Summary:
This hilariously crafted novel tells the many stories of Jon Scieszka growing up with 6 brothers, and how they helped him to become such a funny writer. Telling about his adventures in Catholic school, lazy summers, babysitting, jokes from family dinner all come together to makeup the story Knucklehead. This book is part a memoir, and part scrapbook and tells the story about how Jon Scieszka got such a creative and hilarious mind.
This hilariously crafted novel tells the many stories of Jon Scieszka growing up with 6 brothers, and how they helped him to become such a funny writer. Telling about his adventures in Catholic school, lazy summers, babysitting, jokes from family dinner all come together to makeup the story Knucklehead. This book is part a memoir, and part scrapbook and tells the story about how Jon Scieszka got such a creative and hilarious mind.
Key Words To Describe the Book:
Teaching Strategies:
Key Vocabulary To Help With Understanding:
Electronic Resources:
Reading Rockets: This is an interview with Jon Scienszka talking about how being one of six boys in his family he forced him to find his place
NPR: This is an NPR session where Jon Scienszka. During the session he talks about his book and what it meant to him. Students can listen to him talk about the book and learn about him and the reason behind why some of the stories he told were included in his book.
Before Reading Activity:
As a pre-reading activity have students learn about what a memoir consists of. Have the students think of a memory they have and write about it. The memory must be truthful and reveal how they were feel at the time the memory happened. This will develop an understanding of how this text will be written, but from Jon Scieszka's point of view.
During Reading Activity:
The summary of the novel explains that readers will be able to answer some questions as to how someone could come up some of the stories he has written. With this have students begin to think about the things Scieszka has gone through and how he could have made that into a story.
After Reading Activity:
Jon Scieszka is known for his humor, have students create a comic book of their favorite story from the book. The comic book should include illustrations, small dialogue bubbles, and a small explanation of the scene undertake illustrations.
Writing Activity:
After students have thought about the stories that were told in the book have them create a movie script of their favorite story. In small groups students will use the descriptions and dialogue found in the book and create a scene. After the script is complete every member in the group will have a role and the students will act out the play.
- Funny
- Expressive
- Memoir
- Scrapbook
Teaching Strategies:
Key Vocabulary To Help With Understanding:
- Demolition: Deliberate destruction of a building or other structure
- Missionary: A person who is sent to a foreign country to do religious work (such as to convince people to join a religion or to help people who are sick, poor, etc.)
- Straddle: To sit or ride with a leg on either side of (something)
- Knucklehead: A stupid person
- Neckerchief: A square piece of cloth that is worn folded around your neck
- Bivalve: Having or being a shell composed of two movable valves
Electronic Resources:
Reading Rockets: This is an interview with Jon Scienszka talking about how being one of six boys in his family he forced him to find his place
NPR: This is an NPR session where Jon Scienszka. During the session he talks about his book and what it meant to him. Students can listen to him talk about the book and learn about him and the reason behind why some of the stories he told were included in his book.
Before Reading Activity:
As a pre-reading activity have students learn about what a memoir consists of. Have the students think of a memory they have and write about it. The memory must be truthful and reveal how they were feel at the time the memory happened. This will develop an understanding of how this text will be written, but from Jon Scieszka's point of view.
During Reading Activity:
The summary of the novel explains that readers will be able to answer some questions as to how someone could come up some of the stories he has written. With this have students begin to think about the things Scieszka has gone through and how he could have made that into a story.
After Reading Activity:
Jon Scieszka is known for his humor, have students create a comic book of their favorite story from the book. The comic book should include illustrations, small dialogue bubbles, and a small explanation of the scene undertake illustrations.
Writing Activity:
After students have thought about the stories that were told in the book have them create a movie script of their favorite story. In small groups students will use the descriptions and dialogue found in the book and create a scene. After the script is complete every member in the group will have a role and the students will act out the play.