BDA: Hoot

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

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

1. What do you know about endangered species? What are they? What are some reasons they become endangered? What are some things being done to protect endangered species? 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 endangered species. You do not have to do any research for this project.

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

1. Some of the book characters change their opinion about the new Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake House. For each character who changes his or her mind, answer the following:
   
   • A. Character Name:
   
   
   • B. When character changed his or her mind about the pancake house:
   
   
   • C. Why the character changed his or her mind:


2. The author uses a lot of similes and metaphors in Hoot. Keep track of all of them in a table with the following information:
   
   • page #
   
   
   • This thing is compared to
   
   
   • this other thing.
   
   
   • Is it a metaphor or a simile?


3. Write a Trace Middle news story for each chapter, describing just the information that is common knowledge to the students.


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

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

1. Write a report about burrowing owls in the United States.


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


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


4. Write a minimum of five poems about animals that are in danger of becoming extinct.


5. Describe one of the scenes that took place at the construction site from the owl’s point of view.


6. What do you think happened to Mullet Fingers? Write at least two pages.


7. Predict where at least 7 of the following characters might be 10 years from now. Write at least one paragraph for each character.
   
   • Roy
   
   
   • Dana Matherson
   
   
   • David Delinko
   
   
   • Curly
   
   
   • Garrett
   
   
   • Miss Hennepin
   
   
   • Beatrice Leep
   
   
   • Mullet Fingers
   
   
   • Chuck Muckle
   
   
   • Mother Paula (Kimberly Lou Dixon)
   
   
   • Kalo
   
   
   • Lonna Leep