BDA: Flush

Here are some Before, During, and After activities for Flush by Carl Hiaasen:

Before You Begin Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. What do you know about pollution? What types of things pollute? Who is hurt by pollution? What are some things being done to decrease pollution? Write at least half a page.


2. Is there a cause that you think is worth fighting for? How far would you go for your cause? Some people commit crimes for something they believe in. How far is too far? Complete at least half a page.


3. Make a poster showing what you know about pollution. You do not have to do any research for this project. Just use what you know from your experience.


4. Have you ever had to help a family member who was in trouble? Is there someone in your family that you would do anything for. Describe the person you have helped or someone you would help. Describe why you would help this person. Write at least half a page.

While You Are Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Keep a chart of all the characters from the book that includes the following information:
   
   • Name:
   
   
   • Description of the person:
   
   
   • How this person is involved with The Coral Queen:
   
   
   • What you think about this character:


2. Write a news story for each chapter, describing just the information that is common knowledge to the public.


3. Illustrate a scene for at least 12 of the book’s chapters. Write a caption for each drawing.


4. Make a list of at least 20 words you are unfamiliar with as you read the story. Complete the following for each word:
   
   • Word
   
   
   • Definition
   
   
   • Page #

When You Have Finished Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Write a report about one of the following:
   
   • Gambling laws
   
   
   • Pollution laws
   
   
   • Eco-terrorism


2. Make a poster and/or a brochure explaining an environmental concern.


3. Make a scrapbook of newspaper and magazine articles about pollution. Write one page describing what you learned from the articles.


4. Write a minimum of five poems about pollution.


5. Predict where at least 7 of the following characters might be 10 years from now. Write at least one paragraph for each character.
   
   • Dusty Muleman
   
   
   • Noah Underwood
   
   
   • Paine Underwood (Dad)
   
   
   • Donna Underwood (Mom)
   
   
   • Abbey Underwood
   
   
   • Mr. Shine
   
   
   • Jasper Jr.
   
   
   • Bull
   
   
   • Lice Peeking
   
   
   • Shelly
   
   
   • Grandpa Bobby
   
   
   • Luno

BDA: Down the Rabbit Hole

Here are some Before, During, and After activities for Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams:

Before You Begin Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. What do you know about the book Alice in Wonderland? Who are the characters? What happens to Alice? Write at least half a page.


2. What sports do you play? Describe a great moment you had competing in a sport. Describe a disappointing moment. Complete at least half a page.


3. Describe any problems you have had getting along with your brothers or sisters. Why do you think you have trouble? Write a minimum of half a page.


4. Have you ever kept a secret? How did it feel to keep the secret? Were you tempted to share the secret? What was the secret about? Is keeping a secret always the best thing to do? Why or why not? Write at least half a page.

While You Are Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Ingrid likes to notice “the trifles” about people. Keep track of specific details about each character as you read the book. What do you think each trifle might mean?
   
   • Character Name
   
   
   • Trifles (details) about the character
   
   
   • What the trifles might mean


2. Fill out a chart with the following information as you read the story:
   
   • Vocabulary Word
   
   
   • How does the word relate to the story?


3. As you read the story, keep a Clue Journal. Make a list of all the clues. Then, at the end of each chapter, write at least a paragraph about what you think the clues might mean. Explain your reasoning.


4. Pretend you write for the school newspaper. Write stories for at least 7 important events/issues in the book. You can write about sporting events, local mysteries, school issues, local events, etc.


5. If you were in Ingrid’s position, would you choose to do the same things that she chooses? At the end of each chapter, describe the problem Ingrid is faced with. What would you have done if you were in the same situation?

When You Have Finished Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Investigate one of the following topics and create a poster, give an oral report, or write a report.
   
   • Sports and Pressure to Perform
   
   
   • Why Art is Important to My Community
   
   
   • Sherlock Holmes
   
   
   • Commercial Development vs. Natural Environment: Pros and Cons to Development
   
   
   • Socioeconomic Issues in My Community


2. Write an alternate ending to the book. Write your own chapters 29 and 30.


3. Research the poems used in the book. Make a display that answers the following questions for each poem:
   
   • What is the name of the poem?
   
   
   • Who is the author?
   
   
   • When was the poem written?
   
   
   • What is the poem about?
   
   
   • Why do you think Peter Abrahams used this poem in the book?
   
   
   • Did you learn any other interesting facts about the poem?


4. Write a letter to one of the main characters discussing what you think about one of the following issues:
   
   • Commercial Development
   
   
   • Money Issues
   
   
   • Sports Pressures
   
   
   • Rules


5. Pretend you are the producer/director of the movie adaptation of this book. Choose actors to play each role. Choose locations for shooting the movie. Make at least 2 movie poster mock-ups. Write a short paper describing why you chose the actors and locations that you did.

BDA: Crusader

These are Before, During, and After activities for Crusader by Edward Bloor:

Before You Begin Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Think of a problem that you have had or you have in your life. Describe the problem. How did you feel about the problem? What did you do about the problem? How do you feel about what you did? Write at least half a page.


2. What is the best advice someone has given you? What was helpful about this advice? Did you listen? Write a minimum of half a page.


3. Describe a person in your life who is a role model to you. What are his or her best qualities? How does this person make you a better person? Write at least half a page.


4. What do you think about arcade games? How are they good and/or bad? Complete at least half a page.


5. What is prejudice? Give examples of prejudice. Write at least half a page.

While You Are Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Keep a chart of all the characters from the book that includes the following information:
   
   • Name
   
   
   • Job
   
   
   • Place where he or she works
   
   
   • First description of the person
   
   
   • New information about the person


2. Roberta tries to solve two mysteries in the book. Keep track of the clues in a chart including the following columns:
   
   • page #
   
   
   • Clue
   
   
   • What I think it means…


3. Roberta tells a lot of lies in the book. Keep track of the lies in a chartincluding the following columns:
   
   • page #
   
   
   • Lie
   
   
   • Why she told this lie…


4. There are several direct and indirect references to discrimination, stereotypes, and prejudice in the book. Keep track of these references in a chart including the following information:
   
   • page #
   
   
   • Who made the reference?
   
   
   • What did he or she say?
   
   
   • Why?

When You Have Finished Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Research one of the following topics. Then write a report or a make a poster with the information you learn:
   
   • Muckrakers
   
   
   • Talk shows and society
   
   
   • Videogames and violence: are they linked?
   
   
   • Suicide
   
   
   • The mall in American towns
   
   
   • Hate crimes, atrocities, prejudice (Holocaust, Serbia, KKK, skinheads, etc.)


2. “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Roberta learns new information about some of the characters and has to completely change the way she looks at them. Write a paper showing the different facets of at least three of the characters.


3. Roberta quotes a lot of Dr. Seuss. Write a summary of Crusader in the style of Dr. Seuss.


4. Several of the characters contemplate suicide. Write a letter giving reasons for not giving up.


5. Roberta is told to be a “survivor” by Mrs. Weiss What qualities does a survivor have? Give examples of survivors from your own life and/or from history.


6. Write a minimum of 5 poems on the topic of surviving and survivors.


7. Design a proposal for a videogame that promotes good values and character traits. Your proposal should include a description of the game, screen shots, how it will be promoted, etc.


8. Sam and Roberta agree that history has more than one side and more than one description. Read about two sides of any controversial historical event. Prepare an oral presentation or a poster showing both sides.


9. Interview “a survivor.” Either write up a report of your interview or edit a videotape of your interview.

BDA: The Clay Marble

These are Before, During, and After activities for The Clay Marble by Minfong Ho:

Before You Begin Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Make a list of everything you already know about Cambodia.


2. Write a definition for the word family. Give examples of different kinds of families. Write at least half a page.


3. Is you family non-traditional? Maybe a grandparent lives with you or you live with just one parent. What is it like being part of a non-traditional family? Write a minimum of half a page.


4. Have you ever had to leave your home because of an emergency? Describe what happened. How did you feel? Write at least half a page.


5. Write a poem about your family.

While You Are Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. During the story, Dara asks the clay marble to grant her wishes. Answer the following questions each time she makes a wish:
   
   • Describe the situation.
   
   
   • What does Dara wish?
   
   
   • What happens?


2. Create pictures or 3-D representations of Dara’s family and their temporary homes in different stages of change.


3. Dara learns about survival during her adventures. As you read, write a manual of survival skills including necessary supplies.

When You Have Finished Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Make at least three toy artifacts such as the ones described in the book.


2. Create a poster describing current events and issues in Cambodia.


3. Research and write a report about an issue in Cambodia.


4. Write a two poems or songs about the clay marble or another topic from the story.


5. Make a scrapbook of Dara’s family members and their adventure. Write captions for pictures.

BDA: Born Confused

Here are some Before, During, and After activities for Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier:

Before You Begin Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Do you ever feel like you are playing a role or pretending to be someone you are not? Write at least half a page describing the roles you play, why you play them, and how pretending makes you feel.


2. Write a definition for the word culture. Give examples of your or another person’s culture. Write at least half a page.


3. Who are you? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What do you like about yourself? What would you like to change? Write a minimum of half a page.


4. Who understands you? Who doesn’t? Write at least half a page describing these people and why you think they do or do not understand you.


5. Write a poem about your family.

While You Are Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Write a letter to Dimple (or another character) at the end of each chapter. Let the person know what you think of what they are thinking or doing?


2. Pretend you are Dimple or Gwyn and keep a diary from that person’s point of view.


3. As you read, make a scrapbook of Dimple’s experiences. Use your own photographs or drawings. You may use excerpts from the book as captions for the pictures.


4. Take your own photographs that you think represent events from the story. Write an explanation of why you chose each photograph and what it represents.

When You Have Finished Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Research Indian-American and South Asian organizations and activities in your area. Make a brochure of the information you gather.


2. Listen to India music (bhangra, Goan trance music, Lata Mangeshkar, Bollywood film hits, etc.) Create three drawings or write a page saying what you think of the music.


3. Did the book make you think about your own identity and your relationships with others? Write a paper describing what you used to think and what you think now.


4. At the beginning of the book, some of Dimple’s relationships with others are strained. Think about your own relationships that could use improvement. Create a plan to strengthen each relationship.


5. Interview an American-born Indian, and write a paper describing what you learned.

BDA: So Far From the Bamboo Grove

These are Before, During, and After activities for So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kwashima:

Before You Begin Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Write down everything you know about Japan (history, location, culture, pop culture). Write a minimum of half a page.


2. What do you know about Japan’s role during World War II? Write a minimum of half a page.


3. Have you ever had to move to a new city or town? Describe what happened. Why did you move? Where did you move? How different was the new place? How did it feel to move? Write a minimum of half a page.


4. Think of a family member (or another person) who you know you can always count on. What makes you feel like you can count on this person? Write a minimum of half a page.


5. Have you ever had to be very brave? What were the circumstances? What happened? Write a minimum of half a page.

While You Are Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Write a journal entry from Ko’s point of view at the end of each chapter. Do you think Ko saw events differently than Yoko?


2. Draw a map of Japan and Korea. As you read, plot the story events where they occurred on the map.


3. Make a historical timeline of world events affecting Yoko’s family (Japan ruling Korea, World War II, etc.). Plot events from the book on the timeline.


4. Create a postcard at the end of each chapter that represents what happened or how the characters are feeling. You can draw a card or make a collage from pictures and words you cut out. Write a minimum of two sentences explaining each postcard.


5. Keep a Reading Reaction Journal. At the end of each chapter write at least half a page discussing what you think about what happened.

When You Have Finished Reading…
Complete one of the following activities.

1. Research and write a report on one of the following. The report should be a minimum of two pages.
   
   • Japan’s colonization of Korea
   
   
   • The Korean War
   
   
   • Japanese traditional dance
   
   
   • Japan after World War II


2. Haiku are Japanese poetry. Usually they are written about nature. Write a minimum of 5 haikus about the events in the story.
   

   The form of haiku is:
   1st line – 5 syllables
   2nd line – 7 syllables
   3rd line – 5 syllables



3. Research and perform a traditional Japanese dance.


4. Write a possible next chapter for the story.


5. Write an obituary for each character that died in the story. (An obituary is a brief biography of the deceased.)