatcher by Avi
Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman

The Landry News

Mr. Larson is perhaps the worst teacher in the world. Instead of teaching, he prefers to read a newspaper and drink coffee. One day Mr. Larson notices a newspaper published by a new student in his class! As he reads the one page-handwritten newspaper he finds an unfavorable review of his teaching style. Cara Landry not only criticise his methods of "no teaching" but proposes that the real teachers in the classroom- the students- be paid his salary! This newspaper turns into a class project that might just get Mr. Larson fired- finally!

This book really is more like a "HOW to start your own paper- with a plot along the side" type book. Great book to read over a vacation break- when your child might have more time to devote to starting his own paper with his friends!

Go on a field trip to where a local paper is made. (Arrange in advance.) See the real process and ask real reporters questions about their jobs.
(Great book if you have scouters working on Bears Information, Please achievement or Jot it Down achievement pg 136-145 OR Webelo Communicator Requirements pg 177.)

Discuss the first Landry paper Editorial. Was that brave? Smart? Gutsy- or just dumb?
What are the qualities of a reporter or journalist? (pg 16)
What about the topic of Truth and Mercy? Is it important to have both- or does truth always win?

Is there a heart to a newspaper? (p 41)
What are some steps to starting your own paper? ( pg 56)
List Positive- Neutral - Negatively charged words. Have you ever thought about that? Does that change the way you want to talk, write from now on? What power do words hold on influencing people? Expressing ideas?
What are some column ideas from the book? (pg 93) What are some of your own column ideas?

Start your own paper- What is the name? What is the heart of your paper?

Million Dollar Strike by Dan Gutman

Bowling might not be the coolest sport in their town- but two friends, Ouchie and Squishy are motivated to save their favorite bowling alley from City Council. They motivate the owner invest and restore the alley, even host a Million Dollar Strike contest to help revive the bowling interest. Just when things start to look bright, the most nightmarish scenarios start coming to life. Someone-or something wants Bowl-a-Ramas doors to close forever!

Ideas for activities with this book:
Go on a field trip to a local bowling alley!
Create your own "disco-glow" bowling in your home- if you don't live near an alley.
(Great if your boys are working on the Cub Scout Bowling belt loop.)

Book Club Questions to Discuss:
Do you believe in Fate?
Does it matter what we do?
Did Ouchie really get a strike? (What do you think?)
Was the ending fair? Is life always fair? Should life be fair?
How would you have handled what happened if you were Ryan (Ouchie)?

Million Dollar Putt by Dan Gutman

Edward Bogard (Bogie) seems like a typical-spunky kid. He likes to tell jokes, ride bikes, play his guitar and finds out that he is even pretty good at golf. He's not afraid to try new things, but he does get stage fright if asked to perform in public. What makes him different is Bogie is blind! Yup.. blind. He can't see the ball when it's by his feet or see where it falls... Blind golfing is a team sport and Bogie has his friend be his eyes and coach him through the holes. Yet when he is mysteriously entered in the local golf tournament, with a million dollar prize Bogie has to decide if he is willing to put his stage fright aside and go for the big bucks.

I loved this book- so many elements you can extend to hands-on activities.
Ideas for different Activities to do with your book club:

Teach the kids 3 guitar cords and play "Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam.." (pg 114)
Go play some mini -golf.

Do some challenges- blind- simple every day tasks. (make a pb-j sandwich, get dressed- blind.)
Go to a museum and look at miniature models of things... (models like Birdie makes pg 21)

Have the kids make a miniature model of something.

Go to a golf course and shoot a bucket of balls.
(Great book if your scout is working on the Golf Sports Belt Loop!)
Set up a mini- golf course in your house or back-yard

After your activity: Enjoy a treat- "Shaved Ice" and talk about some topics in the book.

"Shave ice" - if you don't live in Hawaii or a place that sells shaved ice there are machines you can buy to make shave ice. OR- try freezing an ice block inside an old container. ( sour cream container for example.) Pop the ice out and use your grater to grate small slivers of ice. (you will probably have to wear gloves.) Maybe use a food processor or blender? Flavor with your favorite juice.

Which character do you relate most to? and why? (Birdie- are you hesitant to try new things?, Bogie- you like to tackle new challenges? Hunter- very competitive and sometime you forget about other people's feelings?)

How does Bogie handle bullies at school?

What lesson can we learn from Bogie?

What job does Bogie's dad do? Would you like that job? Why?

Why did Bogie's father hate golfing?

What helps him change his mind?

Sign of the Beaver

Twelve-year old Matt and his father establish a new homestead in the Maine wilderness while his expecting mother and younger sister stayed behind to await the birth of a new baby. The time has come for his father to travel and bring the family to their new home. It will take weeks for his father to return so it is decided that Matt will stay behind in charge of the cabin and crops. Matt does his best to survive on his own but a foolish attempt to gather honey leaves him severely injured. Through the care of a Native American boy and his grandfather Matt recovers while creating a strong bond of friendship. What was suppose to be weeks turn to months. Matt is worried something terrible has happened to his family. Or is weather just delaying their arrival? Matt must decide if he should continue waiting for his family or begin a new life with his friends. A really great read! Exciting & thoughtful.

Basic Outline:
Snack- Corn bread and honey butter
Buy toy bow and arrows (dollar store)

Option: Host a Book and Movie Night

Prepare: Rent Movie version of the book
Cook corn bread and honey butter. (Wait for butter to soften then mix honey into it.)
Prepare cardboard animals for boys to knock down with arrows.

Energy Game:
Play some Attean inspired games. At the Indian village- the boys played some rough and tumble games.
Have boys pair up- facing each other with a line between them.
Have pairs hold each other, clasping forearms.
Have pairs try to pull the other boy over the line.
Have boys trade partners and play again.
(Different types of “wrestling” type games are available in Cub Scout books.)
Have pairs sit back to back with elbows locked.
Have pairs work as a team to get to a standing position by pushing back to back.

Incentive Game: Ask boys questions and earn arrows to knock down a BEAR!
(Cardboard animals).

Book Talk/ Incentive questions:
1. What was the plan Matt and his Father agreed on?
2. What were Matt’s responsibilities while his father is gone?
3. How was Matt suppose to keep track of the weeks?
4. What are some of Matt’s most precious items?
5. Who is the first visitor in Matt’s cabin? Was he good company?
6. What did Matt do that caused him serious injury?
7. Who helped him while he was sick?
8. What is the trade between Matt and Saknis?
9. How are the roles of boys and girls different between the two cultures?
10. What are a few things he learns from the Indians?
11. When was Matt brave?
12 . When was Matt fearful?
13. How does Attean earn Matt’s respect?
14. How does Matt earn Attean’s respect?
15. What happened to Attean’s parents?
16. What is the name of Attean’s dog?
17. What does Matt do the earn the trust of the dog?
18. What does Matt do to earn the trust of Attean’s grandma?
19. How does the story end?
20. Would you have gone with the Indians or would you have stayed behind?

Million Dollar Goal by Dan Gutman

Twins Dawn and Dusk Rosenberg live for hockey. Unfortunately their foul-mouthed grandmother lives with them and thinks they should be working or studying while their dad hates the sport all together. Luckily they live in Canada where it's pretty much unpatriotic to NOT like hockey, so regardless of their American fathers dislike of the game- they play and a lot of it. They can't believe their luck, when their dad gets family tickets to the next Montreal Canadians game. This could be the beginning of a dream come true or might turn into the biggest humiliation of their lives. Family tickets means…grandma is coming along....

Written in the voice of both twins- this is a funny book fulled with BOY HUMOR! (Be warned.)

Before the Book Club Meeting - ask each boy to make-up a jingle for Pirelli Pizza.
Snack: Pizza Party!

Activity: play floor hockey, roller hockey, or ice hockey- whatever is most accessible to your group. (Go to a professional Hockey game!)
Have a shoot-out where boys try to shoot a puck and get it inside a hole in a shoe box. (p133)
Play -Elvis songs- Love Me Tender
Host a contest in honor of Oma- guess how many M&M are in a jar and let the winner take the jar home.

Discussion:
What do you think about Oma? Why does she act the way she act? Is that a good role model for her grand kids or her fans? Is she trying to be a role model?
What can you learn from her?

Did you like how the story was told by both twins? Did that help the story move along? Was it confusing?

Were you surprised by anything in the story?
What was a funny part that you liked in the story?

Have you ever entered a contest? Would you enter a contest where you had to do something in front of millions of people?

Who or what disappointed you? Did anything?
Did something surprise you in the story?

Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman

Basic Outline:
Play some basketball type games. HORSE and Knock-Out
Book Talk
Snacks

(Would be a great book to read while working on cub scout Basketball Belt Loop program!)
Prepare: Gather ingredients for your own versions of “Finkles“ .
Pg 17 gives a brief description of how to make one…
Need peanuts, chocolates, marshmallows and your favorite pancake mix.
Make a pancake and then sprinkle peanuts, chocolate and marshmallows on it. Roll it up and serve warm.

Energy Game:
Play a game of HORSE- as described in the book. Play a few time until all boys are present.
Play another basketball game- Knock-Out.
Boys line up at the free throw line. You need 2 basketballs for this game. The first person in line takes a free-throw. If he makes it- he moves to the back of the line. If he misses- he rebounds the ball for himself and takes shots anywhere on the court he would like. Meanwhile- after his missed shot.. The next boy in line tries to throw a free-throw. If he makes it… the first boy is “knocked- out” of the game and cheers the rest of the boys on.
So you have two boys shooting at the same time.
If the first boy makes his shot first. The second boy still continues to shoot. The first boy passes his ball to the next person in line at the free-throw line. This boy tries to sink a free-throw and “knock out” second boy.
You continue playing until there is only one boy left… he’s knocked out all his opponents.

Book Talk-
1. You and a friend have 3 minutes to come up with an original poem about Finkles - now that you’ve tasted one.
Share your poem with the group. (This should get a few laughs.) Then have each boy line up and see if they could make a free-throw under pressure. Would they have won the million dollars?
2. What do you think about George Finkles attempts to weasel out of paying a million dollars? What were some of the ways he tried to prevent Eddie?
3. Is that realistic that Anne wouldn’t want to take the million dollar shot? She wrote the winning poem, why didn’t she want the money? Is that believable? (pg 39)
4. Did you try any tips on improving your foul-shot?(pg. 48)
5. Would you take Finkles offer and miss the shot on purpose? Would you keep his offer a secret from your parents? (pg 66) Should you keep secrets from your parents?
6. What did you think of the end of the book? Did you like how the author made you wait for the end? Did it add suspense?
7. What would you do with a million dollars?

The Kid Who Ran For President by Dan Gutman

Basic Outline:
Book Talk
Snacks- lemonade

Ideas & Preparation:
Gather items for obstacle course.
Make Lemonade.
Have a Lemonade stand.
Set up a “Presidential Relay”.

Energy Game:
Have two sets of white shirt, tie, and men’s shoes
Divide boys into two teams. Boys have to go through an obstacle course and put on the clothes then run to the their team. Next boy in line puts on the “presidential clothes” and runs the course. When they get to the end of the obstacle course they take clothes off and run back to their team while tagging the next boy. Boys alternate putting the clothes on and off, while running the obstacle course.
Ideas for obstacle course could be jump over things, zig and zag between things, toss items, etc.

(Other book club ideas can be found in the Cub Scout Citizenship Belt Loop and Academic Pin requirments. Things like going to the Polls with parents and talking about the right to vote, visit a local site of government and interview someone who is involved with the governemntal process, etc.. )

Book Talk-
1. How does Politics change a person? June Syers said , “It rips your heart out and puts a stone in its place.” What do you think she means?
2. What is the first thing you have to do to run for President? (pg 15 make a petition with signatures of registered voters…)
3. What are the two parties Republican or Democrat in favor of? (Republicans are against government having too much power, Democrats are in favor of a strong government system. Pg 27)
4. Which party did Judd pick? (started his own party- the Lemonade Party. Pg. 63)
5. What is the first rule of politics? Pg 75 (Give the people what they want.)
Is it right that Judd make promised he cannot keep? Do you think real politicians do this?
6. Have you ever watched a real Presidential Debate? How does it compare to Moons debate. (pg 122)
7. Did the end surprise you? Would you want to be president?
8. Did you try to peek in the back of the book ?

Field Trip ideas: If you live near the Washington D.C area- what better field trip than visit the White House and other sites!

Halloween Story Time

Opening Activity:

Invite your little ones over for a Halloween story time and set out your box of dress up clothes. Let the kids mix and match items and create a costume for the Story time.
Story time: Once all the kids have arrived and are happy with their costumes. Sit them down for some Halloween stories.

Stories: Who Goes Out on Halloween? by Sue Alexander, My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck , There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat! by Lucille Colandro,

Sing songs such as: Eency Weency Spider, (modify it and sing again the "Big -Fat hairy spider" in a deeper voice.), 5 Little Pumpkins sitting on a gate- with hand motions, and 1little 2 little, 3 little witches. (sung to the tune of 10 little Indians.)
(It goes as follows: One little, two little, three little witches - hold up your fingers....
flying over hay stacks, flying down ditches- swoop your hand up and down...
sliding down moon beams without any hitches ....
HEY Ho! Halloween's here!)

Snack: Enjoy pumpkin cookies and pumpkin treats... frost pumpkin shaped sugar cookies.

End game: TRICK OR TREAT....(modified game)
For this trick or treat game- kids don't go door to door. They sit on your floor in a circle and take turns pulling cards out of a pumpkin. (plastic trick or treat pumpkin). Some of the papers say TRICK- and have a silly thing they have to do like, "make a silly face" , "howl at the moon", etc.. some papers say TREAT. Papers that say TREAT- have a number on them too. (Take one, two , three treats... ) Some papers say SHARE a treat and they have to choose someone in the circle to give a treat to...
This game is about sharing, taking turns, being silly and getting treats! Play and make sure everyone has a handful of treats to take home with them.

Ending Activity: Dance until parents come to Halloween music. I found a CD at Walmart for under $5 that has silly songs like Monster Mash and the Flying Purple People Eater.

Mice are Nice Story Time

Invite your story time group over for a Mice of a Nice time-
(be sure to have them wear "play clothes" since this story time we'll be painting.)
I let the kids play- until everyone arrives.

Introduction game:
A nice game to introduce the theme is a "Guess which house the mouse is hiding behind".
Simply - draw and cut out different colored houses out of construction paper or color white paper houses. Then draw and cut out a paper mouse.

Stick the houses to a poster board, magnet board, or cork board. Then let the children take turns hiding the mouse behind a house. Everyone chant, "Little mouse, little mouse are you behind the _____ house?" (the red, yellow, blue, green, etc... )
One child picks the color to look behind. He keeps picking until the mouse is found- then he hides the mouse and a new child is given a turn to find the mouse.
Play this game- until everyone has had a turn finding and hiding the mouse.

(A friend of mine is a reader at our local library- and she introduced me to this simple game. The kids really enjoyed it!)

Story time:
Next read the selected stories
You can sing songs like, Hickory Dickory Dock together and Little Bunny Foo Foo in between stories if they are getting wiggly.

Snacks:
Enjoy a strawberry treat for snacks. These could be real, fresh strawberries or simple strawberry jam on bread, strawberry fruit snacks or fruit roll-ups. Whatever you decide.

Activity: Paint.
Let the children explore mixing colors like the three white mice. Provide paper and red, yellow and blue paint. They can use their "paws" like the mice- or paint brushes!

Activity- game: While the kids are painting... talk about other mice stories or facts.
Share the nursery song- Three blind mice. When children are done painting, clean up and then head outside for a game of chase. (cat and mouse style!) or pretend you are the "farmers wife" and chase your mice!

Pirate Story Time

Supplies:

Books for your story time:

Treasure Chest- if you have one great, if not decorate a tissue box

Trinkets for the treasure chest. (Instead of bags of candy- I made bags filled with POP cereal. They look like gold nuggets.)

Make picture clues for your treasure hunt. Simple pictures or TV, Couch, Kitchen table, etc..

Invite: Encourage kids to dress up for your Pirate Story time!

A few days before the story time event- I usually grab a container ( I have a specific bucket with handle) and keep it out and handy. Whenever I run across a toy, book or other item that would fit in my up-coming story time I place it in my bucket.

Right before your guests arrive- set out your clues- and hide your treasure box!

Let your PIRATES come in and play. Have any pirate ships, sharks and fish toys.

When all Pirates are accounted for- gather them around and read the different selected books below. The Silly Shark- really is a great Pop-up book. ( A real crowd pleaser.)

After reading, play Pop the Pirate. (The picture it's a fun game for preschoolers.. they stab swords into a barrel and when they hit the "random" hole the pirate pops out! )

Then have the children go on a TREASURE HUNT!
For the treasure hunt- use picture clues that lead your small band of pirates through your house and yard. You could include other trinkets to your booty- bubbles, rubber balls, POGS ( my kids are really into those now.) Whatever you like.

Camp Out Story time

This isn't the best picture. But I just wanted you to know- YES!I really do these Story Times with my 4 year old and his friends. (He was horrified that on this day- only the girls could come! GASP!) But we had a blast and I couldn't believe it.... the girls had never had a smore! Is that a crime or what!?

Your Checklist: A week or so before....
First buy or gather your Camp Out books.
Invite your group over for a "Camp Out".

Your Checklist: A day or two before....
Gather all your "woodsy" type of stuffed animals. (bears, wolves, rabbits, etc...)
Gather "Tent" type materials. If you have a play tent great! If not- use your imagination- chairs and sheets, etc.... ( Our pitched tent was that sheet of a shelter in the background)
Made a fake campfire- ( the paper bag pile with construction paper flames in the center.)
Do you have your Camp Craft supplies?
Do you have Smore ingredients?

Day of Story time:
As the kids come- remind them of the theme and have them help set up camp!
Build the camp fire together
Pitch the tent
Bring out all the stuffed animals and let them play!

Gather the kids together again and re-construct the camp fire. (During play time- this might have gotten spread across the room. )

Re-state the theme and start the chant:
We're going on a camp out
We're going to have a good time!
What a beautiful day- we're not scared! ( to the tune- We're going on a Bear Hunt.)
Guide the kids, walking down a path, climbing up a hill , through the trees, etc.. to find your imaginary campsite. I usually pat my knees to the beat then mime the actions. This will hopefully help get some of those last minute wiggles out!

Read some stories that relate to Camping Out

Then make the snacks- Smores!

( I melted chocolate chips in the microwave and cooked the marshmallows a little bit in there too. Then I spread the chocolate on the graham cracker and placed the warm mellow on top- sandwiched with another graham cracker.)

Craft: Camp Crafts.

Easy Binoculars. Two Toilet paper rolls with two paper clips!

Camp Lantern: green construction paper, stapler (adult staples tube together),

Stuff with red, yellow and orange tissue paper

Punch holes and attach a string

When they are done with their Camp Crafts- let them continue their "Camp Out playing" until parents come to pick up. You could also take them outside to look at things with their binoculars.

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Opening Games:
List of Supplies:
a stuffed dog for each boy
a dog toy for each boy
a granola bar for each boy

Shiloh game
In the book, Marty learned how much work it takes to care for a dog. Give each boy a stuffed dog, a ball, and a "dog treat" (granola bar)- Sneak a brief review of the book and how Marty took care of Shiloh. Ask questions like, " How did Marty feed Shiloh? Where did Shiloh sleep?, etc..

Have each boy find a space in your yard to put their items.
When everyone has their places- explain that when you say "go" everyone runs to other people's piles and take items and return to their place. They race from pile to pile- taking items one at a time. When you randomly say , "stop" everyone stops and the boys that still have a dog, a ball and a treat win. (Play a few times to get some of their energy out.)

Dog Pound
For this chase game all the boys but one, lines up on one side of the yard. They decided three or four different types of dogs to represent. One boy is "Judd" or "it". Judd calls out the different types. When he calls out "Dog Pound" all the boys run across the yard and try not to get tagged. If he calls out just one type of dog- those boys run across. Boys that are tagged, stay frozen and try to tag other boys as they run across. The game continues until their is just one dog left.

Activity: Paint Bobble Head Puppies
I got bobble head puppies from Party Express. The boys really enjoyed painting their own dogs.
I think they liked the "mixing it up" at book club.

Talk about Topics in the book while boys paint.

There is also a Movie that goes along with this book.
Both are really good.

How to Be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell

Supplies:
Cut out the questions and hide clues for the TREASURE HUNT!
Brown grocery sack for each boy
stapler

OPENING ENERGY ACTIVITY:
Help each boy make a “Viking” triangle hat out of a brown paper bag. Staple “horns” (cardstock horns) to the hat and write the Vikings name on it.

FEATS OF STRENGTH-- have the boys pair up and do these different wrestling activities.
Have two boys face each other and put their hands on each other’s shoulders. Draw a line in between them. Have the boys try to push the other boy and cross the line. Then next round- have them try to pull the other boy across the line.

Have boys face each other and hold RIGHT hands. Then have each boy hold his own left ankle with left hand. Boys try to get their opponent off balance by pushing and pulling with their right hands.

Partner each boy up and have them sit down, back to back. Have them link their arms at the elbow. Working together- by pushing on each others back- see if they can get into a standing position.

(More partner physical activities can be found in Cub scouting books. Wolf pg 39-45, Bear pg 131-135, Webelos pg 139-141.)
ACTIVITIES AND IDEAS
Once ALL the boys are in attendance and have had a chance to get some of their energy out… start the official ..

Search for Grimbeard the Ghastly Treasure Hunt!
Make a special dessert or treat for the boys this will be the TREASURE after their scavenger hunt. Take the questions/ clues and fill in the correct letters for the answers. For example: If you plan on having Hot Fudge Sundae’s for dessert. The correct answer for #1 question will be H, #2 will be O, #3 will be T and so on..

Hide the questions in and around your house or neighborhood. You can change the location of any or all of the clues- if you want to personalize the search to your specific house, Just make sure you check and double check that one clue leads to the next.

Boys will be running around your house, answering questions- so be sure to have breakable knit-knacks put up and out of the way. When they get an answer- they record the letter that corresponds with the right answer on their score sheet. ( A piece of paper they have numbered.)When they have answered all the questions correctly they will know what you have made for dessert = the TREASURE! ( Brownie Sundaes! or Chocolate Chip Cookies!)

CONVERSATION STARTERS:
Have you ever felt like Hiccup?
What would you do to train your dragon?
What was your favorite part of the book?
What surprised you?
Who was your favorite character?
Did you enjoy the book?
If not- what would have made it better?

How to Train a Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Supplies:
Dragon Fliers (from Oriental Trading Company)
Marker
stickers
Brown grocery sack for each boy- Viking hat
stapler

OPENING ENERGY ACTIVITY:
Help each boy make a “Viking” triangle hat out of a brown paper bag. Staple “horns” (card stock horns) to the hat and write the Vikings name on it.

FEATS OF STRENGTH-- have the boys pair up and do these different wrestling activities.
Have two boys face each other and put their hands on each other’s shoulders. Draw a line in between them. Have the boys try to push the other boy and cross the line. Then next round- have them try to pull the other boy across the line.

Have boys face each other and hold RIGHT hands. Then have each boy hold his own left ankle with left hand. Boys try to get their opponent off balance by pushing and pulling with their right hands.

Partner each boy up and have them sit down, back to back. Have them link their arms at the elbow. Working together- by pushing on each others back- see if they can get into a standing position.
(More partner physical activities can be found in Cub scouting books. Wolf pg 39-45, Bear pg 131-135, Webelos pg 139-141.)

ACTIVITIES AND IDEAS
Once ALL the boys are in attendance and have had a chance to get some of their energy out… start the official ..

Thorsday Thursday Celebration!
How Many Gulls’ Eggs Can You Eat In A Minute?-
If you own a jello- Easter Egg mold- make Jello Eggs, other wise just boil regular eggs.
Ugliest Face Contest- Have boys take turns to stand in front of the group and make an ugly or silly face.
Final Initiation Test- Give each boy a Dragon Flier to decorate and assemble. Boys get to name their dragon and practice flying them. Let the boys throw their dragons and see whose can fly the farthest.

CONVERSATION STARTERS:
Have you ever felt like Hiccup?
What would you do to train your dragon?
What was your favorite part of the book?
What surprised you?
Who was your favorite character?
Did you enjoy the book?
If not- what would have made it better?

Holes by Louis Sachar

Supply list for Games:
Squirt gun for each boy
A medicine dropper or infant medicine syringe
Pitcher of water
Paper napkins (optional)
String (optional)

OPENING ENERGY ACTIVITY
Mr. Sir May I?
This game is a variation of “mother may I” except have one boy be “Mr. Sir“. “Mr. Sir” stands with his back facing the rest of the boys- who are a few feet away, lined up shoulder to shoulder. The boys take turns asking Mr. Sir (who can’t see them-because his back is turned…) how many pace’s they may take. The boys try to get as close to Mr.Sir as they can and hopefully “sneak” up behind him and tag him on the shoulder.
The first boy to tag Mr. Sir- get’s to be Mr. Sir for the next game.

For example:
Boy= Mr. Sir May I take 3 paces?
-Yes you may… (or no you may not)
Boy= Thank-you Mr. Sir!
If the boy forgets to say Thank-you before moving-- the boy has to go back to the original starting line.

INCENTIVE GAME:
Pass out a EMPTY squirt gun for each boy while you hold the pitcher of water with an EMPTY medicine dropper. Ask the boys questions about the book. If they answer the question right… take the dropper and put water into their water gun. If they answer wrong- the water that could have been squirted in their gun gets squirt on the ground. Continue asking questions and filling squirt guns. Whatever water they have in their gun… is how much they get for the beginning of the water fight!
( I always warn the boys before hand… when the book is assigned so they are really motivated to read and understand the book.)

We made “targets” for the boys to wear on their back. This helps boys focus on squirting each other on their backs instead of in eyes and ears, which some people find very sensitive. To make the targets- tie a long piece of string to the four ends of the napkin. Place the napkin on the back of a boy and tie two strings together. Do the same on the other side- having one string go over the shoulder and the other string under the armpit.

QUESTIONS
What color are the uniforms at Camp Green lake? (orange)
How many uniforms does each camper get? (two)
How big of a hole does each camper have to dig?
(as tall and wide as their shovel.)
What is the last thing the boys do, before they leave their finished hole?
(spit in it.)
What color are the yellow spotted lizards teeth? (black)
What does Stanley see in the bottom of one hole, when he is looking for Zero? ( a nest of lizards)
What does Zero stand for? (Zeroni)
What is “Caveman’s” real name? (Stanley)
Where does Trout find Kissing Kate? (the movie shows by the boat, the book reads different) ( in a cabin)
What is the special ingredient in the Wardens nail polish? ( rattlesnake venom.)
Why is Magnet called “Magnet”? ( his fingers are like little magnets- when he steals things.)
Why is Twitch nicknamed “Twitch”? ( he has a nervous twitch.)
Sing the song that Stanley’s family sings… it starts, “if only if only….”
Why is the boat named Mary Lou? (after the donkey- the boat was Sam’s)

DIRT CUPS
Plastic cups & spoons
Chocolate pudding (prepared in advance)
Chocolate cookies- crushed
Gummy worms

Let the boys assemble their own dirt cups layering the ingredients as they like.

Get to know the author too! Web page at http://www.louissachar.com/ He says this is his favorite book he ever wrote! There's Frequently Asked Questions along with a Bio- page!

Book & Movie group- Buy or rent Holes and compare and contrast the book with the video. Boys are eager to point out , “Hey that’s not how it happened!“ or “ Why did they skip that part from the book?”

After the movie ask: Did you like the book better or the movie? Were they exactly the same? Why do you think they change parts?

The Magicians Nephew by C.S Lewis

Did your son enjoy the movie- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? This book takes place before The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This story will answer all those questions about- Why the wardrobe is a bridge to Narnia. Why their is a lamp post in the middle of the woods in Narnia and so much more!

Topics to talk about:

The rings. Talk about their magical properties (pg 43) How do they work?
Use magnets and pins. Experiment with the power of magnets and how they attract items. (Pg 78)

They talk about the possibilities of a new world, Narnia. What types of possibilities? Compare how Narnia was created, what are some theories on how earth was created?

Why could some adults hear the animal speaking but not the Uncle. Is it possible to hear without listening? Understanding?

Why did the witch try and tempt Diggory?
Have you ever been tempted?
What was his resolution?
Have you ever been tempted?

Honus and Me by Dan Gutman

Summary:

Reading level for 8-12 year olds. Joe Stoshack loves baseball and has a real magical connection to baseball cards. He knows about players past and present. Too bad he doesn't know how to play well. This is a great story that introduces themes of honesty and integrity. What would you do if you found the most valuable baseball card in the world while cleaning out a neighbors dusty attic?


Game:
Play a game of baseball or if you don’t have enough boys for a full game. Have batting practice or play catch. Have two boys with gloves play catch while standing near a base. (the base can be a hat, Frisbee, etc..) The rest of the boys run trying to run to the other base without being tagged out.

Refreshments:
Have Hot Dogs, popcorn, peanuts and cracker jacks! Make it an All American Meal.

Topics to talk about:
Integrity. Honus wouldn’t let the tobacco company use his picture. Joey has an integrity issue too- what to do with the card… what would you do?

What is the secret to being a great baseball player?

p60 “lies catch up to you” Did Joey do the right thing? What would you do?

Talk about the traits of characters in the book: What do we know about the values of Joey’s mom, his dad, Joey, Honus, Birdie, etc..

What does Honus get out of doing nice things? P106

Activity: Let the boys design their own trading card. Have card stock cut to size with markers and color pencils.

Green Eggs and Ham with others by Dr. Seuss

Have book club members read Green Eggs and Ham at home with Parents. Suggest parents read this book to their children and then take turns reading the different parts. (Sometimes reading a whole book by themselves is a daunting task!)

Supplies:
Cat in the Hat book
Cat in the Hat board game or make a game with rhyming words.
Balloons with paper slips inside.
Cartoon movie double feature: Green Eggs and Ham & Cat in the Hat

On Book Club day turn on the movie- while you wait for all Book Club members to arrive.

Starter ENERGY game:
Have three cups placed around the room. One says HAT, one SAM, one says TRAIN
Write on small slips of paper words that rhyme with HAT, SAM and TRAIN.
(CAT, BAT, MAT, FAT, RAT, PAT, NAT, HAM, RAM, PAM, CAIN, RAIN, MAIN,etc..)
Place slips of paper inside balloons and blow them up.

Let the kids run around the room popping the balloons one at a time, and placing the word paper in the cup that rhymes with that word. The game is over when all the balloons are popped and hopefully all the kids have their wiggles out!


For Book Club Treat: Of course it will be dyed GREEN.
Put food coloring in your milk- green milk.
Frost cookies- with green frosting. (green cookies)
Eat green grapes
Take the opportunity to talk about:
Is it hard to try new things? Taste new foods?
Have you ever tried something you thought you wouldn't like... and were surprised you did like it after all?
Let the kids share their experiences

Game:

Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat board game , with colorful illustrations from the book. Designed for parents and children to play together, this game promotes early reading skills while challenging players to match letters with colors as they race along the board, and makes a great starter game for preschoolers. Includes a game board, 4 playing pieces, a numbered spinner card with a spin dial, 40 picture cards and complete instructions. For 2-4 players. Recommended for ages 4 and up. (Available at Amazon or other stores where games are sold.) We happened to get it for Christmas one year.

Or you can make your own matching/ rhyming game. In preparation for book club- cut out or draw pictures of items that rhyme.

Field Trip:
Live Near Manhattan?
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has a major, new interactive exhibition with environments and activities themed to the Seuss classic Oh, the Places You'll Go! The exhibit opened first in New York and then will tour select cities around the country.
The Oh, the Places You’ll Go! exhibition bursts with Seussian colors, characters, and off-center structures—from the exhibition’s floor, walls, ceiling, and even from the facade of the museum. Visitors will follow Seussian pathways that lead “straight out of town,” they’ll “join the high fliers who soar to high heights” via raised platforms or descend through tunnels from a “prickle-ly perch” to a Seussian “Slump.”
The exhibition maintains the positive outlook on life inherent in Oh, the Places You’ll Go! and many of Theodor Seuss Geisel’s other books. The exhibition is designed to inspire children to love reading as it weaves together a history of Geisel’s life and work with an interactive journey where children and adults are immersed in activities. Children will be encouraged to try new things and to become explorers and doers with reading the key to finding new places.
Hours: Summer Hours (Now - September 12)Tuesday - Sunday, 10am - 5pm Winter Hours (Beginning September 25)Wednesday - Sunday, 10am - 5pm
Address: The Tisch Building212 West 83rd Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam)New York, NY 10024
Admission Fees: $7 for adults and children $4 for seniors Free for children under one

We really have been here! When my oldest was just 2 years old. Talk about entering the world of Dr. Seuss! Colorful and zany- it was like entering one of his books. My son had a blast!

May I Please Have a Cookie? by Jennifer Morris

First Grade reading level Book Club. This is the book that we delivered to all the book club members. A cute book about how a young alligator figures out the best way to get a cookie!

Supplies:
Other books about cookies: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Gingerbread Man, Boy or Baby

Energy/ Gathering Game:
We sat the kids down in a circle and played, "Who Stole the Cookie From the Cookie Jar?"
You sit in a circle and start a clapping pattern. (Pat your legs once and clap once and then snap fingers one at a time.) While patting everyone chants:
"Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?"
You start the game by saying, "(Name a name) stole the cookie from the cookie jar."
That person says, "who me?"
you say, "Yes you"
person says, "it couldn't be.."
you say, "then who?"
Then the person named says, " (names a new name) stole the cookie from the cookie jar."
and the game continues until everyone has participated.
Play this game until all Book Club Members have arrived.

Read additional books about cookies:
First reread May I Please Have a Cookie. What are the different ways he tried to get a cookie? What is the best way?
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Gingerbread Boy and/or Gingerbread Baby

Craft:
Make Gingerbread Puppets with brown paper lunch sacks.
Write on the back of the bags a list of words. (Old lady, cow, dog, etc..) These words will help the kids re-tell the story later with their puppets.
Seat the kids around a table and give every child a brown paper sack.
Have decorating items on the table with glue for them to decorate their own Gingerbread puppets.
Buttons, ribbon, sparkles, stickers, etc..


Snack: Cookies and Milk!

Scooby-Doo Phonics Book Set

Here are the books we used with our Scooby Doo Book Club.
Then I found a Scooby Doo Sudoku! I gave each child a few pages to do before book club. They enjoyed having an activity- besides reading- that helped get them excited for the up coming Book Club meeting. Don't miss this cute book of games that builds math skills too!


Preparation:
Make a Book Club package for every member of your book club. Include in each package:
1. 1-2 Scooby-Doo Phonics Books ( The Phonics box set has 12 easy to read books.)
2. 2-3 pages from the Scooby-Doo SUDOKU book. ( I rip out these pages along with the stickers that correspond to their puzzle pages.)
3. An invitation to the next book club meeting. (I usually set the book club meeting a week later.)
4. Deliver a package to each club member.

5. Stuffed animal- Scooby Do or a picture of Scooby Doo

Energy Game: Scooby-Doo Where Are YOU?
Take turns hiding Scooby-Doo. While one boy is hiding Scooby the others are in a different room. When he is hidden, all the boys are allowed to enter the room and search for Scooby-Doo. The boy who hid Scooby calls out if someone is HOT = close to Scooby or COLD = far from where Scooby is hidden. Hints can also be WARM, COOL, WARMER, RED HOT!, etc.. The boy to find Scooby gets to hide him next while the other boys leave the room. Play until all the boys have a turn to hide Scooby!

Snacks: Prepare Scooby Snacks. Make sugar cookies and cut into Dog bone shapes. We found at Price Busters a box of "Dog Treat" looking cookies.

Movie: Watch a cartoon movie - Scooby Doo

Game: Here's a match games featuring our favorite- Scooby-Doo! But if a player gets a Monster card, a matched pair must be forfeited. This game also includes a Wild card that creates an instant pair. The lucky player who finds a Take Scooby card claims the prized plastic Scooby figurine until the next player wins it away. A great Game for your Scooby-Doo Book club meeting! If you can't find this game in the stores- Amazon.com has it.. or just make your own matching game by using extra stickers from the Sudoku book, or cut up a coloring book to make your own cards for matching.

Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel

Summary: Follow Frog and Toad's friendship from season to season. This is a simple chapter book. Each chapter highlights a season and the last chapter includes a Christmas story. Frog and Toad share, support and serve each other. A quaint book about true friends.

Frog & Toad All Year Outline
Frog and Toad are good friends.
Talk about the qualities of a good friend.
What does it mean to be a good friend.
This was our November 2007 pick- so I will be emphasising blessings and things we have to be thankful for. (For example: Good Friends.)

This book is divided into 5 chapters- each highlighting a different season.
(Chapter 5 is a holiday- Christmas.)
Do 5 Activities while reviewing each chapter.

Chapter 1. Down the Hill-
TRY SOMETHING NEW! Frog introduced Toad to snow and sledding.
Go ICE BLOCKING... down a grassy hill... ( To make Ice Blocks use large plastic dish tubs and freeze enough ice blocks for each boy. Or ask each family to make their own.) Find a good sledding hill- and be sure to bring towels to sit on. (Bums do get cold and wet!) Fun activity!

Chapter 2. The Corner-
Is a story about the Season Changing... while outside ICE BLOCKING- look at the signs that the season is changing.. in the story- it was winter to spring... in November- it will be Fall - Winter.
(Blessing: The beautiful world we live in.)

Chapter 3. Ice Cream
- Need I even say?-- enjoy some ice cream cones for your treat!

Chapter 4. The Surprise!
Plan and do a service project to do as a book club.

Make cards- and mail them to an organization like- Keiki Cards. An organization that sends handmade cards to sick children monthly. These are not "get well" cards- they don't want to focus on the children's illness. They prefer holiday, silly, children's cards- just for fun.
Talk about the blessing of our bodies, and enjoying good health!

For this activity- you can use stickers, stamps, card stock paper, markers... make a book mark to include and why not share some of the titles of your favorite books!

Chapter 5 Christmas Eve!
Let the boys know- For your Christmas Book Club Meeting - you'll be exchanging names- to swap presents..! You can do this however you like- this could be a Secret Santa kind of thing or just a gift exchange. Our group is going to have it be a simple gift exchange with the limit $5.

Blue Berry- Barf Off by R.L Stein

Summary: Rotten School is a residential school where Bernie Bridges wants Sherman Oaks' fancy new watch. A challenge to a pie eating contest is part of Bernie's plan but will it work? How will he get the watch? And where does the barfing coming in? You'll have to read it to find out.


Prepare: Book Journal to be passed along with the book.

This was one of the first books we did. I tried buying one book and the boys sharing it. It worked out o-k-a-y. It's not the ideal. Since we were passing the book around. I was afraid that the boys who read it first- would have a hard time remembering things for our discussion. So I made a little question book that got passes around with the actual story. The question log book consisted of 5 envelopes stapled together with a cover. The envelopes were SEALED with a small slit in the side- so the boys could tuck in a piece of paper with their answers on it.

ON the inside cover of the "log book".
"Hello fellow Boyz Book Club members! This month you have a week, ONE WEEK to read your book! After your week you pass the book, this "log book" and book bag to the next club member. As you read- stop and answer the question is on the sealed envelopes. The next book club meeting is ------. We will open all the envelopes and talk about the book. Be prepared to have some ROTTEN FUN!"

On the back-inside cover was a list of all the boys and a place to check off if they had already read it.

Envelope 1- If you went to Rotten School, which school club would you join? a. The 3rd grade swim team, b. Nyce House Volunteer club, c. Dental Hygiene club.
Envelope 2. If you could design a fancy cool watch.. what would it be able to do? (chapter 4)
Envelope 3. Would you want to shave a letter on your head- if your friends did? if so... which letter and why? (What would the letter represent?) ( Chapter 7)
Envelope 4 If you were in an eating contest... would it be PIE or CAKE? and what flavor? (chapter 11)
Envelope 5 Would you have given up your cool watch?

Our Energy/Opening game- we tossed water balloons off my balcony.
I had half the boys on the balcony and half the boys at the bottom with buckets. The boys with the water balloons on the balcony tossed the balloons and the boys on the bottom tried to catch them in the buckets. After 5 tosses- a boy from the balcony would run down and tag a boy with a bucket and they would switch places.
Our boys are so good natured. They all wanted to get hit with water balloons- I thought they would all want to do the tossing. But it was the other way around! You can never have too many water balloons. So fill as many as you possibly can. They did not get tired of this activity- and in fact. After our discussion and dinner- we filled up MORE water balloons so they could continue until parents came for pick up!

Refreshments:
Then we had pizza- opened up the envelopes and we took turns reading the responses.
We had blueberry pie for dessert!- of course :0)
Then like I said, they were back outside for more water-balloon fun!

Geronimo Stilton Series

When our club members went to get the Geronimo Stilton books, they each wanted a different book. So we are going to let them read their own book and then report to the group what their book was about. I love it! The more they get to make the choices for their book club- the less it feels like homework and more like their club.


If each child reads a different book.

On the day of Book Club - each person brings their book and shares their "review".

I'm excited to hear the kids explain the stories they read.
We're going to snack on cheese nips, cheese sticks, have melted cheese (fondue) they can dip crackers and veggies in cheese.

Cam Jansen and Summer Camp.. by David Adler

Supply list for Games:
Ask the boys to bring their school back packs with them to book club.
HELLO- name tags- (Write the silly names on them for awards to the scavenger hunt)
Laffy taffy
Small trinkets on a tray- or cookie sheet, covered
Book Bag scavenger hunt list for each boy
Soccer Ball
Frisbee
Baseballs
Empty soda cans filled with sand or rocks

OPENING ENERGY ACTIVITY & Incentive Game
1. Host your own- “End of Camp Tournament”
Set up stations in your backyard.
Soccer Station- see how many goals they can make in a set amount of time.
Frisbee toss- how far can they toss a Frisbee.
Baseball throw- see how many cans they can hit over with the baseballs. (or tennis balls)
Let all the boys- enjoy the stations while you wait for everyone to arrive.

Start the Incentive Part of the Tournament.
Ask the boys a question- before they get an official turn to do each activity.
If they get the answer right- they get rewarded with- a full minute to make goals at the soccer station. Let every boy have a chance to answer a question and do the station. Then move to the next station. (If they answer right at other stations- the rewards could be…. They get the best out of three tosses at the Frisbee station and get three tries to knock cans over.)

ACTIVITIES AND IDEAS
Book bag Scavenger Hunt:
Have the boys grab their back packs and sit in a circle. Read off the items on the Scavenger Hunt list. The boys must hunt in their backpacks to find the items. If they have the item, they show everyone and cross off the item on their list.
Bit of food, sticker, broken crayon, bit of tape, marker, ruler, key, eraser, paper clip, glue stick, pencil, rubber band, scrap of paper, old homework, old spelling list, book , etc..
You might be surprised what they find in their back packs!

After playing the game pass out the HELLO Name tag Awards.
“Random Randy“- for the boy who had the strangest item in his back pack
“Neat Nick“- for the boy whose back pack was the cleanest
“Orderly Owen“- who didn’t have anything random
“Always Prepared Peter“- for the boy who had all the helpful items- ruler, pencil, etc..
“Clue-less Clark“- for the boy with NOTHING in his back pack!
“Oscar the Grouch“- in honor of the boy who is a pack rat like Oscar on Sesame Street.

Work on their Memory Skills- like Cam Jansen!
Bring out your tray of trinkets. Give the boys a minute to look at the tray. Then cover the tray - and remove a few items. (Without the boys seeing which items you removed.) Then place the tray back in view and ask the boys, “What is missing?”

Do they have Camera Like memories like Cam Jansen?
Let the boys take turns- removing items from the tray.
(trinkets- could be random things from your junk drawer.)


Refreshments:
Have Hot dogs or your favorite Camp Food.
For Dessert- have the boys take turns reading the jokes on the Laffy Taffy.

Conversation starters:
Have you ever been to a Summer Camp?
Who is your favorite character? Who are you most like?
What was your favorite part of the book?
What surprised you?
Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it to a friend?
If not- what would have made it better?

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Supply list for Games:
Pkg of balloons
String or yarn
Cowboy Hat

OPENING ENERGY ACTIVITY
Wild Horses Balloon Stomp
As book club members arrive, tie a balloon onto one ankle of each child. Boys try to pop other people’s balloons by stomping- while trying to protect their own balloon. Once their balloon is popped, boys can tie another balloon onto their ankle. Continue until all balloons are gone and only one boy and balloon are left.

ACTIVITIES AND IDEAS
LUCKY HORSE-SHOE SNACK
Ingredients:
Box of Favorite cereal
1 bag of Large Marshmallows
1 stick of Butter
Cooking Spray
Wax paper
Melt a bag of large marshmallows and butter in a sauce pan on low heat. Pour in box of cereal- stir until coated with “Mellow” mixture. Spray hands with Cooking Spray and carefully mold into “horse-shoe” shape on the wax paper. ( if you take two handfuls- using both hands it’s easier to do this.) Let cool. Be careful- as the cereal mixture is HOT. This is quick work and should be done BEFORE book club by an adult. (These are rice crispi treats molded into horse-shoe shapes.)

CONVERSATION STARTERS:

Did you like hearing the story through the eyes of the horse?
Have you ever thought what it would be like to be an animal?
What animal would you want to be?
What was your favorite part of the book?
What surprised you?
Who was your favorite character?
Who did you relate to?
Did you enjoy the book?
If not- what would have made it better?

Book & Movie group- Buy or rent Black Beauty and compare and contrast the book with the video. Boys are eager to point out , “Hey that’s not how it happened!“ or “ Why did they skip that part from the book?” After the movie ask: Did you like the book better or the movie? Were they exactly the same? Why do you think they change parts?

ADDED INCENTIVES:
BEFORE the movie. Pass out a questionnaire about the book and let them earn “MOVIE BUCKS” for each right answer. Have a “Concession Stand” - that the boys can redeem their Movie Bucks for snacks to munch on during the movie.

Here are some sample questions:
What was the Name of Black Beauty’s horse friend?( Merry legs &/or Ginger)
What are “Blinkers” and why are they dangerous? ( Blinkers block the side vision of horses. They are dangerous because Horses can’t see very well and at times get in accidents.)
How did Black Beauty get his name? (Black- because of his color, and Beauty because of his sweet face.)
How did Black Beauty let his master know the bridge was not safe? ( He would not cross it.)

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman

Supply list:
Pennies
Bag of Balloons- prepare the balloons before book club by placing a penny inside each balloon an blow it up.
Rolled up clean socks (enough for each boy to have 2-3)
Baked Potatoes with toppings
OPENING ENERGY ACTIVITY:
Juggling Practice:
While waiting for all the boys to arrive have a bunch of rolled up socks ready for boys to practice “juggling”. Ask them what they would do to earn money if they lived during the time of Jemmy and Prince Brat.

Rat Catching
When all the boys have arrived- explain that they have 30 seconds to “catch” as many “rats” as they can. (Really, they get a balloon & pop it and keep the penny. ) Let the boys run and chase & hopefully get the wiggles out!


Captain Nips Potato Bar
Baked potatoes ( enough for each member of book club)
Provide toppings:
Shredded cheese
Steamed broccoli
Butter
Salt & Pepper
Sour Cream
Chili
Let the boys top their own baked potatoes to their fancy!

Book & Movie group- Buy or rent The Whipping Boy.
BEFORE you assign the book, invite the boys over to introduce the book and “wet their interest”… show the first ---- minutes of the movie. This preview- will help the boys envision the time period, the customs & costumes, the manner of speaking and basic plot of the book.
Also introduce some vocabulary words that they will encounter.
Then- on your official book club night, let the boys watch the full movie and compare and contrast the book with the video. Boys are eager to point out , “Hey that’s not how it happened!“ or “ Why did they skip that part from the book?” After the movie ask: Did you like the book better or the movie? Were they exactly the same? Why do you think they change parts?

Vocabulary Match game.
CONVERSATION STARTERS:
What was your favorite part of the book?
What did you think of Prince Brat’s life? Would you want to be a Prince?
Why didn’t the bag guys think the Prince was the REAL prince?
Who was your favorite character?

Did you enjoy the book?
If not- what would have made it better?

Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo

Things to gather for this Book club meeting:
Pictures of the Sistine chapel.
Pocket knife and permission from parents
Bar of soap for each boy.
(Check out whittling books from library for examples, pictures, safety tips and ideas. You could ask around and see if any Scout leaders in your area know how to whittle this is an achievement for BEARS in cub scouts.- have them come and demonstrate. I am not a whittling expert so I am going to do this.)
Mac-n-cheese for snack
Reward for the incentive game: gum balls. (In the book they talk about "eight ball gum".)

ENERGY & INCENTIVE GAME:
Set up an obstacle course- could be a simple route as run around the mailbox and back or as complex as you would like with props. Have the boys run through the course and back- first three get to answer questions and win a gumball if they answer right. If they answer wrong... another boy can answer and win a gum ball. Ask three questions and set them off running again. Repeat until all questions are asked. (Make it so all the boys have a chance to answer questions. That might mean, making the fastest 3 boys sit out on the last few runs.)

Where does Rob Horton live? In a Hotel/motel
What is the name of the hotel? Kentucky Star
Why is it named that? It is named after a horse the owner once had.
Why does Sistine dress the way she does?
Bullies- how does Rob deal with bullies?- he doesn't fight back, he waits for them to get bored and leave him alone or he runs.
How does Sistine deal with bullies?- She fights them, sometimes she even starts the fights first.
What does Robs father think he should do? fight back
What would you do?
Why does Rob and his father eat Mac-n-cheese a lot? Robs mom died and that is about all his father knows how to cook.
Why does Rob get kicked out of school? the rash on his legs.
What kind of jobs does Rob do around the Motel? Sweeping, cleaning up, weeding, feeding the tiger...
Who is Willie May? Motel housekeeper
How does Willie May explain the rash on Robs legs? sadness bottled up inside
What is Sistine secret? Why is she mad all the time? Her father left her and her mother.
What is Robs "suitcase"? What does he keep inside it?= He bottles up all his feelings, keeps all his feelings inside- like packing them inside a suitcase so he won't feel ...sad.. or happy.
Sistine was willing to do what to miss school? Rub her hands on Robs legs and try to catch his rash. What would you do?
Why doesn't Rob wish on stars? He's afraid he starts wishing... he'll never be able to stop.
What are some things Rob is sad about? His mom dying, his rash, moving, not having friends, any thoughtful answer is right.
Beauchamp didn't name the tiger- what would you name it? or Would you name it? any answer is correct.
Willie May describes Sistine and Rob by emotions... what two emotions? Angry and sorrow What emotion would she use to describe you?
What did Willie May mean- when she said the Tiger rising up out of the cage and how Robs sadness needed to rise up out of his legs. What do you think that means? Rob needs to let the hurt go... and so he thinks he needs to let the tiger go too.
What happened to the tiger in the end of the book? Rob's dad shot it.

Now that the boys are good and tired- let them chew their gum. (I wouldn't let them chew it while running the course- they might choke.)

ACTIVITY:
Sit the boys down and talk about Whittling.
Stress the importance of listening and following instructions while using the pocket knives.
Let the boys work on their soap or wood.

SNACK:
Mac n cheese
You can talk more about the book while they snack.
Show them the pictures of the Sistine Chapel. Did they know what that was before?

Talk about topics mentioned in the book: Boys might not want to talk about their feeling-
or bullies. But this might be a good opportunity to help boys see their options if they have ever been bullied.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Summary from book: These guys are not your average neighbors. Unless you live on Alcatraz. It's 1935 and twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan and his family have just moved to the infamous island that's home to criminals like notorious escapee Roy Gardner, Machine Gun Kelly and of course, Al Capone. But that's just the beginning of Moose's troubles because on Alcatraz the kids are all cowed by the clever, danger- loving daughter of the warden, Piper Williams. Now Moose has to try to fit in at his new school, avoid getting caught up in one of Piper's countless schemes and keep an eye on his sister, Natalie, who's not like other kids. All Moose wants to do is protect Natalie, live up to his parents' expectations and stay out of trouble. But on Alcatraz, trouble is never very far away.

Basic Outline:
Make Book club T-shirts
Prepare a ‘treasure hunt’
Bowling or play baseball

I pre-washed the T-shirts, used fabric paint-diluted with water, and clear contact paper to make the stripes. Super easy T-shirt. Use a sponge to apply dye to exposed T-shirt. Let dry- remove the contact paper and you have a white/grey striped shirt. (I always put a flattened cereal box inside each shirt so the dye doesn't bleed to other side. )

Prepare:
Book Club T-shirts
Check out my blog for complete directions. T-shirts really help the boys get excited and feel apart of a real club. Making a book club T-shirt for the year is a great way to get boys excited, they also will come in helpful when you go on field trips as a book club.
You can have the boys make the T-shirts as part of your meeting. Play baseball or catch while you wait for paint to dry. Because we were crunched for time this month, I made the T-shirts, sent the boys on a treasure hunt to find them, then we went bowling.

With fabric paint- add serial numbers and book club name on the back of each shirt!

Energy & Incentive Game
Treasure Hunt- Book Club style
For my treasure hunt I used the following questions and placed them in the mentioned hiding spots. Boys collect the questions/clues. For each right answer they learn a letter and come closer to finding out where their treasure lies.
I hid the book club t-shirts in our dryer. My boys figured out the hiding spot after the two letters D- R… so NEXT time I’m going to have my answers be symbols (star, diamond, heart, etc…) They learn a symbol after each answer and THEN have to decode the results. Boys are clever and cunning!

QUESTION ONE (hidden in the microwave)
The Main Character Moose has a sister who is a little different. What are some of Nathalie’s favorite things?
B- She likes to sing and paint
H- She likes to draw and read
D- she likes to count and eat lemon cake

QUESTION TWO (hidden on our back fence gate)
Moose is new to San Francisco, but he does make some new friends at school who like to play his favorite game. Who is his friend and what game is it?
A- Piper and he likes to play Go Water!
R- Scout and he likes to play baseball!
E- Alex and he plays soccer!

QUESTION THREE (hidden under our mailbox)
Why does Moose change his mind about helping Piper with the Laundry plan? (Piper wants to have kids pay them to get their clothes washed by the inmates in Alcatraz. At first he says no, but then he changes his mind.)
y- Piper promises to not make a big deal about Natalie and how she is different. If she makes a big deal- the warden might make Moose and his family move.
T- Piper promises to give him half the money. Moose wants money so he can call his old friends.
I- Piper promises not to tell the warden that Moose stole a baseball from Alcatraz.

QUESTION FOUR (hidden on our hose)
Why does Moose WANT to talk to the Warden. What problem is Moose trying to help solve?
P- Moose promised Scout he would find a baseball for him, but he hasn’t found one yet. He is wondering if the Warden can give him one.
E- Moose wants to ask the Warden to help get his sister in a special school for kids like Natalie. The Warden knows lots of people who might be able to help.
H- Moose wants to tattle on Piper. She is trying to communicate with the inmates and Moose doesn’t want to get in trouble AGAIN like the laundry business. Piper even tried to talk to Al Capone’s MOTHER! She is always causing problems.

QUESTION FIVE (hidden on our hockey net)
Who ended up helping Natalie get into the private and special school?
W- The warden - he called and made the arrangements.
R- Moose asked Al Capone to ask some of his connections to arrange Natalie to get into the private school.
N- Natalie got in on her own. She worked hard with Miss Kelly.

Let these questions start a conversation about the book. What parts did the boys like? Did they predict what 105 meant the first time Natalie said it? Would you want to live on Alcatraz?

Activity:
Then we went bowling. (My boys like bowling and we have a game center walking distance from our house.) But your club could play baseball instead.

And if you live near San Francisco.. you've got to go visit Alcatraz as a Boys Book Club Field trip! YOU MUST!

Spiderwick Series

We are loved this series! This book club idea is just for the first book. Once the boys finish the series we are going to go see the movie in the theater. I just wanted to reward them for starting the series and hopefully encourage them to continue on!

Our Energy Activity/ Quiz

I quickly sketched some pictures of Mallory/ Jared & Simon and stapled them onto three near by trees. (uh- labeled with their names... so the kids could identify them. :0) I then asked the kids questions about the story and they had to run to the person who was the right answer. If they answered wrong... they had to take a lap around the three trees.

Questions:
Who would most likely be a lion tamer when they grow up? (Simon)
Who made the hole in the kitchen wall? ( Mallory)
Who took the first object out of the wall? (Mallory- her fencing metal.)
Who was the first up the dumbwaiter? (Jared)
Who was the first to be pranked by the house brownie? (Mallory)
Who found the field guide? (Jared)
Who was fencing outside when Jared was reading the field guide? (Mallory and Simon)
Who poured flour on the kitchen floor? (Jared)
Who threatened to rip the book in half? (Mallory)
Whose idea was it to make a new home for the boggart? (Jared)
Who wrote the note to go into the bird house? (Mallory)

Next we went inside to make our "houses". We used milk cartons, pipe cleaners, feathers, buttons, glue, etc.. to decorate the inside. (I used a knife to cut windows and a door- I wanted to avoid any emergency trips to the hospital.)

Once your group has finished the series. Host another book club and watch the movie. Compare and contrast the movie to the book. My boys were disappointed in the end. They really wanted to see the battle with the Dwarfs and Mulgaraths fortress. What a great lesson for them to learn- that often the BOOK is BETTER than the movie! So if you like a certain movie- you should read the book... because the book will often continue and deepen the plot & characters they already know and love.)

Just a funny story: As you know my boys are reluctant to read. They normally don't read for fun. It is either for school or for book club- usually for both!

But once my boys started this series they were fighting over the books to finish.

(literally)

One morning my two oldest boys were fighting on their way out the door on their way to school. I couldn't follow the argument- so I asked them what they were fighting about?

Son #1 wanted to take the Spiderwick #2 book to school, but son #2 had it in his backpack already.

Son #2 argument was- he was almost done and could finish it.

My eldest countered that HE had more time to read during school since he had already finished his Social Studies project...

I was just stunned and stood speechless. Never in a million years would I have imagined them arguing over a book. What really surprised me was a few hours later- the school called. " You needed to pick your son up from school- he doesn't feel well."

I brought son #2 home, suspicious of his symptoms... and sent him to bed.

He spent the WHOLE day reading.. and by the time his brother came home from school he was onto book #4! What a sneaky stinker! They are not in any way competitive. :0)

How To Eat Fried Worms

Summary: Billy is always being dared to do crazy things - but has he bitten off more than he can chew with this new dare to eat 15 worms in 15 days? And we're not talking tiny worms. We're talking the big, fat, juicy night crawlers. If he wins? Well his friend Alan has to fork over 5o dollars! Would you for $50? Good news for Billy is as he gets going, he actually starts getting hooked on worms, bad news is Alan is busy cooking up schemes to Billy will bail out of the bet.


Basic Outline:
Energy Game: Tape a name of a character from the book, on the back of a boy. Then play CHASE! The boy with the name (taped on his back) chase around other boys- if they tag them they get to ask one question about the name on their back. They are no longer "it" when they guess correctly the name. The last boy caught- now gets a new name taped on his back and he has to chase boys to to ask questions.

Snack/Meal:
Hot dogs cut up in strips and microwaved... so they curl up to look like WORMS! Have an assortment of condiments so boys can fix their own plates of worms.

Activity: Watch the movie and compare and contrast the book to movie.
One thing the boys will notice from the start is there is a GIRL in the movie!

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single engine plane in which he is flying in- crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother has given him as a present. With only the dreadful secret that caused his parent's divorce to keep him company Brian has no time for anger, self-pity, or despair. It will take all his know -how and determination and more courage than he knew he possessed to survive.

If you have scouters this series would be great for Boys learning camping skills, the Boy Scouts Mountaineering Merit Badge and Hiking Requirements pg 263, Webelos Outdoorsman Hiking requirements pg 362, or page 107 for Bears- go on a Hike with your family.

Basic Outline

Energy Game: Host a Camp Out or Go on a Hike.

Snack: MRE meal, smores over a fire/ or grill

Review the book while you eat

Activity: Assemble Personal First Aid Kits

Energy: Let the boys set up camp. Give them tarps, cords, and construct their own shelter. Is it waterproof? Is there enough room for all the boys? This could be for an actual camp-out or just an activity for the evening.

If you go on a hike- bring your MRE meal along. Stop some point to rest- eat and review the book out in nature!

Review Book:

Some Topics from the Book

First Aid- What would you do if.... someone was having a heart attack? If someone got hit by a car? If a friend fell down while skateboarding and broke his wrist? Review some possible situations.

Positive Thinking vs Self Pity- what was more productive for Brian? What are some examples of this in the book? (pg 82) How do struggles and trials make you stronger? Have the boys share some examples.

How important is Fire? Have you ever thought about that before? What does having fire mean to Brian?

"Important Firsts"- Brian remembers important First lessons he's learned. Do you have any important firsts? First time you learned how to ride a bike? First time water skiing? etc..

Take Home Activity: First Aid Kits

Have items :

Adhesive bandages

sterile gauze pads 3x3

adhesive tape

soap

antiseptic

scissors

pencil and paper

bag to hold items- could be a school binder pencil pocket with zipper.

(If your boys are in Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts use their books as references. Boy Scout handbook: 287 First Aid, BEARS pg 96, Webelo pg 367. Boys can pass off electives during book club activities!)

Our camp out turned into a "camp in" because of weather. We let the boys try their hand at a Bow & arrow- knocking down cardboard rabbits and played board games.

If your boys liked Hatchet- be sure to follow Brian's adventures in Brian's Winter, The River and Brian's Hunt.

Frindle by Andrew Clements

Brief Outline:
Make Book Club t-shirts for the year.
Play chess
Book Talk

Make Book Club t-shirts for the year
This is a fun activity that is keeps the boys busy while you wait for all boys to arrive. Book club T-shirts help the boys feel like they are apart of a real club. Plus they come in handy for future book club field trips.

( I used pre-washed White-T shirts and prepared the shirts with fabric paint and a sliced potato to make the face shapes. That way, on book club day boys just decorated their face with eyes, hair, optional hat. The trick is .. they had to decorate a face on each T-shirt! So I set it up in an assembly line. Half the boys worked on shirts while the other half played Chess. As T-shirt boys finished up they rotated and played chess. Everyone had a turn to play chess & decorate faces on each shirt.)

Play Chess
I was surprised. I didn't think my 9 year old would be able to sit still long enough to learn the rules of Chess but he loves it! As boys arrive- I sent them to the T-shirt station first. Only 2-3 boys at the T-shirt so the remainder of them played Chess first. If you don't have a chess set- don't worry. I found a site that has printable pieces and game boards. Make enough so each boy can take a set home and play with his family!
Printable Chess: www.derose.net/steve/resources/papers

(Below is what the print outs look like: )

(The boys in my group are also in Cub Scouts- learning to play Chess is an Academic Belt Loop. So not only did they learn a new game, have fun at book club, they also earned a belt loop in scouting! Check out the requirements for belt loops on http://www.scouting.org/CubScouts/Awards/Adults/sanda.aspx.)

Book Talk
After everyone has had a chance to complete their faces on all the T-shirts and play chess, I gathered them around to talk about the book. (I made "Muddy Buddies", but you can provide chips, cheese & crackers, pretzels, just light finger foods to snack on while boys discuss.)

Is Mrs. Granger a hard teacher? a strict teacher compared to yours?
Do you have to do your homework right after school like Nick? Let the boys talk about when they do homework.
What inspired Nick to make up a new word? Have you ever made up a word? (If one of your boys has younger siblings ask them to share about words babies make up.)
Do you think Nick did anything wrong or disrespectful?
After the boys have played a little chess- ask them to compare the struggle with Nick and making/using the word "frindle" to a chess game. Does that make more sense now?(pg 54) You can read or have one of the boys read this section of the book.
Were you surprised in the end that Mrs. Granger was really trying to help Nick all along? Do you believe that? How did she help him along?