Focus Question #1
How did Ivan’s feelings about the town influence his decision to break the second rule and cross the bay?
Answer Plan
Focus Question #2
On page 91, when September says, “Over our heads, Ivan. Way over our heads.”, what does she mean? Support your answer with details.
Answer Plan – What to do
Focus Questions #3
What do Ivan and September fear that Mooseberger now knows that they no longer have a radio (pp. 100-101), and why do you think this worries them?
Answer Plan – What to do:
Now that Harry knows September and Ivan’s secret, what do you think will happen next?
Answer Plan – What to do?
Describe what it might have looked like when Ivan and September tried to fool Mr. Berger with the dad dummy. Give descriptive details.
Answer Plan – What to do
Focus Question #6
What do Ivan and September learn from Harry about their mother’s death? How does Harry think their father feels about her death? Give details.
Answer Plan – What to do
Focus Question #7
Knowing what you do so far about September and about how kids her age feel about being accepted, why do you think September stayed so long at the party with Gabrielle?
Answer Plan – What to do
Focus Question #8
How does the author build suspense as this adventure moves into high gear?
(Author’s Craft)
Answer Plan – What to do
Focus Question #9
How does the author, Tom Bodett, continue to build suspense? (Author’s Craft)
Answer Plan – What to do
Focus Question # 10
The ending is tied to the beginning with the words, “Red sky at night...” At the beginning Ivan and September are arguing. Is this true at the end? Explain. What does this show us about their relationship with each other?
Students should have included the following in their Answer Plan:
Important decisions often have serious consequences. It could be said that Running Flower in The Legend of the Lady’s Slipper and Ivan and September in Williwaw made important decisions that had serious consequences.
Prove the above statement using specific details and examples from the selections.
Be sure to show how the characters are alike.
Use the following rubric and checklist as you write and review your response:
CHECKLIST FOR REVISION:
How did Ivan’s feelings about the town influence his decision to break the second rule and cross the bay?
Answer Plan
- Write a sentence restating the question.
- Write a sentence detailing Ivan’s feelings about town.
- Summarize Ivan’s decision.
Focus Question #2
On page 91, when September says, “Over our heads, Ivan. Way over our heads.”, what does she mean? Support your answer with details.
Answer Plan – What to do
- Restate the question telling briefly what September meant.
- Apply the meaning of the phrase “Over our heads” to Ivan and
September’s situation. - Discuss why September uses this phrase and support your answer with details from the book.
Focus Questions #3
What do Ivan and September fear that Mooseberger now knows that they no longer have a radio (pp. 100-101), and why do you think this worries them?
Answer Plan – What to do:
- Restate the question.
- Retell how September and Ivan know that Mooseberger had been in their
house and knows that their radio is broken and their father is not at home.
- Tell why you think this worries them?
Now that Harry knows September and Ivan’s secret, what do you think will happen next?
Answer Plan – What to do?
- Write a sentence restating the question and beginning to answer it.
- Give details to support your answer.
- Offer some possible predictions, supporting these predictions with
information from the text.
Describe what it might have looked like when Ivan and September tried to fool Mr. Berger with the dad dummy. Give descriptive details.
Answer Plan – What to do
- Under column one, “Words on the Page,” copy a quote from the text that creates a picture in your mind.
- Under column two, “Pictures in my Mind,” illustrate (draw) the quote.
- Under column three, “My Personal Response,” use some or all of the five
senses to describe the scene you have visualized. For example: I can see ..., I
can hear ..., I can feel ..., I can smell ..., I can taste ...
- Share your responses with those students who have chosen the same quote.
Focus Question #6
What do Ivan and September learn from Harry about their mother’s death? How does Harry think their father feels about her death? Give details.
Answer Plan – What to do
- Restate the question.
- Retell the story of Mrs. Crane’s death, as told by Harry.
- Discuss Harry’s thought on how Mr. Crane feels about his wife’s death.
Focus Question #7
Knowing what you do so far about September and about how kids her age feel about being accepted, why do you think September stayed so long at the party with Gabrielle?
Answer Plan – What to do
- Begin your answer with a restatement of the question adding the cause.
- Draw your conclusion about why September stayed so long. Use the
information in the story (Infer).
- Make a connection about being accepted by kids to conclude your answer.
(Synthesis)
Focus Question #8
How does the author build suspense as this adventure moves into high gear?
(Author’s Craft)
Answer Plan – What to do
- Begin your answer with a restatement of the question.
- Describe the craft that the author used to build the climax. If possible, use
an example from the story.
- Make a connection to how you felt as you read the chapter.
Focus Question #9
How does the author, Tom Bodett, continue to build suspense? (Author’s Craft)
Answer Plan – What to do
- Begin your answer with a restatement of the question.
- Write several sentences showing how the author uses details to build
suspense.
- Use a quote to show how the author ends the chapter building even more
suspense with a cliffhanger. (A cliffhanger chapter ending compels or makes the reader go on in the story to find out what happens next.)
Focus Question # 10
The ending is tied to the beginning with the words, “Red sky at night...” At the beginning Ivan and September are arguing. Is this true at the end? Explain. What does this show us about their relationship with each other?
Students should have included the following in their Answer Plan:
- At the beginning, Ivan and September argued quite a bit.
- After all they have gone through they are finding that they agree more than
disagree.
Important decisions often have serious consequences. It could be said that Running Flower in The Legend of the Lady’s Slipper and Ivan and September in Williwaw made important decisions that had serious consequences.
Prove the above statement using specific details and examples from the selections.
Be sure to show how the characters are alike.
Use the following rubric and checklist as you write and review your response:
CHECKLIST FOR REVISION:
- _____ Do I take a position and clearly answer the question I was asked?
- _____ Do I support my answer with examples and details from both of the selections?
- _____ Do I show how the characters are alike?
- _____ Is my writing organized and complete?