Lucy Rose Series

Lucy Rose

 About the series:

Lucy Rose is very unique, except she’d be the first to tell you that is not the right thing to say because you either are unique or not but you can’t be very unique— though if someone would qualify Lucy Rose would be it. First, there’s Lucy Rose’s fashion sense. She likes color- pink, orange, yellow green it all looks good on her, especially on the same day. Plus, she likes words. Lucy Rose collects palindromes and words that knock her colorful socks off. But Lucy Rose is worried about some things too, like the fact that her parents are separated and how she lives in Washington, D.C. 500 miles away from her dad and old friends. Plus it’s not easy being the new girl or trying to make new friends but Lucy Rose is a girl that will face the challenge with her red boots on!  Melonhead, one of Lucy Rose’s new friends, begins his own series through the crazy antics that only nine-year-old boys are capable of creating!

Here’s the Thing About Me:

In the opening book in the series we meet Lucy Rose who is spunky, a smart cookie, and maybe just a little bit of a handful! She’s just moved to Washington, D.C. but only with her mom since her parents have decided to separate. She’s not thrilled about that idea, at all. But Lucy is making the best of it with her one-of-a-kind spark.

Pre-reading: Lucy has just moved. Have you ever had to move? What do you think are the most difficult things about moving away? Is there any way to make it easier on kids?

During reading:

1. List five things that you think are most important to know about Lucy Rose.

2. Create a character map with these parts: family, friends, description, what she says, what she does. At the end of each chapter add more to the chart and then discuss it as a class.

3. Write a letter to a friend (or to your teacher) about the story. Would you like to be friends with Lucy Rose? What

After reading:

Brainstorm a list of things Lucy Rose learns during her first year in Washington, D.C.

Make a list of things you’ve learned this year at school, too.

Lucy Rose writes emails and letters to her dad and grandmother. Write an email or letter to someone in your family about Lucy Rose or some other topic that is important for you.

 Big on Plans:

It is summer and Lucy Rose is trying to fill her days by making a lanyard keychain and solving her grandfather’s problem with squirrels. But there’s an even bigger problem that goes by the name of Ashley, the new girl who is so snarky! Plus, Lucy is trying to stop her parents from deciding on a divorce. That is a whole lot of problems for one girl in one summer but Lucy Rose will give it her all!

Pre-reading: What activities do you most like to do in the summer? Do you ever get bored in the summer?

During Reading:

1. Fill out the following chart about the characters from Lucy Rose: Big on Plans

Character:	Most Important Thing to Know About this person:	How you learned it And what page:
Lucy Rose
Mom
Dad
Madam
Pop
Jonique
Melonhead
Ashley

2. As you read, make a list of the words that are new to you. Then try to use them as you are speaking that day or even in a sentence that you write. Or make a chart where you rate the words: never heard it, sounds familiar, could give a definition, could use in a sentence.

3. Lucy Rose, Melonhead, and Jonique are trying to solve Madam and Pop’s ultimate squirrel problem in the apricot tree. As you read, place a sticky note over the cause and effects of this adventure. Remember that everything that has an action has a reaction. Discuss the results as a class

After reading:

Create a Venn diagram that compares Ashley to Lucy Rose. What (if anything) do they have in common? How are they different?

Keep a journal inspired by Lucy Rose’s. Record at least one entry for each day. Don’t just describe what you did (though that’s a nice start!) but what you think, feel, remember, and wonder, too!

Busy Like You Can’t Believe:

It’s the beginning of 4^th grade for Lucy Rose and that comes with lots of new adventures including trying to get along with Ashley and trying out for the play of Annie. And while she’s certain she’ll get the lead in the play (she has red hair after all, not to mention wads of talent) she’s not sure she can get along with that Ashley! One thing Lucy is sure of is that she wants to know what is going on and she has figured out a most excellent way of knowing: eavesdropping.

Pre-reading:

Do you know what eavesdropping is? Do you think it is a good idea or not?

During Reading:

Good readers always make predictions about what will happen next in a story. They base those predictions on what they know about stories, the characters, and thinking about the clues that have been given. At the end of each chapter of Lucy Rose write a prediction about what you think might happen next. Remember that it is not important that you’re right (after all readers love to be surprised!) but it’s important to try to figure it out!

Create a bookmark by folding a piece of paper in half lengthwise (or use an index card). On it list all the things Lucy learns while she’s eavesdropping on her mom and friends.  At the end of the novel, go back through and decide what Lucy Rose learned in the end about all those pieces of information!

Inspired by Adam Rex’s illustrations create a sketch of another scene in the novel. On the back explain why you picked this scene.

After reading:

Write a short reader’s theater script from your favorite scene in the book and act it out for the class. (Lucy Rose would be so impressed!)

Create a poster (like the one Lucy Rose made about the play!) only make this one about the book! Convince readers why they would like this story with your poster.

Working Myself to Pieces and Bits

Lucy Rose is one smart cookie or maybe even a cupcake! Jonique’s family is getting ready to open a bakery only it is a lot more work and money than they ever expected. What will they do?  Leave it to Lucy Rose to come up with a plan to Save the Day! While Lucy Rose does everything she can to raise money for the cause, Ashley does everything she can to make Lucy Rose miserable, especially calling her Mrs. Melonhead! How will Lucy handle Ashley and the pressure to succeed?

Pre-reading:

Have you ever tried to raise money? How can kids earn money? How do you think Lucy Rose might attempt it?

During reading:

1. As you read find quotes that you think are important to understanding the story or the characters. On the left hand side add the quote and on the right add your response. Think about connections to your life or other books, memories, your thoughts about the writing itself or to things you’ve learned. Ex: “Grown-ups can be a disappointing lot” (p. 123)
2. A summary is a short statement about the most important parts of a story. After you read each chapter write a short summary about what happened during that chapter. Be sure to focus on only the most important parts of the story.
3. Make a list of all the ways people earn money in the story. Then discuss which jobs or schemes you’d most like to get involved in.

After reading:

Write a letter to Katy Kelly about what you learned by reading Lucy Rose’s stories. How did you feel about Ashley’s behavior? How would you try to raise money for friends? Would you have refused to walk with Melonhead too?

Lucy Rose makes Mrs. Hennessy a “Things to Remember” book with important pictures. Create a similar book for Alzheimer’s patients in your own town or come up with another idea that will amuse retired friends in a home. (Ex: write your own books or have a performance for them)

Create a piece of art that you think Lucy Rose would love. You can use any media you prefer (sculpture, paint, chalk, etc.) but you need to explain your choice of material, color and shape in a brief artist’s statement you turn in with the project.

Melonhead

Lucy Rose, one of Adam Melon’s good friends, gave him his preferred nickname: Melonhead. And while Melonhead’s mom is not thrilled about it he certainly is! Melonhead loves shortcuts, snakes, and inventing though all three get him into some interesting situations, and maybe a wee bit of trouble, too. And Melonhead is having some trouble trying to decide what type of contraption might win him a trip to the Challenge America finals for an original invention reusing everyday materials- if it doesn’t get him grounded first!

Pre-reading:

Have you ever tried to invent something? What do you think are the steps to making an invention?

During reading:

1.Readers get to know characters by studying what they say, what they do, how others react or talk to them, and what they look like. Fill out the following chart about Melonhead himself!

Description	What he says	What he does	How others react

2. Create a diagram or chart which lists the experiments and what Sam and Melonhead learned from each attempt for the Challenge America contest.

3. Since good readers always make predictions about what is going to happen next, write a question at the end of each chapter about what you hope will be answered. For example: I wonder if Melonhead will get out of the tree?

After reading:

Why, try a Challenge American invention for yourself, of course! Remember what Mr. Santalices said: try to create something new, original, and useful.

Melonhead wants to keep the snake he found but he’s not even sure what it needs at first to survive. Research the needs of your dream pet and calculate how much it would cost to not only purchase the pet but provide for him for one year.

Diaper Science: Get a variety of diaper brands and reenact the experiment that Sam and Melonhead conduct in the bathroom. What are your findings?

Indian Shoes

Multiple Intelligence projects
Indian Shoes by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Verbal/ Linguistic
Reread your favorite chapter from Indian Shoes, then write a short story about a special time you shared with a grandparent or other adult. Like the author, be sure you give each of your characters a chance to speak for themselves. This is called dialogue, and it makes a story seem more real for the reader. It feels like you’re walking along with them, listening in. Try it!
Logical/ Mathematical
Fill in the chart on the provided page. In the first row, explain what the main idea of that chapter was. Then, in the corresponding character blocks fill in what part that person played in the event. An example is done for you.
Visual/ Spatial (This project would make a terrific bulletin board when complete)
In The Accident, Ray’s picture gets ruined because of Bandit. Paint a picture of your home, just like he did, and instead of on accident, pour a Dixie cup full of water over it on purpose. Then, after it dries, cut it into the shape of a shoe that best represents you or your family (ex: ballet slippers, moccasins, baseball cleats, cowboy boots, in-line skates, ice skates, etc.)
Body/ Kinesthetic
A chapter is made of small events called scenes. Usually a scene will switch so the story can move along. Here are the main scenes from the first chapter in Indian Shoes:
in the antique store
at the Cub’s game
back at the antique store
outside the antique store
Now, go through each chapter and list the scenes. Then, as a class, assign a scene to small groups to act them out. It doesn’t have to be exactly like the book, but it should stick to the flavor of it. Practice for a couple days, and then put on a play of the whole book!
Musical/ Rhythmic
In several instances the author describes the sound Ray and Grandpa Halfmoon hear. For example, in chapter one “rat-a-tat-a- clang” is the sound of a trash can band, and “ka-smack” for the sound of a homerun hit. This is called ONOMATOPOEIA. It is when you try to make the sounds match the letters of the alphabet. Throughout your day, try to write ten onomatopoeia words that represent sounds you hear. Be sure to write down what it is!
Interpersonal
Ray and Grandpa Halfmoon always consider each other’s feelings before they decide how to act. For example, when Grandpa is clearly feeling homesick, Ray decides that he would feel better if he had the moccasins. This is called empathy, when you can get inside the heart (sometimes people say shoes) of someone else and know how they feel.
List at least three other examples of this in the book. Then, explain what a kid could do in these situations:
Your sister is worried Your dad is extra tired after work.
about starting kindergarten.

Your Mom misses her
sister who lives far away.
Your neighbor, an elderly man,
never has any visitors.
Intrapersonal
Ray finds a special spot of his own in Night Fishing where he can see “the lake blue sky stretched to the horizon. The water below glittered beneath the sun. It was quiet too. No rattling trains or trash-can bands. Ray could hear the squirrels play tag from limb to limb and he settled in to listen.” Where do you go when you want to think? What does it look like? sound like? Draw a picture of it to keep in your notebook. Then, right before a test or something else stressful, you can look at it, then close your eyes and pretend you’re there.

Pre Reading/ Prediction guide for Indian Shoes
Pre-reading
Just by looking at the cover, what can you guess about the book? How much do you know about modern Native American tribes, if anything? Can you guess what you might learn?
Reading
1. What would Grandpa Halfmoon say if he saw the card the librarian placed by Ray’s shoes?
2. Will having them ease his homesickness? Will he get to go home soon too? What clues does the author give you that they will?
3. After the events of the wedding, what do you think they’ll both do the next time they’re asked to be in a wedding? why?
4. What will the owners of all the pets say to Grandpa and Ray?
5. Will Ray create more pictures using collage? What makes you thinks so?
6. In Team Colors, do you think that at the next game other boys will come sporting team colors?
7. Will Ray get up to go night fishing again? Why?

Comprehension/ Quiz Questions for Indian Shoes
Knowledge:
1. Locate the passages that make it clear that Grandpa Halfmoon is homesick. Have you ever been homesick? If so, what were you homesick for?
2. List at least three ways that Grandpa and Ray show they care about each other.
Comprehension:
1. Describe in your own words what happened at the wedding.
2. Retell the events of The Accident.
Application:
1. What can you learn from Ray and Grandpa Halfmoon about helping one another? Use examples from the text.
2. Can you think of other safe solutions for the pets in Coming To Dinner?
Analysis:
1. Compare yourself to Ray. How are you like him? In what ways, if any, are you different?
2. How would this story be different if it were written through the eyes of Grandpa Halfmoon? Would it still be a children’s book? Why?
Synthesis:
1. What would you have done at the wedding? What do you think they did at the reception?
2. Of all the stories told in this book, which do you think that Ray would look back on as an adult with the best memories? What makes you think so?
Evaluation:
1. In The Accident, Grandpa Halfmoon doesn’t lecture Ray about his decision not to be in the contest. What does he do instead? Do you think this is more effective? Why or why not?
2. Choose your favorite chapter and answer these questions: Why is this part your favorite? How does it demonstrate how Grandpa and Ray feel about each other? What is the best description? What is something you’ll remember about it long after you have closed the book?