8th grade Novel Unit

Introduction to the book

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUsq8G4E6qE

What do you think is in the box Jeremy received?

If a mysterious box was suddenly delivered to you, what would it look like and who would it be from?

Journal Activities and Discussion Questions

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

By Wendy Mass

Story Themes

DeathFamilyFriendshipSelf-Discovery

Main Characters

Jeremy and LizzyThey are best friends Go on a quest together to get

his mysterious box open– learn many life lessons along the way

New Vocab-write out the word and then write the correct definition next to word

Serene Something that stands for something else

Rickety Predict the future

Notorious Laying around, nothing planned

Mutant Calm, peaceful and quiet

prophecy Falling apart, not sturdy

symbolize Reputation for behaving badly

leisure Deformed or not shaped correctly

Haphazardly pg. 3

Use the context clues to define Haphazardly: The clothes where thrown haphazardly around the room making it impossible to vacuum the floor.

3 synonyms h_lt_r- sk_lt_r r_n_om c_r_l_ssly

3 antonyms _v_nly _rd_rly n_a_ly

Definition - answers

At random, arbitrarily, every which way

Synonyms – helter-skelter, randomly, carelessly

Antonyms – evenly, orderly, neatly

Journal Activity

Do you believe in fate?Do you think there is such a

thing as bad and good luck?

Journal Activity:

How does losing someone close to you change the way that you view life?

Scrutinize p. 35

Use the context clues to define scrutinize: “The meaning of life in a box,” he mutters as he bends down to scrutinize it. “Who woulda thunk it.”

Scrutinize- to examine carefully

For Discussion:

Mongo and antiques are nearly the same thing, but one is valued while the other is not.

Why is this? What does this difference teach us?

Journal Activity:Character Strengths

Write a list of your own strengths in your journal

Generates pg. 53

For Discussion: Figurative Language

What are similes? A simile is a figure of speech comparing

two unlike things, often introduced with the words "like" or "as". ...

Create 4 similies

Figurative LanguagePractice

Examples of Similes “My throat feels like a snake is wound

around it, but I manage to ask, “He believed that palm reader on the boardwalk, didn’t he?” (p. 22)

What is meant by the underlined statement?

Write a simile you make up

Commute pg. 73

More Figurative Language Examples

“It’s like a ghost town of an office.” (p. 87)

“It feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest.” (p. 158)

Explain what these statements mean. Create 2 of your own

For Discussion: Idioms and Expressions

What is the definition of idiom? Idioms are words, phrases, or

expressions that are either grammatically unusual, as “Long time, no see!”, or their meaning cannot be taken literally, as in, “It's raining cats and dogs!”

Write out 3 idioms you are familiar with

Skirting pg. 94

For Discussion: Idioms and Expressions

What do the following idioms and expressions mean?

“Can’t you use your talents for good instead of evil?” (p. 3)

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” (p.45)

Add two more of your own

For Discussion: Idioms and Expressions

“It’s raining cats and dogs” does not mean that cats and dogs are falling from the sky, but it is a metaphorical expression (word picture) that means that it is raining very heavily.

Write out 3 more idioms

Permeated p. 128

Mnemonic pg. 137

Exasperation pg. 147

Journal Activity:

Write down in your journal the meanings of the following idioms and expressions:

“You’ve heard the expression ‘Go with the flow,’right?” (p.151)

“Roll up your sleeves, and I’ll give you a quick lesson in the history of the universe.” (p.186)

Write out 2 more idioms or expressions

Obnoxious pg. 164

For Discussion:Central Theme of Loss

Examples: Death of Jeremy’s father and abandonment of Lizzy’s mother

Do you think that this is what draws Jeremy and Lizzy together as friends?

Why do you think Lizzy is concerned with what Samatha thinks of her?

Journal Activity

What three pieces of advice would you give the main character?

Primordial pg. 188

Journal Activity

Jeremy has a lot of “what ifs?” in his life. What is the biggest “what if” in your life?

Journal Activity

Cite examples that show the bond Jeremy and Lizzy share in their friendship.

For Discussion: Fate/Bad Luck

Jeremy has internal battle with himself over the difference between fate and bad luck (pages 82-86).

Discuss: What is the definition of fate?

Journal Activity: Life Lessons

What three items did Jeremy and Lizzy need to deliver for Mr. Oswald?

What is the significance of each item (in relation to the respective owner or Jeremy)

What “life lesson” did Jeremy take away from each encounter?

For Discussion: The Meaning of Life

Mr. Randolph defined the meaning of life as “finding one’s potential and embracing it” (p.156)

What is meant by this statement?

For Discussion: The Meaning of Life cont…

Dr. Grady refers to life as “it’s the journey, not the destination.” (p.186)

Would agree with this statement? Does the letter from written by Jeremy’s

father reflect these sentiments? How?

Journal Activity

Which of the deliveries was your favorite? Why?

For Discussion:Character Strengths

What are Jeremy’s strengths? Refer to the conversation between Jeremy and Lizzy on page 18

Read aloud the story about the fight between two wolves on page 271

Discuss the concept of good vs. evil and the notion that the wolf you feed can be considered your strength

For Discussion:

Jeremy's world is full of helpful strangers.

Do you believe this is true to life or do you think most people would rather not be bothered with the problems of strangers?

Journal Activity

How did this story give you a better understanding of human nature?

Journal Activity

Which events in the story are relevant to your own life?

Journal Activity

Do you think that that the summer’s events helped Jeremy better deal with his father’s death?

Describe the transformed Jeremy.

For Discussion:

Were you surprised that Jeremy’s father had planned this entire adventure?

What life-lessons did Jeremy learn? How has this experience changed him?

Journal Activity

What impact has this story made on you?

Vocabulary Practice: