Mary Margaret and the Perfect Pet Plan

Teacher’s Guide for                                           

Mary Margaret and the Perfect Pet Plan
By Christine Kole MacLean

Prediction Guide: Answer these questions at the end of each chapter to help build your comprehension. Remember- right answers don’t matter! What fun would it be to read if you already knew what would happen? Make guesses based on what you’ve learned about the characters, the setting and what you know about stories.

Pre-reading:

What do you think the main problem will be in this story? Why do you think so? What do you think will happen in the end?

Chapter 1

1. What will her mother say about Lester?
2. Will Mary Margaret be able to find Lester?

Chapter 2

1. Will Andy and Mary Margaret become best friends? Why or why not?
2. What type of pet do you think Mary Margaret wants most? Why?

Chapter 3

1. Will JT help Mary Margaret get a pet?
2. Why do you think her mom doesn’t want a pet?

Chapter 4

1. Will her dad get sick from Lester?
2. Will her mom be less crabby after the baby comes?
3. What is up between JT and Duff?

Chapter 5                                                                                

1. Will JT tell on Mary Margaret?
2. What will he make her do so he doesn’t?
   
    

Chapter 6

1. What could the secret be?
2. Will JT figure out that Mary Margaret snooped? How?

Chapter 7

1. Will Duff and JT stay friends?
2. What is Mary Margaret’s idea?

Chapter 8

1. Will Andy keep being Mary Margaret’s friend? Why?
2. Will Mary Margaret blab that JT is sewing for her?

Chapter 9

1. Will Mary Margaret sell a lot of #2 totes?
2. What will she name the baby?

Chapter 10

1. Will Mary Margaret ever snoop again?
2. What do you think this means (the last sentences of the chapter): “Which is a fib. Because he actually says quite a bit about JT.”

Chapter 11

1. What will they do with the rest of the summer?
2. Will they continue to make and sell #2 Totes?

Chapter 12

1. What do you think she’s getting for her birthday?
2. Will Mary Margaret ever get a pet she really wants? When?

Chapter 13

1. Will Mary Margaret accept the baby?
2. Will she lose her temper again or will she be better now that she has said how she feels to her mom?

Chapter 14

1. Why won’t they get to sleep outside in the tent?
2. What kinds of things will Mary Margaret get away with after the baby comes?

Chapter 15

1. Will JT save the rabbit?
2. Will JT and Duff ever be friends again?

Chapter 16

1. Will Duff go back to Mike and Kevin?
2. Will Mary Margaret like the baby more in a year?

Chapter 17

1. What do you think the title of this chapter means?
2. Will Eliza ever get over her colic?

Chapter 18

1. Do you think Mary Margaret will get a dog too? Why or why not?
2. Will she like her sister more and more?

 

Comprehension Guide for

Mary Margaret and the Perfect Pet Plan
By Christine Kole MacLean

                                                                            

Knowledge:

1. Describe Mary Margaret in your own words.
2. Make a chart with each character’s name and a description of them from the book.

Comprehension:

1. List five key events from the story in the order they appear.
2. Explain what is going on in JT’s life.

Application:

1. Write five interview questions you would like to ask Mary Margaret.
2. Draw a picture of your favorite scene.

Analyze:

1. Compare JT and Mary Margaret.
2. Predict what Mary Margaret will be when she grows up. Explain your answer.

Synthesize:

1. What would happen if you (like Mary Margaret):
   1. Told your Grandpa that you didn’t like his birthday gift?
   2. Brought a rat home without asking?
   3. Logged into your brothers journal without permission?

Evaluation:

1. Decide what happens after the book closes.
2. What is your favorite part of the story? Why?

Multiple Intelligence Projects for

Mary Margaret and the Perfect Pet Plan 
By Christine Kole MacLean

                                                                            

Verbal/ Linguistic:

Mary Margaret and her brother sometimes speak in code by dropping all the letters off words except the first one. (an example: KWIM for know what I mean) Create a code like this for your most common phrases and make a handbook so people can understand you. IWBF  (It will be fun!)

-or-

Mary Margaret loves to write little poems about what is going on around her. Write three poems inspired by this spunky character about what is happening around you.

-or-

Write a pamphlet about your dream pet. Find out everything there is to know about owning such an animal like food requirements, training, vet costs, housing needs, exercise and where you can find one.

Logical/ Mathematical:

Math worksheet below

Visual/ Spatial:

Design a bedroom for Mary Margaret. Choose colors, tell what her comforter would look like, what posters she might have- even the toys and books that would be sitting on her shelf. A really fun way to do this project is to cut out pictures from ads and magazines. Or, use a shoebox and make a miniature of her room with found objects.

Body/ Kinesthetic:

Play charades, acting out these scenes from the book (with no words!)

Losing the rat

Camping in the backyard

Selling #2 Totes

Capture of the rabbit

Snooping on the computer

Doing unnecessary chores

Losing her temper in the parking lot

Musical/ Rhythmic:

In small groups, write a song about Mary Margaret or the events in the story to the tune of one of these songs (then sing them aloud for all to enjoy!):

B-I-N-G-O

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Three Blind Mice

Interpersonal:

Write a letter from Mary Margaret to her Grandpa after the birthday incident. Pretend like they didn’t resolve things while at the farm.

Intrapersonal:

Draw an emotional timeline for Mary Margaret. Show the ups and downs in her emotions and make a note as to what causes them. (The chart should look similar to a heart monitor chart!)

Teacher’s guide prepared by: www.TracieVaughnZimmer.com

Visit and find more guides to children’s literature!

Mary Margaret Mathematics:

                                                                                               

In small groups solve these word problems:

1. If it costs Mary Margaret $17.00 to buy the fabric to make #2 Totes, how many will she have to sell at $5.00 a piece to make a profit? Explain how you got your answer…

2. What if JT decides that because he sews the bags for her that he should get a cut of the profits? So, if JT wants $2.00 for every bag sold, and it costs two dollars for the materials for each bag how many bags will she have to sell to make a profit?

3. Mrs. Fufetti has decided that she simply must buy ten #2 leopard print Totes for all her friends in the gardening club. It takes a half a yard of fabric to make five totes. A yard of fabric costs $4.95 a yard. How much will it cost Mary Margaret to make the totes?

4. Mary Margaret wants a new bowl set for her pet. It costs $13.99 at the pet store. How many totes will she have to sell to go buy it?

Even Firefighters Hug Their Moms

by Christine Kole MacLean

Illustrated by Mike Reed

Pre-reading

What do you think this book is about? What do you think the two children are playing on the front? What’s wrong with the teddy on the back?

Knowledge:

What are the jobs the kids pretend to have?

What are your favorite things to play pretend?

Comprehension:

What things from the house do the kids use to set up their make believe play?

Could you use these things at your house?

Application

Choose your favorite page. Why is it your favorite?

What do you think the kids would use if they wanted to play cowboy?

Analyze

What else could you use to dress up like an astronaut?

Who tells this story?

Synthesis

What would you like to be when you grow up?

What types of things does that person use in his or her job?

Evaluation

What do you think happens after the book ends?

Which game would you most like to play with the boy and his sister? Why?

Multiple Intelligence Projects for

Even Firefighters Hug their Moms

by Christine Kole MacLean

Illustrated by Mike Reed

Verbal/ Linguistic

Pretend you are a news reporter, and report on one of the incidents in the story. For example, how did the fire get started? Interview the firefighters who rescued the family. How is the family doing now? Report live from the scene! Use a “microphone” and maybe even your mom or dad can be your camera crews to capture the news live!

Logical/ Mathematical

Count how many times these things appear in the book:

pink pig

teddy bear

pacifier

purple dinosaur

American flag

radio

Visual/ Spatial

Supplies: Paper, yarn, straws

Directions: Precut circular and rectangular shapes from construction paper. Have kids glue the precut shapes on to a piece of construction paper to look like a fire truck. Add yarn or string for the fire hose and use straws to make a ladder.

Body/Kinesthetic

Act out all the scenes from the book as your mom reads them aloud. Then, invent your own scene in the job that you want to do when you grow up.

Musical/ Rhythmic

 Sing these fun songs, or make up a new one on your favorite job.

Sing to the tune: "I'm A Little Teapot"

I am a fireman dressed in red.
With my fire hat on my head.
I can drive the fire truck, fight fire too,
And help make things safe for you.

Sing to the tune:  "3 Blind Mice"

9-1-1, 9-1-1,
Help's on the way, help's on the way.
If I need help, I know what to do,
I can call the police and the firehouse, too,
It makes me feel safe to know what to do.
Dial 9-1-1.

Interpersonal:

Cooperative learning.

Play school, with one child being the teacher and the other(s) being students. Take turns teaching friends about things you already know. Use a chalkboard or wipe board if possible. Pass out stickers, “read” aloud, and have fun!

In the Kitchen:

Make these yummy building logs:

Ingredients: 1/3 cup peanut butter, 3 tablespoons honey, 1/2 cup crushed corn flakes, 1/2
cup quick oatmeal, 1/4 cup dry milk, chocolate sprinkles, measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, wooden spoon, baking sheet

Place the peanut butter and honey in a mixing bowl and mix well with the
wooden spoon. Add the corn flakes, oatmeal and milk to the peanut butter
mixture and mix well. Pinch off a small amount of the dough mixture. Roll the
small amount of dough into 2-inch-long by 1/2-inch-wide logs. Place the
sprinkles on the baking sheet. Roll the logs in sprinkles. Stack the logs on a
plate on top of one another in a building formation. Serve the building as a snack!