Teacher Materialsimages.knowledgeadventure.com/.../4688057.pdf · weird characters of Bizarroville and exploring a spooky mansion. This teacher’s guide provides off-line activities

© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.

Teacher Materials

Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12

0362001

2 Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12

AuthorDeborah Hayes

Design and LayoutTony Gervase

EditorsDeborah Cherlin, Ed. M.

Pamela Blanford

Reproduction of these pages by the classroom teacher for use in the classroom is permissible. The reproduction of any part of this book for an entire school or school system or for commercial use is strictly prohibited.

© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Reading Blaster is a trademark of Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or its subsidiaries.

All trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

3© Vivendi Universal Publishing and/or Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.

Program Overview 4

Introduction 5

Unit 1 - The Mansion

Introduction 7Answer Key 8

1 Sentence Spinning 132 More Sentence Spinning 153 Sentence Spinner Game 184 It’s a Party! 225 Party Time at the Mansion 236 You Are Cordially Invited 257 To Catch a Ghost 288 More To Catch a Ghost 319 Homonym Happenings 34

10 Personal Digital Assistant 3511 Your On-line Journal 3612 Write a Travel Article 3913 Fortune Cookie Says… 4114 Secret Messages 4315 Fortune Flag Critters 4516 Cloud Walking 4717 Revenge of Cloud Walking 4918 The Six Degrees of You 5119 Spooky Sentences 5320 Spookier Sentences 5621 Horrifyingly Humorous

Headstones 59

Unit 2 - Bizarre Tales

Introduction 61Answer Key 62

1-2 He Turned Me Into a Wimp 673 Take Me Out to the Ball Game 69

4-5 My Dreams of a Hollywood Comeback Were Smashed! 70

6 Here Kitty, Kitty 727-8 The Joke Was on Me 73

9 Knock-Knock Comic Strip 7510-11 My Life as a Vacuum Cleaner 76

12 Political Hardball 7813-14 I Was a Human Garbage

Disposal 7915 The Garbage Gourmet 81

16-17 He Called Me “Queen of the Flies”! 82

18 There Was an Old Lady 84

Unit 3 - Dr. Dabble’s Diversions

Introduction 85Activity Instructions 86

1 Blueprint for a Mysterious Mansion 87

2 Publish a Bizarre Yearbook 893 The Catch-a-Clue Crash Course 91

Appendices

A Travel Article 95B Yearbook 96


Table of Contents


Curriculum Skills

• Sentence Building• Parts of Speech• Antonyms and Synonyms• Reading Comprehension• Inferences and Deductions• Word Connections• Context Clues• Drawing Conclusions• Sequencing• Main Idea and Supporting Details

Special Features

• Interesting, Engaging Characters• High Degree of Interactivity• Three Levels of Difficulty• Game-Within-a-Game Format• Print Kit• On-line Reading• Two Modes: Mystery and Explore

4


Levels: For Ages 9-12Grades: 4-6

Activity Components

Personal Digital AssistantUse an on-line computer pad for navigationand keeping track of clues and progress.

ParlorPlay the resident ghost in a word-spinninggame of identifying parts of speech.

Dining RoomUse your reading comprehension skills tosequence Dr. Dabble’s plans.

KitchenMatch wits with some ghostly creatures asyou find words with similar and oppositemeanings.

GraveyardPut spooky sentences in order by the light ofthe cemetery moon.

BedroomRead the fortune cookies or secret bottledmessages to solve puzzles.

LibraryPlay the cloud-walking game, where you linkwords with commonalities.

Introduction


elcome to the weird, wacky, and always bizarre town of Bizarroville.

Bizarroville, the banana peel capital of theUnited States, is in a state of panic! Six of thetown’s most prominent citizens have disap-peared and the local mad scientist, Dr. Dabble,was the last one to see them. Your students joinforces with Rave, Bizarroville’s bravest youngsleuth, to search the creepy mansion and bringback the missing citizens. Only by using theirreading and language skills can players solvethe mystery and become heroes of the game.

Reading Blaster™ Ages 9–12 is an excitingadventure game in which students use a varietyof reading comprehension and language artsskills. Students will enjoy getting to know theweird characters of Bizarroville and exploring a spooky mansion.

This teacher’s guide provides off-line activitiesthat complement the computer program. Eachlesson can be used as an introduction to a given

skill or as a follow-up to one of the computeractivities.

There are six distinct skill areas in Reading Blaster Ages 9–12: parts of speech, sequencing/reading comprehension,synonyms/antonyms, inferences, wordconnections, and sentence ordering. Unit 1,“The Mansion,” provides many off-line activities for each skill area.

Reading Blaster Ages 9–12 offers a print kit, which allows you to print the stories of each of the missing Bizarroville characters. Unit 2, ”Bizarre Tales,” offers many readingcomprehension activities to go with these stories.Unit 3, “Dr. Dabble’s Diversions,”offers three culminating activities.

Your students will have fun solving this bizarremissing persons‘ case and outsmarting Dr. Dabbleand the many traps he sets.

W



7

• Reading for understanding • Understanding and correctly using

parts of speech• Sequencing events• Understanding and using related

words, such as synonyms andantonyms

• Making inferences and deductionsfrom text

• Summarizing and paraphrasingtext

• Identifying details from text

The activities in Unit 1 cover a wide variety of language arts skills, includingparts of speech, reading comprehension, sequencing, synonyms, antonyms,inferences, and word connections. These activities correlate with the ReadingBlaster games and can be utilized as an introduction to a particular skill or forreview purposes. Each set of lessons provides activities with two levels ofdifficulty, the second activity being the more challenging.

1 Sentence Spinning2 More Sentence Spinning3 Sentence Spinner Game4 It’s a Party!5 Party Time at the Mansion6 You Are Cordially Invited7 To Catch a Ghost8 More To Catch a Ghost9 Homonym Happenings

10 Personal Digital Assistant11 Your On-line Journal

12 Write a Travel Article13 Fortune Cookie Says… 14 Secret Message15 Fortune Flag Critters16 Cloud Walking17 Revenge of Cloud Walking18 The Six Degrees of You19 Spooky Sentences20 Spookier Sentences21 Horrifyingly Humorous

Headstones

INTRODUCTION

Learning Objectives

Activities

Unit 1 – The Mansion

Activity 1 – Sentence Spinning

Review parts of speech (subject, adjective, verb,adverb) with your students before assigning thisactivity.

1. jolly, climbed, safely2. jolly, sailors3. jolly, climbed4. extremely, magicians, chased5. delightful, magicians (or dragons)6. magicians (or dragons), chased7. generous, never8. detectives, encourage, us9. never, encourage

10. generous, never, us

Activity 2 – More SentenceSpinning

Use the same instructions for Activity 1. Reviewmore parts of speech, such as pronouns, directobjects and prepositions.

1. forgetful, cherish2. scientist, patiently, them3. creepy, spiders4. fairly, devour5. armadillos (or hedgehogs), spectacular,

hedgehogs (or armadillos)6. venture, between7. distinctively, seemed, confident (or clever)8. clever (or confident), patriots9. zombies, immaculate (or charming)

10. immaculate (or charming), appeared, terribly

Activity 3 – Sentence Spinner Game

Make Sentence SpinnersThis activity is a sentence-making game.Reproduce pages 18–19 on cardstock. Cut out the circles and arms. Connect an arm to the center of each circle with a brad. Adjust the tightness of the brad so the arm will spineasily. Then cut out the game cards, shufflethem, and set them in the middle of the game playing area.

Play Sentence Spinning GameOne die is needed for each group of players.The game is best played with 2–4 players.Students will each need a piece of paper torecord their sentences.

The first player rolls the die. The number on thedie dictates which spinner a player uses.

Dice Code1 adjective 4 subject2 adjective 5 adverb3 subject 6 verb

Students take turns. The first student spins theproper spinner and writes down the word onwhich it lands. If the arm lands on the wordCARD, the student takes a word card from the center pile. If the arm lands on the wordFREEBIE, the student chooses a word of his ownas long as it is the part of speech representedon the spinner.

The game progresses in this fashion, with eachstudent taking a turn. The object of the game isto be the first to create a sentence. Determine aset time for the length of game play. At the endof this time, students use all of the wordscollected to create their sentences.



Answer Key

Note: When using the verb sentence spinner,players may change the tense to fit the sentence.

Create Your Own WordsPage 20 offers a blank spinner circle so studentscan create their own words. This can be helpfulfor spelling and vocabulary enrichment.

Activity 4 – It’s a Party!

1. Gloria Ghastly, Jackie O’Cassidy, Lou Fright, Bobbi Fright

2. Gloria Ghastly, Coach Gulliver Lilliput, Bobbi Fright, Gorky Barf

3. Bobbi Fright, Lou Fright, Jackie O’Cassidy, Coach Gulliver Lilliput, Gloria Ghastly

Activity 5 – Party Time at the Mansion

1. Gorky Barf, Coach Gulliver Lilliput, Gloria Ghastly, Jackie O’Cassidy, Lou Fright

2. Lou Fright, Bobbi Fright, Jackie O’Cassidy, Coach Gulliver Lilliput, Gloria Ghastly

3. Gloria Ghastly, Jackie O’Cassidy, Gorky Barf, Coach Gulliver Lilliput, Bobbi Fright, Lou Fright

Activity 6 – Your AreCordially Invited

Encourage students to be creative when arrang-ing a personalized dinner party.

Activity 7 – To Catch a Ghost

Review synonyms and antonyms with yourstudents before assigning this activity.

laugh chuckle, giggle, snicker, tittercastle mansion, manor, palace, fortresstalk chatter, discuss, murmur, speaksmart bright, clever, sharp, intelligent,

geniusyell shout, shriek, squeal, screamexit disappear, escape, flee, leaveagree argue, disagree, quarrel, bickernear distant, far, faraway, removedrough gentle, soft, tender, smoothclear cloudy, hazy, foggy, smoggy,

smokytiny jumbo, huge, giant, giganticweak strong, sturdy, brave, tough

Activity 8 – More To Catch a Ghost

This activity is the same as Activity 7 except ituses more challenging words.

annoy pester, tease, disturb, irritate, bother

abundant plentiful, generous, full,overflowing

guard protect, defend, shieldstroll saunter, amble, wander, dawdlelegend saga, epic, story, traditionpioneer colonist, leader, settler,

homesteaderclear cloudy, smoky, hazy, foggyweak strong, tough, brave, powerfulmisery elation, joy, happiness, delightboring exciting, rousing, stimulating,

thrillinghidden obvious, clear, evident, apparentluxurious humble, modest, lowly, poor,

ordinary



Answer Key


Activity 9 – HomonymHappenings

The two previous activities (7 and 8) focus onantonyms (words that are opposite in meaning)and synonyms (words that are similar inmeaning). Another type of word relationship is that of homonyms, words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings.Introduce or review with your students theconcept of homonyms, then distribute Activity 9 for them to complete.

1. knew 7. bee2. hair 8. not3. would, heal 9. sight4. won, one 10. creak5. weak 11. bury6. foul 12. pleas

Activity 10 – Personal Digital Assistant

Refer to the Personal Digital Assistant used by Rave and your students when playing thegame. Encourage creativity. Encourage reallyambitious students to create a 3-D model.

Activity 11 – Your On-line Journal

Before assigning this activity, have your studentsread Lydia‘s e-mail diary. You can print it fromthe on-line print kit on the Reading Blaster Ages9–12 CD.

After they‘ve read the story, have your studentswrite their own e-mail diary on pages 36-38.

Have them share the stories with the class eitherorally or on a bulletin board display.

You can also create a class e-mail diary bycollecting the stories and putting them in afolder for all to read.

Activity 12 – Write a Travel Article

Have students read the travel article found in the living room of the mansion (on thearmchair). Access the article on-line by clicking the magazine on the armchair. Whenoff-line, reproduce page 95 (Appendix A) ofthis teacher’s resource manual. Gather furtherexamples of travel writing by collecting samplesfrom the travel section of your local newspaper or a travel magazine.

For an extended activity, gather brochures on a specific place from a travel agency andhave students write about faraway destinations.Information can also be gathered on theInternet.

Activity 13 – Fortune Cookie Says

1. C 4. B2. C 5. B3. A 6. C

Activity 14 – Secret Messages

1. B 3. B2. B 4. C


Answer Key

Activity 15 – Fortune Flag Critters

This activity is enjoyed by students of all agesnot only for the fun they have creating a uniquecritter, but also for the fun of eating the finishedproduct!

As an extended activity, you may want to orderpersonalized fortune cookies for the class. Formore information:

Wonton Food Inc.220-222 Moore StreetBrooklyn, NY 11206Tel: 800-776-8889Web site: www.wontonfood.come-mail: [email protected]

Activity 16 – Cloud Walking

1. ink, pen, pencil, wood, tree, bird, mouse, cheese, milk

2. inches, feet, hands, clock, cuckoo, bird, egg, breakfast, morning

3. ocean, wave, hand, foot, yard, grass, green, lime, lemon

4. Mars, planet, star, movie, popcorn, salt, ocean, shark, fin

5. photo, camera, lens, glasses, drink, water, lake, boat, sail

6. salad, lettuce, carrots, rabbits, ears, hear, sound, loud, explosion

Activity 17 – Revenge of Cloud Walking

1. dragon, fire, smoke, cloud, rain, umbrella, raincoat, shirt, button

2. bride, wedding, cake, sweet, honey, bee, wing, bird, condor

3. heart, organ, piano, instrument, tool, hammer, nail, finger, glove

4. book, library, hospital, doctor, dentist, drill, saw, wood, fire

5. circle, shape, form, make, produce, fruit, banana, monkey, zoo

6. oyster, pearl, necklace, throat, windpipe, breathe, oxygen, gasoline, automobile

Activity 18 – The Six Degrees of You

This activity is a fun word-connection game. Cut the word strips on page 51, fold once andplace them in a shoebox. When small groups of students play this game, each student has aturn. When the whole group plays students canbe rotated. Each student chooses six word strips.After reviewing each word, he must connectthem so they all relate to each other and,ultimately, to himself.

For example:President Clinton, pizza, soccer, Elvis Presley, tacos, guitar

Six Degrees:President Clinton is from the South. TheSouth is also the birthplace of Elvis Presley.Elvis played the guitar. Guitars are fromMexico, which is also where tacos are from. Taco shells are round before they are folded. Soccer balls are round like flat taco shells. After my soccer games we always go out for pizza.

To personalize the game, have students use theblank page (pg. 52) to write in their own words.



Answer Key

Activity 19 – SpookySentences

Accept reasonable answers as students maycreate sentences others than the ones listed.

1. The graveyard gates creaked open.2. Skeletons rattle in the attic.3. Wolves howled throughout the night.4. The strong wind holds its breath.5. One by one, the skeletons rose.6. A stranger called my name.7. The glowing moon was my only friend. 8. He screamed in horror and never

returned.9. The moonlight shown into an empty

grave.10. The still pond reflects the moonlight.

Activity 20 – SpookierSentences

Accept reasonable answers as students maycreate sentences other than the ones listed.

1. The light flickers through the dusty window.

2. Mysterious things take place in the graveyard.

3. Her smile faded as the door swung open.4. The candles burned out and only

darkness remained.5. Haunting melodies played through the

still of the night.6. Read the headstones by the light of the

pale moon.7. When the rooster crows at dawn,

skeletons flee and are gone.8. The full moon sheds an eerie glow on

the dark wood below.9. When the stars come out at night

ghouls and ghosts delight.10. If you are wise, you will not venture

into the graveyard alone.

Activity 21 – HorrifyinglyHumorous Headstones

It would be beneficial for students to read thestories about each character before doing thisactivity. Or, have students write the epitaphs forthe characters based solely on their names, thenread the stories to see how their epitaphscompare. Use page 60 for student work.


Unit 1 - The Mansion

Answer Key


Unit 1 – The Mansion Name:Activity 1 Parlor

13

Sentence Spinning

Complete each of the sentence boxes below with the correct part of speech.

jumped jolly climbed sailors trolls safely

dragons delightful extremely magicians because chased


14

Unit 1 – The Mansion Name:

Activity 1 Parlor

Sentence Spinning (continued)

never generous encourage except us detectives



Activity 2 Parlor

15

More Sentence Spinning

Complete each of the sentence boxes below with the correct part of speech.

scientists them forgetful cherish patiently until

spiders devour them creepy unless fairly


Unit 1 – The Mansion Name

Activity 2 Parlor

More Sentence Spinning (continued)

between carefully venture armadillos hedgehogs spectacular

patriots seemed distinctively clever confident for



Activity 2 Parlor

appeared immaculate terribly unto charming zombies

More Sentence Spinning (continued)



Activity 3 Parlor

18

Sentence Spinner Game

B



Activity 3 Parlor

Sentence Spinner Game (continued)

B

B



Activity 3 Parlor

20

Sentence Spinner Game (continued)



Activity 3 Parlor

Sentence Spinner Game – Word Cards


It’s a Party!

Read the story puzzles and solve them by placing the items in the correct order.

1. In what order did the guests RSVP to Dr. Dabble’s party invitations?

Bobbi Fright thought that Lou had sent RSVPs for both Frights, but Lou had only sent his in.Therefore, Lou’s RSVP was third and Bobbi’s RSVP was sent last. Gloria Ghastly couldn’t wait torespond so she got hers in the mail first. Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy wanted to be first, but she gother RSVP in the mail second.

1. 2. 3. 4.

2. In what order did the guests receive their invitations to Dr. Dabble’s party?

During the same week, Gorky Barf got his invitation on Friday. Glamorous movie star GloriaGhastly got hers on Monday. Bobbi Fright found her invitation in the mailbox on Thursday,while Coach Gulliver Lilliput got his Wednesday.

1. 2. 3. 4.

3. In what order did Dr. Dabble invite the guests to his party?

Dr. Dabble invited Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy third, just after he invited Lou Fright. Lou was invitedafter Bobbi, because she is his wife. Coach Gulliver Lilliput was invited fourth because the fourthdown is always lucky for the coach. Dr. Dabble invited Gloria Ghastly after the coach.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

22


Activity 4 Dining Room

LouFright

Gloria Ghastly

BobbiFright

JackieO’Cassidy

GorkyBarf

CoachLilliput

Gloria Ghastly

BobbiFright

BobbiFright

CoachLilliput

LouFright

JackieO’Cassidy

Gloria Ghastly


23



Party Time at the Mansion

1. In what order did the guests arrive at the party?

Gloria Ghastly made a brief publicity appearance at the Bizzaroville Theater, so she arrived justbefore Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy. Gorky Barf, who prides himself on promptness, arrived beforeeveryone else. Lou Fright forgot to set his watch and showed up after the rest of the guests.Coach Gulliver Lilliput was the second guest to arrive.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

2. In what order did Dr. Dabble put the place cards on the table?

Dr. Dabble wanted to sit next to glamorous Gloria Ghastly, so he saved her place card for last. He put Lou and Bobbi Fright’s cards next to each other, his before hers. Just after placingthe Fright’s cards, Dr. Dabble put Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy’s card down, followed by CoachGulliver Lilliput’s.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Jackie

O’Cassidy

Lou

Fright

Gloria

Ghastly

Bobbi

Fright

Coach

Lilliput

Gloria Ghastly

JackieO’Cassidy

Lou Fright

GorkyBarf

CoachLilliput


Party Time at the Mansion (continued)

3. In what order did the guests drop their handkerchiefs when they disappeared?

Gorky Barf dropped his hanky at 8:30 p.m. As usual, Gloria Ghastly dramatically disappearedan hour before everyone else. Jackie O’Cassidy, who dropped her hanky after Gloria, leftaround 7:45 p.m. The Frights vanished around 10:00 p.m. (Lou let his wife Bobbi go first.)Gulliver Lilliput let his hanky go 1⁄2 hour before the Frights.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

24



Gorky

Barf

Gloria

Ghastly

Bobbi

Fright

Jackie

O’Cassidy

Lou

Fright

Coach

Lilliput


25



You Are Cordially Invited

Here is your opportunity to host the dinner party of the century! The sky is the limit, so use

your creativity and excellent host or hostess skills to arrange an unforgettable event for

six interesting guests.

The ThemeAll great parties have a theme. Your theme could center around a holiday or time of year, abirthday, or a tribute to your favorite kind of music.

Dinner Party Theme:

The Guest ListWhom will you invite? You can invite famous people (politicians, singers, sports figures, writers,actors) as well as your friends and family.

1. 4.

2. 5.

3. 6.

The MenuWhat will you serve for dinner? A smorgasbord of tasty treats from all over the world? Or yourown favorite dishes? Keep in mind your theme for the dinner party as you may want to servefoods which complement it.

Appetizer: Side Entree:

Main Entree: Side Entree:

Side Entree: Dessert:

Side Entree: Beverage:


26



You Are Cordially Invited (continued)

Seating ArrangementWho will sit by whom at your table? Don’t forget to seat yourself.


27



You Are Cordially Invited (continued)

You’ll need to send invitations to your guests. What will they say?

Please come …


28


Activity 7 Kitchen

To Catch a Ghost

Look at the word in the center of each ghost. Draw a line from the word in the center to the

surrounding words which are closest to it in meaning.

chuckle candy

tittersnickerfrown

gigglebird

LAUGH CASTLE

SMART

TALK

mansion

knight

king

palace

bridgequeen

fortress

chatter

dumbbrought

bright

clever

sharp

genius

silly

intelligent

quiet

silent

discuss

murmur

speak

peak

vocab-ulary

clown

manor


29


Activity 7 Kitchen

To Catch a Ghost (continued)

argue ask

showrespondbicker

saidquarrel

AGREENEAR

EXIT

YELL

close

far

hear

next

earfaraway

distant

whisper

arrivelever

flee

enter

escape

leave

flea

disapear

shout

squeal

shriek

quiet

scream

shorts

queasy

disagree

Draw a line from the word in the center to the surrounding words which are furthest from it

in meaning.

removed


30


Activity 7 Kitchen

To Catch a Ghost (continued)

Draw a line from the word in the center to the surrounding words which are furthest from

it in meaning.

bumpy soft

rockyunevencoarse

tendersmooth

ROUGH CLEAR

WEAK

TINY

clean

bright

cloudy

foggy

smoggysmoky

glass

jumbo

weekstrong

tough

day

sturdy

brain

brave

wreak

small

animal

baby

giant

little

huge

gigantic

gentle

hazy


31


Activity 8 Kitchen

More To Catch a Ghost

Look at the word in the center of each ghost. Draw a line from the word in the center to the

surrounding words which are closest to it in meaning.

allow defend

shackfreedomhouse

playershield

GUARD STROLL

ABUNDANT

ANNOY

saunter

race

amble

plot

wanderdawdle

ferry

pester

plentifulscarce

generous

rare

full

few

over-flowing

precious

tease

bother

irritate

disturb

show

respect

disagree

protect

pull


32


Activity 8 Kitchen

More To Catch a Ghost (continued)

saga poem

sagetraditionlong

epicstory

LEGEND PIONEER

WEAK

CLEAR

colonist

settler

tiger

teacher

skater

home-steader

leader

clean

weekstrong

day

tough

brave

wreck

powerful

wreak

cloudy

hazy

smoky

crystal

shiny

glass

foggy

essay

Draw a line from the word in the center to the surrounding words which are furthest from it

in meaning.

president


33


Activity 8 Kitchen

More To Catch a Ghost (continued)

Draw a line from the word in the center to the surrounding words which are furthest from

it in meaning.

clear obvious

dirtycoveredevident

apparentapparel

HIDDENLUXURIOUS

BORING

MISERY

wealthy

modest

poor

smooth

lowlyordinary

riches

happi-ness

lonelyexciting

rousing

exacting

thrilling

dull

stimul-ating

trusting

joy

pain

sadness

delight

sorrow

elation

sickness

shadowed

humble


34


Activity 9 Kitchen

Homonym Happenings

Complete the sentences by circling the correct homonym.

1. Dr. Dabble (knew, gnu, new) he would have revenge at long last.

2. “Do you like my (hare, hair)?” Gloria Ghastly asked her Hollywood agent.

3. Lou was hoping that the old wound between him and Dudley Dabble (wood, would) (heel, heal).

4. “I (one, won), I (won, one)!” exclaimed Jackie O’Cassidy upon winning the election for student council president.

5. “Dabble was a (week, weak) little kid who couldn’t play ball even with all the help I gave him,“ grumbled Coach Gulliver Lilliput.

6. If Rave hadn’t gotten to the captives in time, (fowl, foul) play would have occurred.

7. Bobbi Fright was pondering how to add a (bee, be) to her favorite song about the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Spider.

8. Dudley could (not, knot) tolerate one more of Gorky Barf’s knock-knock jokes.

9. “What a wonderful (cite, sight)!” Dr. Dabble said as he viewed all the prisoners in his lab.

10. The stairs began to (creek, creak) as Rave headed to the second floor.

11. “My Poopsie would never (bury, berry) your son!” Gloria Ghastly told Dudley’s mother.

12. Unfortunately, their desperate (pleas, please) for help could not be heard from the lab.

Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)



Activity 10 Living Room

In Reading Blaster™ 4th Grade Rave relies on his Personal Digital Assistant to read saved

clues and navigate through Dr. Dabble’s mysterious mansion. If you could have your own

personal digital assistant for school, what features would it have? Would it have a map of

the playground? Or, maybe a daily cafeteria menu? Perhaps a homework helper? Design

your own Personal Digital Assistant with at least three different features. You can add more

features if you wish.

Your On-Line Journal




Date

Dear Diary,

Today, I received my first

e-mail message. It was from a

complete stranger. The

message read as follows:

Date

Dear Diary,

Yet another strange e-mail

message arrived for me. It

read:

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________




Your On-Line Journal (continued)

Date

Dear Diary,

Today was a very bizarre day.

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

Date

Dear Diary,

I haven’t received an e-mail from my

anonymous pen pal in some time. I wonder

what this means.

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________


38



Your On-Line Journal (continued)

Date

Dear Diary,

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

Date

Dear Diary,

Well, I received another e-mail

message today. You would not

believe what it said and whom

it was from. That’s right! The

anonymous writer told it all!

This experience has

been quite interesting!

________________________

________________________

________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

Write a Travel Article

In the living room of Dr. Dabble’s mansion is a travel magazine featuring an article about the

town of Bizarroville. The author of the article is a travel writer. Travel writers visit places all

over the world and write about their experiences. Travel magazines and articles are helpful

to people who want firsthand information about their destination from someone who has been

there. Travel writers enjoy their career because they have the opportunity to see the world.

Choose a LocationChoose a place to write about. It could be a place you have been before, one you would like to visit, or an imaginary place like Bizarroville.

Be Sure to Include:

Geographical FeaturesWhat is the climate like at your destination? What kind of clothes should a visitor bring?

Special EventsBizarroville hosted the annual Have-a-Banana festival. What special events happen at the placeyou chose to visit?

Unique FoodDescribe the different kinds of food offered at this vacation destination.

AccommodationsWhere can a visitor stay? Hotel, bed and breakfast, lodge, or inn? Describe the kinds of lodging available.

Web AddressIf a future traveler would like to get more information about this place, what might its Internet address be? For example, an Internet address for Bizarroville might bewww.bizarroville.com





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40



Title: ________________________

Write a Travel Article (continued)

Fortune Cookie Says…

Read each clue, then choose the correct fortune cookie message.

1. After reading his fortune, Coach Lilliput believed his team would win the National Extreme RedRover championships.

Cheers will follow your efforts.

Many try but few succeed.

Victory will be yours.

2. When he read his fortune, Dr. Dabble decided to buy a supply of seasick tablets.

Health, wealth and happiness are yours.

Happy is the man who is the captain of his ship.

You will be crossing a large body of water soon.

3. Bobbi “Sox” Fright thought that her best friend from school would be coming for a surprise visitwhen she read this fortune.

A long lost friend will soon be knocking on your door.

You cannot escape the mistakes of your past.

Memories are more precious than gold.



Activity 13 Kitchen


42


Activity 13 Kitchen

Fortune Cookie Says… (continued)

Read each clue, then choose the correct fortune cookie message.

4. After reading her fortune, Mayor O’Cassidy couldn’t wait to find out who she would be havingdinner with.

You will be alone and hungry for the rest of your days.

The evening will bring good food and company.

Nighttime brings music and laughter.

5. Coach Lilliput immediately checked his bank account when he read this fortune.

You are rich in friends and family.

Problems with money are soon to be yours.

Someone you love will soon receive a surprise.

6. After reading his fortune, Gorky Barf was certain that Dr. Dabble would return the book he hadchecked out of the library 26 years before.

Books are a man’s best friend.

You will turn over a new leaf.

A lost treasure will be returned to you.

Secret Messages

Read each clue, then circle the correct title from the messages in the bottles.

1. Dr. Dabble, the world-renowned scientist, purchased Lydia Novella’s mansion for an undisclosedsum. A spokesperson for the scientist said that he plans to move into the historic mansion nextweek.

New Research Center to Open

Scientist Comes to Live in Bizarroville

Intrigue on the Hill

2. Bizarroville’s favorite Coach, Gulliver Lilliput, is being honored tonight at the Feeding Trough forhis long years of service to the community. Dinner and dancing will follow the ceremony.

Feeding Trough Opens for Dancing

Town Celebrates Coach

Teacher to Give Speech



Activity 14 Kitchen


44


Activity 14 Kitchen

Secret Messages (continued)

Read each clue, then circle the correct title from the messages in the bottles.

3. Sheriff John Law announced that newly discovered evidence proved that famous writer LydiaNovella has continued to leave messages in the Bizarroville mansion she occupied 150 yearsago. Special cameras have detected the figure of a woman seated at a writing desk, holding awriting quill. Notes in her handwriting have been recently collected, further supporting rumorsthat the old house is haunted.

Sheriff Proves Ghost Is a Hoax

Sheriff Uncovers Ghostly Evidence

Ghost Poses For Photographers

4. Gloria Ghastly reported that her pink poodle, Poopsie, is safe at last. After weeks of searching,Ms. Ghastly’s devoted pet was returned to the famous movie star by her number one fan, Rave.Posing for photographers with her dog and her hero, Ms. Ghastly states, “Rave, you are myhero! I simply couldn’t live without Poopsie!”

Famous Star to Make Dog Movie

Gloria Ghastly Pets Poodle

Star’s Best Friend Returns Home

Fortune Flag Critters

Students will have a great time creating their own bizarre version of a fortune cookie by

making critters or cyborg-type inventions from tasty treats. Each critter is constructed

from chewy candies, marshmallows and toothpicks. Top off the critter with a fortune flag.

Materials(Note: Quantities will vary depending on class size.)

1 bag of regular-size marshmallows1 bag of miniature marshmallows1 bag of multicolored gumdrops1 bag of multicolored jelly beans1 bag of gummy worms (or other gummy animal)2 boxes of toothpicksfortune flag for each critter

Making a FlagMessage

Students decide what message their flag will bear. These messages can be funny, inspirational orpredictions. Be sure to check student messages for appropriateness before fortune critters arehanded out.

Making the FlagCut out the strips on page 45.Distribute one strip and one toothpick to each student.Students write their message on one side of the strip, leaving a one-inch margin on the left.On the back of the message, rub a glue stick over the one-inch left margin.Wrap the strip around the toothpick, pinching the glued space shut with fingers. Let dry.

Making the CritterProvide students with a variety of chewy treats and plenty of toothpicks. Encourage them to becreative when constructing their fortune flag critters. When the critters are complete, poke thefortune flag into a sturdy section of the creation.

Sharing FortunesPlace all the critters on a cookie sheet or on a table covered with waxed paper. Have studentsclose their eyes when choosing a critter (so they won’t read the fortunes before choosing). Let thestudents share their fortunes with the rest of the class, and then enjoy munching!



Activity 15 Kitchen

Fortune Flag Critters (continued)



Activity 15 Kitchen

Cloud Walking

Put the words in each set on the cloud staircase so that each word has something in

common with the word before it.



Activity 16 Library

pencil

pen

cheese

bird

mou

se

tree

wood

feet

eggs

hands

clock

bird

breakfast

cuck

oo

yard

foot

hand

grass

wave

limegreen

11

3

2

ink

milk

inches

morning

ocean

lemon


48


Activity 16 Library

Cloud Walking (continued)

oceanstar

popcorn

mov

ie

shark

plane

t

salt

water

lens

glassesboat

drink

lake

camera

ears

hear

rabbits

loud

soun

d

lettuce

carrots

44

6

5

salad

explosion

sail

photo

Mars

fin


49


Activity 17 Library

Revenge of Cloud Walking

Put the words in each set on the cloud staircase so that each word has something in

common with the word before it.

shirt

smoke

rain

raincoat

cloud

fire

umbrella

sweet weddingwin

g

cakeho

ney

bee

bird

organ

hammer

instrument

nail

pianotool

finger

11

3

2

dragon

button

heart

glove

bride

condor


50


Activity 17 Library

Revenge of Cloud Walking (continued)

hospital

dentist

wood

doctorsa

w

drill

library

banana

make

produce

form

monke

y

fruit

shape

breathe

throat

windpipe

oxygen

necklace

pearl

gasoline

44

6

5

oyster

automobile

zoo

circle

book

fire


51


Activity 18 Library

The Six Degrees of You!

B


52


Activity 18 Library

The Six Degrees of You! (continued)


53


Activity 19 Graveyard

Spooky Sentences

Place the words from the gravestones in order to make spooky sentences.

1.

grave-yard The open.

gatescreaked

2.

rattle

Skeletonstheinattic.

3.

night.howled the through Wolves

4.

windThe

holdsits

breath.strong


54



Spooky Sentences (continued)

6.

strangerA my

name.called

5.

skeletonsOne

onerose.the

by

7.

glowingThe

wasmoon

friend. myonly

8.

screamedHe

andhorrornever

inreturned.


55


Introduction Graveyard

Spooky Sentences (continued)

9.

grave.The

intoempty an

shownmoonlight

10.

moonlight.still

Thepondreflects

the


56



Spookier Sentences

Place the words from the gravestones in order to make spooky sentences.

2.

grave-yard

takethe place

1.

light thethe

dustythrough flickers

3.

4.

window

myste-rious

takein things

opendoor

her fadedsmile

asthe swung

remainedonly

the candlesdarkness

outand burned


57



Spookier Sentences (continued)

5.

melodies

hauntingof

the nightthestill

through

played

6.

pale of

read the

moon

by

lighthead-stones

the

the

7.

skeletons when

crowsare

and

the

atdawn

flee

rooster

gone

8.

below

eerie

on

glowthe

woods

the

fullmoon

sheds

an

dark


58



9.

ghouls

delight

and

come the

at

outghosts

night

stars

when

10.

venture

you

wise

aloneif

the

are

will

you

graveyardnot

into

Spookier Sentences (continued)


59



Here lies the

smelly body of

Dr. Dudley Dabble

*Born October 31, 1936

Died April 1, 2001

(No joke!)

*Survived by no one

because the

only person who liked

him was his mother

and the ole gal is

long gone.

*Bizarroville’s weirdest

and most despised

citizen. Best known for

the revenge plot that

backfired on him

at his mansion.

Coach Gulliver

Lilliput

Gloria Ghastly

Gorky Barf

Jackie O’Cassidy

Bobbi Fright

Lou Fright

Horrifyingly Humorous Headstones

A headstone, otherwise known as a gravestone or tombstone, is the stone marking a grave.

Each headstone contains an epitaph, information about the deceased person such as name,

birth and death dates, surviving family members, and often an inspirational quote or

comment about the life of the deceased. Choose one of the Bizarroville characters and write

a horrifying yet hilarious epitaph for his or her headstone.


60



Horrifyingly Humorous Headstones (continued)


INTRODUCTION

The activities in Unit 2 center around the important skill of reading comprehension.For each Reading Blaster story, there are two activity pages, one easy and theother more challenging. An illustration page accompanies each story so studentscan give their artistic interpretation of the text.

NOTE: It may be helpful for students to write their answers on a separate sheet of paper.

• Reading for understanding • Reading for contextual clues• Making inferences and deductions

from context

• Summarizing and paraphrasingcontext

• Identifying details from text

Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales

Learning Objectives

Activities

• 1-2 He Turned Me Into a Wimp

• 3 Take Me Out ot the Ball Game

• 4-5 My Dreams of a Hollywood Comeback Were Smashed!

• 6 Here Kitty, Kitty• 7-8 The Joke Was on Me• 9 Knock-Knock Comic Strip

• 10-11 My Life as a Vacuum Cleaner

• 12 Political Hardball• 13-14 I Was a Human Garbage

Disposal• 15 The Garbage Gourmet• 16-17 He Called Me “Queen of

the Flies!”18 There Was an Old Lady


Activity 1 – He Turned MeInto a Wimp

1. Accept any or all of the following: catch pop flies with his forehead, bat with his foot, round the bases in a go-cart.

2. Batting Machine3. Five-foot by five-foot4. He made Dabble the team mascot.5. He didn’t like it because he whined to

his parents.6. Dabble didn’t participate successfully in

class and wasn’t able to complete the athletic tasks asked of him.

7. To thank him for teaching good sportsmanship when he was a kid

8. A human baseball-pitching machine, with baseballs shooting out of his nostrils, belly button and mouth

9. Bizarroville Chicken Wings10. Dabble was allergic to flowers when he

was a kid.

Activity 2 – He Turned MeInto a Wimp

1. A) Accept any or all of the following: catch pop flies with his forehead, bat with his foot, round the bases in a go-cart.

B) Accept reasonable answers.2. Accept reasonable answers.3. He made Dabble the team mascot.

Dabble continued to whine to his parents.

4. Banana. Accept appropriate answers.5. Accept reasonable answers.6. Hazard School of Video Games and TV

Repair

7. He felt it his responsibility to assign a fair grade for Dabble’s performance; doing his job as a fair teacher wasimportant to him.

8. Cowardly plan of retaliation9. He thinks the team is lousy.

10. Dr. Dabble left flowers all over the house.

Activity 3 – Take Me out tothe Ball Game

Accept reasonable work.

Activity 4 – My Dreams of aHollywood Comeback Were

Smashed!

1. Hollywood2. 40 years3. 85. Her face was not in the shape it

should be. Her nose was where he right ear should be and vice versa.

4. Supervillain Scramble-Face. Her face was unique and the parts were “scrambled”.

5. Dudley6. He said that Poopsie had buried him

in her backyard along with a beef bone and that he was underground for five hours.

7. After school job at dog grooming store tying bows on the dogs’ hair after their fur-cuts

8. A human kitty-litter box9. Poopsie wouldn’t come near her

because she was afraid of cats.10. She was offered the chance to star in a

movie about her ordeal.


Answer Key


Activity 5 – My Dreams of aHollywood Comeback Were

Smashed!

1. A fan letter2. Accept reasonable answers: unrealistic

looking, cartoony, impressionistic, crazy3. A woman who has the starring role in a

movie4. The Creature That Wouldn’t Stop Burping5. He was an annoying 12-year-old boy who

used to make constant complaints to the Bizarroville Animal Control about her pets.

6. He said that Poopsie had buried him in her backyard along with a beef bone and that he was underground for five hours. Accept reasonable answers.

7. Accept reasonable answers.8. 1– Being turned into a human kitty litter

box 2 – Scaring her dog, Poopsie, owing to the significant number of cats around her. 3 – Missing the opportunity to revive her career

9. Accept reasonable answers.10. She wondered where all those beautiful

flowers came from.

Activity 6 – Here Kitty, Kitty


Activity 7 – The Joke Was on Me

1. Twenty years2. Stand-up comic3. His father welcomed him happily and

offered him a job at the town library.4. The Ulysses S. Barf Memorial Library;

Gorky’s great-great-great-great-great grandfather

5. He started an After-Hours Comedy Club and made kids with overdue books listen to his new jokes.

6. Seltzer bottles, kazoos, springy snakes, whoopee cushions

7. Knock-knock jokes8. Rubber chicken head for face/head,

and a giant inflated whoopee cushion with joy buzzers all over it for the body

9. An old-fashioned writing quill10. 1 – Is Dabble taking up a new career as a

writer? 2 – To whom did the quill belong?

Activity 8 – The Joke Was on Me

1. A person who tells jokes or funny stories, to audiences

2. Las Vegas (or just Vegas), Atlantic City, Ypsilanti

3. When theater acts are very bad, the audience sometimes throws rotting tomatoes and other fruit at the actor/comic. Apparently, Gorky’s act was very bad, so he must have had many tomatoes thrown at him.

4. A joke that follows a pattern: Knock! Knock! Who’s there? XXXXX. XXXXX-who? Punchline. Accept reasonable jokes.

5. He returned a failure. When dogs do something wrong, they bow their head and put their tail between their legs.

6. The people of the area liked the club; they came from far and near just to hear his knock-knock jokes.

7. In the book storage room8. An absent-minded-genius type


Answer Key


9. Dudley was always late returning his books, so he often ended up in the book storage room.

10. Since Gorky was such a jokester, it was appropriate for his revenge to include objects related to comedy, such as a rubber chicken and a whoopee cushion.

Activity 9 – Knock-KnockComic Strip


Activity 10 – My Life as aVacuum Cleaner

1. All the party attendees should have had a cozy after-dinner chat in the mansion library.

2. He took the mayor to a horrid laboratory with a disgusting chemical stench.

3. Dr. Dabble attached a vacuum cleaner attachment to the mayor’s nose.

4. Student council president5. Her mother was mayor.6. Jackie O’Cassidy threatened to hold her

breath if she wouldn’t help her.7. Jackie’s mother approved a Wildlife

Skunk Refuge to be built next door to the Dabble family home. The whole neighborhood smelled bad.

8. She allowed the end of Bizarroville’s airport runway to be connected to the Dabbles‘ driveway.

9. She allowed the Billy Bob Barf Memorial Freeway to be built right through Dudley Dabble’s bedroom.

10. The mayor thought Dabble had finally come to his senses and wanted to make up with her.

Activity 11 – My Life as aVacuum Cleaner

1. A fist in the mouth; to punch someone2. Domestic means ”something made in the

country“. The mayor thinks a beverage that comes from another country (imported) is of better quality and more fitting for her stature.

3. A politician, such as a mayor, has power and influence. If you stay on good terms with such a person, he or she may be able to help you.

4. He bribed other students with homemade candy and all the super-fizzy soda they could drink.

5. She would resort to unfriendly tactics in order to win the presidential race.

6. The young mayor’s big brother’s sweaty sock drawer

7. Coughed, wheezed and hiccupped8. Building the Billy Bob Barf Memorial

Freeway through his bedroom9. A quitter

10. She kept seeing the old-fashioned quillfloating around the house.

Activity 12 – Political Hardball



Answer Key


Activity 13 – I Was a HumanGarbage Disposal

1. No. His only friend was Dudley Dabble.2. They didn’t like each other.3. Mother: Host of “The Garbage

Gourmet” TV cooking showFather: Garbageman

4. Both were inventors and were “weird”.5. They both liked the same girl at school

and she liked Lou best.6. They felt very happy.7. A creation that is part human and part

household appliance8. Since Lou had a lifelong interest in

recycling, Dabble thought it was fitting.9. Coffee grounds, corncobs, banana peels

10. Whose beautiful gems he kept seeing pop up around the house

Activity 14 – I Was a HumanGarbage Disposal

1. They were best friends.2. Being a garbage collector would mean that

he brought actual garbage home with him.3. “Pyew” is the sound someone makes

when there is a bad odor present.4. Compulsive garbage collecting from his

dad; creative flair from his mom5. Dudley always made fun of Lou’s

experiments and inventions.6. She was the high school debating team’s

cheerleader.7. He and Bobbi got married and he

became a full-time inventor.8. “Bury the hatchet” means to forgive and

forget. Dudley didn’t want to do this even though Lou did.

9. Four10. Accept reasonable answers.

Activity 15 – The GarbageGourmet


Activity 16 – He Called Me“The Queen of the Flies”!

1. They both were really weird.2. ... a mean streak3. 194. An origami bouquet made from

yesterday’s newspaper5. A perpetual-motion machine ate everything

inside her parents’ refrigerator.6. “There Was an Old Lady Who

Swallowed a Fly,” 1,2567. 1 – Wrapped her up in no-pest strips to

attract flies 2 – played “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” over and over again

8. The Queen of the Flies9. She still likes it.

10. Jewelry

Activity 17 – He Called Me“The Queen of the Flies”!

1. He wanted to be her boyfriend.2. The house looked exactly like a seashell,

and she said her parents were hermits.3. Because there are so many weird people

in Bizarroville, the weirdest would be really weird.

4. Nice, nasty5. He pulled one of the moons of Jupiter. It

was a small moon so it fit in her backyard.


Answer Key



Answer Key

6. He hated her favorite song.7. A refrigerator box filled to the top with

angry buzzing flies8. Rejecting him9. A strip of sticky paper that attracts

bugs and traps them on the sticky material.

10. Gone crazy, out of my mind, lost it, etc. (Accept reasonable answers.)

Activity 18 – There Was an Old Lady


Unit 2 – Bizarre Tales Name:

Activity 1


He Turned Me Into a Wimp

by Coach Gulliver Lilliput

1. Describe some of the ways Dabble tried to play baseballwhen he was a kid.

2. What is a RoboJock 2000?

3. How big was the catcher’s mitt specially designed for Dabble’s body?

4. Describe Coach Lilliput’s last attempt to get Dabble to participate on the baseball team.

5. How do you think Dabble felt about Coach Lilliput’s plan?

6. Why did Coach Lilliput give Dabble an “F” in gym class?

7. Why did Coach Lilliput think Dr. Dabble invited him to his party?

8. Describe in detail the kind of machine Dr. Dabble turned Coach Lilliput into.

9. What is the name of Bizarroville‘s minor league baseball team?

10. Tell why Coach Lilliput thinks it odd that Dr. Dabble has flowers throughout the house.


Activity 2


He Turned Me Into a Wimp

by Coach Gulliver Lilliput

1. Describe some of the ways Dabble tried to play baseball when he was a kid.

Have you ever had difficulty learning a sport or game? Explain.

2. To help Dabble, evaluate Coach Lilliput’s two equipment choices, the RoboJock 2000 andthe specially designed catcher’s mitt.

3. Describe Coach Lilliput’s last attempt to get Dabble to participate on the baseball team and Dabble’s response to this plan.

4. What is the mascot of Barf High? Name the mascot of your school and tell what it represents.

5. Do you think it was fair for Coach Lilliput to give Dabble an “F” in gym class? Explain your reasoning.

6. Dabble‘s “F” in gym class prevented him from attending what special school?

7. What did Coach Lilliput mean when he said, “I always felt bad about that, but then again, I had a job to do”?

8. What did Coach Lilliput mean when he called Dr. Dabble’s plan “lily-livered revenge”?

9. What did Coach Lilliput think about the minor league baseball team, the Bizarroville Chicken Wings?

10. What is the clue Coach Lilliput referred to at the conclusion of his story?



Activity 3

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

In the three boxes illustrate 1) Dabble as a kid trying to hit baseballs from the RoboJock

2000, 2) Dabble wearing the life-size mitt and 3) Coach Lilliput as the human baseball-

pitching machine.


Activity 4


My Dreams of a Hollywood Comeback Were Smashed!

by Gloria Ghastly

1. Where was Gloria Ghastly heading before she decided to attend Dr. Dabble’s party?

2. How long had Gloria planned her silver-screen comeback?

3. How many face-lifts did Gloria have? What was the result of these procedures?

4. Name the movie role Gloria was offered. Why do you think she was offered this role?

5. What is Dr. Dabble’s first name?

6. What story did young Dr. Dabble tell the Bizarroville Animal Control about Poopsie, Gloria’s pink French poodle?

7. What punishment did young Dr. Dabble receive for “harassing” Gloria?

8. After Dr. Dabble kidnapped Gloria and brought her to his lab, what did he turn her into?

9. What effect did Gloria’s punishment have on her dog, Poopsie?

10. Even though her ordeal with Dr. Dabble was terrible, what good opportunity resulted from it?


Activity 5


My Dreams of a Hollywood Comeback Were Smashed!

by Gloria Ghastly

1. In addition to the invitation from Dr. Dabble, what else did Gloria Ghastly receive?

2. A modern surrealist artist offered to paint Gloria‘s picture. What do you think surrealist art is like?

3. What is a leading lady?

4. What was the name of Gloria‘s classic horror film of the Fifties?

5. Describe the first thing Gloria remembered about Dr. Dabble while eating dinner at his mansion.

6. What did Dudley Dabble say Gloria‘s dog, Poopsie, did to him?Do you believe him? (Why or why not?)

7. Do you think the punishment Dudley‘s mother gave him was appropriate?If you were Dudley’s mother, what punishment would you have given him?

8. What were the three main parts of Dr. Dabble‘s revenge on Gloria?

9. Create two different titles for the movie about Gloria‘s ordeal.

10. At the end of her ordeal in the mansion, what was Gloria still haunted by?



Activity 6

Here Kitty, Kitty

Pretend you are an editor of a pet lovers’ magazine. Create an advertisement that shows

and tells about Gloria, the Human Kitty-Litter Box.



Activity 7

The Joke Was on Me!

by Gorky Barf

1. How many years did Dudley Dabble hold a grudge against Gorky Barf?

2. What did Gorky always want to be instead of a librarian?

3. How did Gorky’s father respond when he returned to Bizarroville after his travels?

4. What is the name of the Bizarroville library and who is it named for?

5. How did Gorky punish kids who didn’t return their library books on time?

6. Name four types of props Gorky used on young Dabble.

7. What kind of jokes did Dudley Dabble hate most?

8. Describe the “human joke machine.”

9. What object did Gorky Barf keep seeing at Dr. Dabble’s mansion?

10. What two things did Gorky wonder about when he saw the mysterious writing quill?



Activity 8

The Joke Was on Me!

by Gorky Barf

1. What is a stand-up comic?

2. List some of the places Gorky performed before returning to Bizarroville.

3. Explain what Gorky meant when he said that one night he had almost died of an overdose of rotten tomatoes.

4. Explain what a knock-knock joke is. Write your own knock-knock joke.

5. What did Gorky Barf mean when he said he “went back to Bizarroville with my tail between my legs”?

6. What was the response of the Bizarroville Metropolitan Area to Gorky’s “After Hours Comedy Club”?

7. Where did Gorky make the kids with overdue books listen to his new material?

8. How did Gorky describe the young Dudley Dabble?

9. Why was Dudley Dabble considered Gorky’s “guinea pig”?

10. Why was Dr. Dabble’s revenge fitting for Gorky Barf?



Activity 9

Knock–Knock Comic Strip

Illustrate three of your favorite knock-knock jokes in the comic strips provided.



Activity 10

My Life as a Vacuum Cleaner

by the Honorable and Esteemed Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy

1. What did the mayor think should have occurred after the dinner at Dr. Dabble’s house?

2. Where did Dr. Dabble take Mayor O’Cassidy after dinner?

3. When Dabble had wheeled the mayor to this place, what did he do to her?

4. For what high school title did Dudley and the young mayor compete?

5. When Jackie O‘Cassidy was 16 years old, what was her connection to City Hall?

6. How did Mayor O’Cassidy get her mother to help her win the high school campaign?

7. Recall the first way the mayor‘s mother tried to get Dudley to drop out of the race.

8. Summarize the second way the mayor‘s mother helped her.

9. Describe the third way her mother tried to get Dudley to drop out of the presidential race.

10. Why did the mayor attend Dr. Dabble’s party when she knew he didn’t like her?



Activity 11

My Life as a Vacuum Cleaner

by the Honorable and Esteemed Mayor Jackie O’Cassidy

1. What does Mayor O’Cassidy mean by a “knuckle sandwich”?

2. Explain what ”domestic“ ginger ale is.Why does it bother the mayor that Dabble served domestic ginger ale?

3. Discuss what the mayor means when she says, “It’s best to stay on a politician’s good side, especially the town mayor‘s.”

4. During the race for student council president, how did Dudley Dabble bribe the other students?

5. Tell what the mayor meant when she said she “had no choice but to play hardball.”

6. After the Wildlife Skunk Refuge was built next door to the Dabble family home, what did the whole neighborhood end up smelling like?

7. List the three actions the mayor took to get her mother to help one last time.

8. What final tactic led Dudley Dabble to drop out of the race?

9. After all the hardball tactics the mayor used to get Dudley to quit, what did she end up calling him when he finally did?

10. Explain why Mayor O’Cassidy thought that Dr. Dabble’s house was haunted.



Activity 12

Political Hardball

In the boxes below, illustrate the three ways young Mayor O’Cassidy and her mother got

Dudley Dabble to drop out of the race for student council president.



Activity 13

I Was a Human Garbage Disposal

by Loo “Boo” Fright

1. Was Lou a popular kid in high school? Explain your answer.

2. How did Dudley‘s and Lou’s parents feel about each other?

3. Name the careers of Lou’s parents.Mother:Father:

4. What interests did Dudley and Lou share?

5. Recall the event which turned their relationship from bad to worse.

6. How did Lou and his wife, Bobbi, feel when they were invited to Dr. Dabble’s party?

7. Explain what a cyborg is.

8. Why did Dr. Dabble feel it was fitting to turn Lou into a human garbage disposal?

9. Name the three things Lou, as the human garbage disposal, could taste.

10. What was the one thing Lou couldn’t figure out after his rescue?



Activity 14

I Was a Human Garbage Disposal

by Loo “Boo” Fright

1. Explain the nature of Dudley and Lou’s relationship in high school.

2. Why was it unfortunate that Lou’s dad brought his work home with him?

3. Explain the meaning of Lou‘s dad‘s middle name.

4. What two personality traits did Lou inherit from his parents?

5. Why was it difficult for Lou to remain friends with Dudley?

6. What high school activity was Bobbi “Sox” Sax involved in?

7. Describe life for Lou after high school.

8. Explain what Lou meant when he said, “For years, I kept trying to bury the hatchet with Dabble but had no luck.”

9. Besides Bobbi and Lou, how many other Bizarroville citizens were trapped in Dabble‘s lab?

10. Describe Lou’s experience as a human garbage disposal.



Activity 15

The Garbage Gourmet

In each of the boxes illustrate a food-related product which would be consumed by Lou, the

human garbage disposal.



Activity 16

He Called Me “The Queen of the Flies”!

by Bobbi “Sox” Fright

1. How does Bobbi “Sox” compare herself as a high school student with Dudley?

2. Complete this sentence. “Dudley Dabble was a weird kid with _______________.”

3. How many brothers and sisters did Bobbi have?

4. Describe one of the small gifts Lou gave Bobbi in high school.

5. Describe the perpetual motion machine.

6. Name Bobbi’s favorite song in high school and tell how many verses it has.

7. Describe the two ways Dr. Dabble took revenge on Bobbi.

8. What did Dr. Dabble call Bobbi after he turned her into a cyborg?

9. How does Bobbi feel now about her favorite song of high school days?

10. According to Bobbi, what did Dudley Dabble have no use for?



Activity 17

He Called Me “The Queen of the Flies”!

by Bobbi “Sox” Fright

1. What kind of friendship did Dudley want to have with Bobbi when they were kids?

2. How does the house Bobbi grew up in correspond toher description of her parents?

3. Interpret what Bobbi meant by saying, ”Dudley, Lou, and I were the weirdest kids in town, and that’s saying a lot…“

4. Complete this sentence. ”Lou was as ____________ as Dudley was _________.“

5. Describe the spacey gift Dudley gave Bobbi in high school.

6. Aside from Dudley‘s being mean, why wouldn‘t he and Bobbi have been a good match?

7. Describe the wedding gift Dr. Dabble gave Bobbi.

8. Dudley never forgave Bobbi for what?

9. What is a no-pest strip?

10. What did Bobbi mean when she said, ”If Rave hadn’t rescued me in the nick of time, I would’ve gone bonkers“?



Activity 18

There Was an Old Lady

Do you know the song “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”?

The song begins as follows:

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly,I don’t know why she swallowed a fly—I guess she’ll die.There was an old lady who swallowed a spider,It wiggled, and jiggled, and tickled inside her.She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I guess she’ll die.

The old lady swallowed several objects in hopes of catching the fly.

The final object she swallowed was a horse. And she died, of course.

Write your own “Old Lady” song, using a variety of objects.

Each object must relate to the previous one.

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85

• 1 Blueprint for a Mysterious Mansion

• 2 Publish a Bizarre Yearbook• 3 The Catch-a-Clue Crash

Course

• Making deductions andinferences

• Exercising spatial sense• Utilizing geometric principles and

measurement skills

• Using effective page design andlayout skills

• Writing creatively• Working cooperatively in group

situations

The activities in Unit 3 provide culminating lessons that students complete after spending significant time exploring the program, and after completingthe activities for Units 1 and 2. While activities 1 and 2 can be doneindividually or in small groups, Activity 3 is for groups only.

INTRODUCTION

Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions

Learning Objectives

Activities

Activity 1 – Blueprint for aMysterious Mansion

If possible, obtain actual architectural blueprintsfor the students to examine. Home brochuresfrom new housing developments also providegood hands-on materials for students.

Spend time observing the details in each print.Notice that the majority of views are from anoverhead angle (as in the Personal DigitalAssistant for Reading Blaster Ages 9–12).Inviting an architect to speak to your classwould be very beneficial as well. He or she can bring along drafting tools and samples ofwork, and discuss the skills and educationnecessary to be a successful architect.

Students can use page 88 as a “drawingboard” to draft the first plan for their mansion.Provide students with large sheets of construc-tion paper for the final “blueprint”. Students’drafting tools can be pencils, fine-tipped blue or black ink pens, rulers and compasses. Whenstudents‘ work is complete, display their blue-prints for the rest of the class to enjoy.

Activity 2 – Publish a BizarreYearbook

If your school publishes a yearbook, gatherseveral copies, both recent and from the past,for students to examine. If your school does nothave a yearbook, borrow some from the highschool library in your district. Be sure to bring

in your high school yearbooks for the students to look at!

The activity can be as simple or as complex as you dictate. The minimum requirements ask students to invent six high school studentsand provide illustrations and personal infor-mation about them. (See Appendix B, page 96, for a copy of the text passage from the Barf High yearbook.) For a more elaborateproject, organize students into groups of fourand assign them the task of creating andpublishing a fictitious yearbook. Sections of the yearbook might include listings of students,sports, members of student government, socialactivities, and faculty.

Determine whether you want students toillustrate the photographs of their inventedstudents or cut out pictures from magazines.

Activity 3 – Catch-a-ClueCrash Course

Preparation time is necessary for this funactivity. All of the instructions for the “Catch-a-Clue Crash Course” are on pages 91–94.


Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions

Activity Instructions


Blueprint for a Mysterious Mansion

Rave’s Personal Digital Assistant has an important feature that allows him to navigate throughDabble’s mansion. This feature is a map of all three stories, as well as the graveyard. However, the map on Rave’s PDA is different from a city or country map. This type of a map is known as a blueprint. A blueprint is a set of plans for a house or building. Blueprints are so called becausethey are photographic prints that show white lines on a bright blue background. The contrast in color gives good definition to the drawing.

Here are the blueprints for Dr. Dabble’s mansion.

Unit 3 – Dr. Dabble’s Diversions Name:

Activity 1

Here’s your chance to design a mysterious mansion using a blueprint format. Create a mansion with every kind of room imaginable. Will there be any rooms with secret entrances? How manybathrooms will there be? How many bedrooms? Will the mansion be haunted or will it be even more mysterious and bizarre? Will it have one, two, or three stories?

Use page 88 as your ”drafting table“ to sketch outideas for your mansion. Then, using the paper yourteacher provides, create the final blueprint for yourmysterious mansion.

Blueprint for a Mysterious Mansion (continued)



Activity 1



Activity 2

Publish a Bizarre Yearbook

The students at Ralph Waldo Barf High School are indeed bizarre. You can read about each ofthem by visiting the library of Dr. Dabble’s mansion and clicking the yearbook on the table.

Yearbooks have been a long-standing school tradition. They provide a photographic record of theevents of a given school year and are fun to look from time to time.

Create your own bizarre yearbook for an imaginary school. Think up a name for the high school.Invent several students and write about their activities and future plans. Use the following exampleas a guide:

Gloria Ghastly

ActivitiesDrama Club: played Breadcrumb in“Hansel and Gretel”; understudy toGrandma in “Little Red Riding Hood”

Quote“A girl can never have too many pairsof sunglasses.”

Future PlansTo win the World’s Best Actress award

Favorite Barf High MemoryReceiving my first standing ovation (fordropping a tray in the school cafeteria)

Use page 90 for your own bizarre yearbook entry.



Activity 2

90

Publish a Bizarre Yearbook (continued)

Excerpts from the _______________________ High School Yearbook

Future Plans:

Favorite _____________ High Memory:

Name:

Activities:

Quote:



Activity 3

Summary

This activity is a detective-type simulation for theentire class. Three hands-on activities make upthe simulation. The object of Catch-a-Clue CrashCourse is for students to use their deductive andanalytical skills to solve the clues. As a reward,offer an appropriate surprise for the entire class(such as additional recess, a tasty treat, or apopcorn and video party).

Materials• 2 letter envelopes• 2 index cards

Clue 1 - Fingerprinting• index cards (one for each student)• 1 black or blue ink pad

Clue 2 - Invisible Writing• white crayons• white construction paper (one for each

student)• black paint (blue or purple will also work)• paintbrushes (one for each student)

Clue 3 - Chromatography• coffee filters (3 per class of 30)• plastic or glass drinking cups of water

(3 cups per group of students)• 3 different types of black ink pens (ball-

point, felt-tip, fine-tip, different brands, etc.)• 3 pencils per group of students• water• clear tape

Setting Up the Simulation

1. Determine what the secret message will be. For example: “Friday will be a popcorn party!” Next determine what the three clues will say. Following the above example, the clues might read:• Clue 1: T.G.I.F.• Clue 2: Native Americans called it

maize; little did they know it would cause such a craze.

• Clue 3: The popping sound I hear is music to my ears.

2. Write clue 1 on an index card and place the card in a sealed envelope. Mark the envelope clue 1 and set it aside.

3. Tell students that they will be working in detective teams to uncover and solve the three clues which will reveal a secret message.

Catch-a-Clue Crash Course


92


Activity 3

Catch-a-Clue Crash Course (continued)

Conducting Each Activity of the

Simulation

Read the instructions with your class beforeengaging in each activity.

1. For Clue 1 - Fingerprintinga. Select a student who will be the

undercover agent for this activity. This student will need to keep his composure so other students will not suspect that he is part of the clue.

b. Take a fingerprint of this student. Roll his thumb or finger on the ink pad from left to right. Then roll the finger in the same fashion onto an index card. Reproduce this fingerprint on the copier so each student has a print to examine.

c. Hand the undercover agent the envelope for clue 1. He will need to keep it in a safe place.

d. Tell students that one of their classmates has clue 1. It is their job to match the fingerprint of this student with the fingerprints of others in order to identify the undercover agent. Pass out copies of the undercover agent’s fingerprint to each student.

e. Distribute an index card to each student. Set up a “fingerprinting station” where students will be fingerprinted on their index cards. Write the name of each student beneath his or her fingerprint.

f. Place the fingerprint cards in a row. Have students analyze the fingerprint of the undercover agent and then compareit with the prints of the rest of the class.

g. Survey students as to the identity of the undercover agent. Go with whatever the majority of students decide. If this guess is wrong, ask the students to analyze the prints again.

h. When the correct match has been made, the undercover agent identifies himself then reads clue 1. Post clue 1 on the board.

Max Levon

Sandi

Tom

Jessie


93


Activity 3

2. For Clue 2 – Invisible Writinga. Gather enough white construction

paper so there is one piece for each student.

b. Write the second clue on a piece of paper with a white crayon. Put the paper back into the pile.

c. Distribute a piece of construction paper to each student. Tell them that there is invisible writing on one piece of paper.

d. Distribute paint and brushes. Instruct students to paint over their papers to see if a secret message appears.

e. When a student discovers the message,have him or her read it and show it to the class. Post clue 2 on the board.

3. For Clue 3 – Chromatographya. Ask another teacher, your principal,

the school secretary, or another staff member to volunteer to help with this activity. Have the volunteer write a note on a coffee filter. The note should read something like this: “If you can find me, I will give you clue 3.” This clue should be written with a black ink pen.

b. Cut the other coffee filters into long strips that will fit lengthwise into the clear cups. Each filter should be

one inch wide and as long as the cup. There should be three filter strips and three cups per group of students. On each strip, draw a small circle of ink about 1-1⁄2 inches from one end of the paper.

Important: Each of the three dots should be written with a different black pen. At the top of each strip, write the letters A, B, C to indicate which pen was used. Be sure to remember this yourself!

c. Tell students that the person who has clue 3 has written the class a note. Show them the note on the coffee filter. Explain that if they can deduce who wrote the note, they can go to him or her for the third clue.

d. Tell students that the note was written with one of three black pens. Show the class the pens. If students can figure out which pen wrote the message, you will be able to tell them who wrote it.



94


Activity 3

e. Explain that students will use chromatography to analyze the pens. Chromatography breaks down ink into its component colors.

f. Divide students up into small groups and give each group three filter strips and three clear cups. Pass out pencils and clear tape. Have students tape each filter strip to a pencil so the end of the filter with the black dot is farthest from the pencil.

g. Pour enough water into the glasses so the water level just touches the bottom of the filter strip when the pencil is placed across the top of the glass. (See illustration.)

h. Once the water touches the filter strip and travels to the dot of color, observe how the color separates. Look for different patterns and colors. Dependingon the type and brand of black marking pen, the colors and patterns produced will vary greatly.

i. After all the students have studied the ink samples, take a piece of the coffee filter containing the message and set up a chromatography observation station. Let students compare this sample with the three samples they have. Next, they must determine which pen wrote the message.

j. Once students are in agreement, take the class to the person with that pen (if possible) to hear the third clue.

k. Once all three clues have been obtained, tell your students what their surprise will be and congratulate them on their hard work!



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Appendix A

Travel Article

f rest and relaxation are what you’re looking for, you won’t find it in the town

of Bizarroville.

It’s worth a visit, however, during the town’sannual Have-a-Banana festival.

For the entire month of April, Bizarroville, oncethe ”banana peel capital“ of the United States,celebrates all things banana.

Bizarroville’s love affair with the banana beganin the year 1520, when Spanish sea captainVasco de Bizarro was sailing his banana boat to India. He took a wrong turn and ended uplanding right on top of Barf Rock, in what wouldlater become the town named after him—Bizarroville.

De Bizarro only stayed long enough to leavebehind a whole shipload of rotten bananas. But, year after year, Bizarrovillians honor theirfounder by holding the Have-a-Banana festival.

If you visit Bizarroville City Hall on April 1, you’ll find the entire building wrapped in a giant plastic banana peel. Enter City Hall andyou’ll find the mayor and the entire city councilwearing banana suits. “Every year this wholetown goes completely bananas,” says MayorJackie O’Cassidy.

For some culinary delights, visit the Bizarrovilletown square. Throughout the month of April, amultitude of food booths serve up banana splits,banana pizza and banana burgers. Local momBobbi “Sox” Fright makes the best mashed-banana pie this writer has ever tasted.

On April 30th, the Have-a-Banana Festival ends with a banana-eating contest and thecrowning of King and Queen Banana. At night, you’ll be treated to an extravagant, all-yellow fireworks display.

You won’t be anxious to split from this highlyappealing banana celebration.

On the Road Again: Lost in Bizarroville

by Dusty Rhodes

I


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Appendix B

Barf High Yearbook

BOBBI “SOX” SAXActivities: Head cheerleader for “The Geek

Rockets,” Barf High’s championship debate team. Member of the Off-Key Glee Club

Quote: “You can never be too cheerful or too tidy.”

Future Plans: Playing “I Know an Old LadyWho Swallowed a Fly” on the harmonica

Favorite Barf High Memory: Dancing thehokey pokey with future husband Lou “Boo”Fright at the Senior Prom

LOU “BOO” FRIGHTActivities: President of the Inventor’s ClubQuote: “If it doesn’t exist, I’ll invent it!”Future Plans: To marry Bobbi “Sox” and raise

twins in the Bizarroville suburbsFavorite Barf High Memory: Being tossed out

of the Science Club for reinventing the wheel

GORKY BARFActivities: Joke-telling, Pie-Eating Club,

Book-of-the-Month ClubQuote: “Why did the chicken cross the road? ...

uh ... I forgot the punchline.”Future Plans: To perfect the squirting-flower

practical jokeFavorite Barf High Memory: Turning myself in

to the Principal’s office because I hadnothing better to do

GLORIA GHASTLYActivities: Member of Drama Club. Played

Breadcrumb in school production of “Hanseland Gretel”; understudy to Grandma in“Little Red Riding Hood”

Quote: “A girl can never have too many pairs of sunglasses.”

Future Plans: To win the World’s Best Actressaward

Favorite Barf High Memory: Receiving my firststanding ovation for dropping a tray in theschool cafeteria

GULLIVER LILLIPUTActivities: Captain of Full-Contact Chess Team

and Extreme Red Rover, Red Rover TeamQuote: “Drop and give me 20 push-ups!”Future Plans: To always have clean socksFavorite Barf High Memory: Scoring a perfect

checkmate after giving the opposing chessplayer a power-noogie

JACKIE O’CASSIDYActivities: Vice-President of Student Council;

President of Student Council; sole member of Student Council

Quote: “Ask not what Barf High can do for you.Ask what Barf High can do for me!”

Future Plans: To be able to talk on the phonefrom anywhere at any time

Favorite Barf High Memory: Having my ownroyal throne in the school cafeteria

Excerpts From the Ralph Waldo BarfHigh School Yearbook

Documents

Teacher Materialsimages.knowledgeadventure.com/.../4688057.pdf · weird characters of Bizarroville and exploring a spooky mansion. This teacher’s guide provides off-line activities