Na me : Da t e · 2020. 3. 19. · The Watsons go to Birmingham Novel Study Introduction : Scholars will read “ The Watsons Go to Birmingham” for Quarter Three. The story is an

Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ The Watsons go to Birmingham Novel Study

Introduction: Scholars will read “The Watsons Go to Birmingham” for Quarter Three. The story is an historical fiction with ideals about the African American family, social justice, and coming to age during the 1960s. Scholars are expected to complete the following:

Activity Possible Points

Comprehension Questions for EACH chapter - 15 chapters

75 points - 5 points per chapter

Supporting Activity EACH Chapter - 15 chapters

30 points - 2 points per chapter

Two “Digging Deeper” Activities - Activity One: StoryBoard - Activity Two: What would the Character

do?

20 points - 10 points per activity - Activities can be completed at any time

during the novel study

Quizzes/test - 3 quizzes/tests total - Chapters 1-5, Chapters 6-10, Whole book

50 points - 20 points for the 2 quizzes (10 points

each) - 30 Points for the test.

Participation in Book Talks (Every Friday) - Discussion topics for each Friday are

included

15 points

Final Project - A choice between two options

1. Instagram Post PosterBoard 2. Post Card PosterBoard

50 points

Novel Study Total Points 240 Points

Everything you need to be successful is included in this Packet. Be sure to complete your reading and worksheets NIGHTLY. You may work at your own pace but be reminded of your quiz and discussion dates!

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ The Watsons Go to Birmingham Novel Study

Table of Contents Pages Contents

Page 3 Reading schedule

Pages 4-5 Chapter 1 Questions, Vocabulary, Discussion Questions



Pages 10-11 Chapter 4 Questions, Writing

Pages 12-13 Chapter 5 Questions, Vocabulary

Pages 14-15 Chapter 6 Questions, Vocabulary

Pages 16-17 Chapter 7 Questions, Vocabulary, Grammar

Pages 18-19 Chapter 8 Questions, Vocabulary, Analyzing Characters

Pages 20-21 Chapter 9 Questions, Vocabulary, Road Trips, Discussion Questions

Pages 22-23 Chapter 10 Questions, Vocabulary, Writing Comprehension

Pages 24-25 Chapter 11 Questions, Vocabulary, Written Response

Pages 26-27 Chapter 12 Questions, Vocabulary, Constructed Response

Pages 28-29 Chapter 13 Questions, Vocabulary, Research

Pages 30-31 Chapter 14 Questions, Vocabulary, Research

Pages 32-33 Chapter 15 Questions, Vocabulary, Writing

Page 34-36 Final Project Option One: PostCard

Page 37-38 Final Project Option Two: Instagram Post

Page 39 Digging Deeper Activity One: Story Map

Page 40-42 Digging Deeper Activity Two: What would that character do?

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________

Recommended Reading Schedule End of Quarter 3: March 26th

*Class Discussion Dates are Underlined*

The Theme of The Novel

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ The Watsons go to Birmingham

Chapter One: And you Wonder why they call us the Weird Watsons Comprehension Questions

1. What does Curtis compare your breath to on page one?

A. Frozen air B. Puffs C. Train smoke D. Saturday

2. Why was Momma the coldest of all the Watsons?

A. She refused to get under the covers. B. She was mad about moving to Flint. C. She was from Alabama, so she wasn’t used to the cold. D. She wanted everyone else to have the heat.

3. What does Curtis MAINLY mean when he says, “The guy might as well have tied Dad to a tree and said, ‘Ready, aim, fire!?”

A. Dad was going to get shot by mom. B. The warm temperatures were going to make mom angrier at dad. C. Dad was going to have to live with Aunt Cydney from now on. D. Dad was going to freeze to death.

4. Match the Character to their Description _____ Kenny A. Dad’s sister; offered to let the family stay with her

_____ Dad B. Emotional member of family who grew up in Alabama

_____ Momma C. Oldest child of Watson family; juvenile delinquent

_____ Byron D. Jokester of the Watson family; grew up in Flint, Michigan

_____ Joetta E. Narrator of the story; middle Watson child

_____ Cydney F. Youngest member of the Watson family; nicknamed Joey 5. Written Response: If you were Kenny Watson, how would you feel about your brother Byron’s behavior? If you were Joetta, what would it mean to have your big brother be called a juvenile delinquent? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Chapter One: And you Wonder why they call us the Weird Watsons Vocabulary

Academic Language

Page and Paragraph Definition Word in a Sentence

Delinquent Page 2, Paragraph ____

Hilarious

Automatically

Write a Short Story using the words above. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham

Chapter One: And you Wonder why they call us the Weird Watsons Possible Class Discussion Questions

1. In Chapter 1, Kenny plays along with Byron and Buphead’s Surviving the Blizzard test. On

page 11 he says, “I made up my mind that no matter how hard they threw me in that snow I was going to get up laughing.” Why would Kenny do this? Do you agree with his choice?

2. Read the selection below from pages 1-2.

“All of my family sat real close to each other on the couch under a blanket. Dad said this would generate a little heat but he didn’t have to tell us this, it seemed like the cold automatically made us want to get together and huddle up. “

What are the meanings of Generate and Automatically?

3. How does the setting of the story affect the events that occur during chapter one?

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Chapter Two: Give my Regards to Clark, Poindexter Comprehension Questions

1. What does the word “hostile” on page 23 most likely mean? A. Jolly B. Happy C. Angry D. Indifferent

2. Why does Kenny see the new kids’ arrival as a miracle?

A. He will finally have a friend. B. He’s always wanted to meet someone from the South. C. He knows kids will stop picking on him to pick on the new kids. D. He will have someone to sit with on the bus.

3. What is the MAIN reason the bus driver becomes angry with Larry Dunn?

A. He was disrespectful to the new kids. B. He threw a cookie at the kid. C. He was late to the bus stop. D. He teased the driver’s momma.

4. What is the purpose of the flashbacks of visiting other classrooms on page 22?

A. To show that Kenny has always been bullied because he is smart. B. To show that Kenny was always teased because of his lazy eye. C. To show that Mr. Alums was the toughest teacher in the school. D. To show that Kenny was always considered smart and liked by teachers.

Cause and Effect 5. What caused teachers to treat Kenny differently than other kids in the school? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. What effect did this special treatment have on Kenny? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Using Evidence 7. What does the bus driver think of the way Larry Dunn treats the new boy on the bus? Use a quote from the text to support your answer. (Hint: pages 28-31). ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Chapter Two: Give my Regards to Clark, Poindexter Vocabulary

1. What does the word “hostile” on page 23 most likely mean? A. Jolly B. Happy C. Angry D. Indifferent

2. What does the word “punctual” on page twenty eight most likely mean?

A. On time B. Late C. Early D. Loud

3. 12. Based on the context throughout the chapter, what does the word poindexter most likely mean?

A. Silly B. Cockeyed C. Smart D. Dumb

Written Response: Even though Kenny gets called names like “Poindexter,” “egghead,” and “professor,” he continues to put the same effort into his reading and his schoolwork. Unlike Kenny, many people would not choose to ignore the teasing, but would instead stop the reading, studying, etc. so that the teasing might stop. Have you ever ignored being teased by your peers in order to do the right thing? Explain your situation and how it made you feel about yourself. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter Two: Give my Regards to Clark Poindexter

Possible Class Discussion Questions

1. On page 28, Kenny says a “miracle” happened: He was sent a savior. Why does Kenny view the new Southern boy as his savior? Do you agree with Kenny’s judgment?

2. Mr. Alums, the fifth grade teacher, tells the class, “I’ve often told you that as Negroes the world is many times a hostile place for us.” Why would he say this?

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Chapter Three: The World’s Greatest Dinosaur war Ever Comprehension Questions

1. What does Kenny mean when he says he is “different” on page 45? A. He is meaner than the other kids at Clark Elementary. B. He is nicer than the other kids at Clark Elementary. C. He is happier than the kids at Clark Elementary. D. He is not the same person as his brother, Byron.

2. What two things were “wrong” with Rufus that kids picked on him about?

A. His accent and clothes. B. His clothes and lazy eye. C. His intellect and clothes. D. His accent and lazy eye.

3. What caused Rufus to stop eating the lunches Kenny brought for him?

A. Rufus became embarrassed that Kenny was bringing him food. B. Other kids made fun of Rufus for getting his food from Kenny. C. Rufus was hurt that Kenny laughed at him along with all the other kids. D. Kenny got tired of bringing Rufus and Cody food.

Making Inferences 4. Why did Rufus save half of the sandwich Kenny gave him for later? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5. Why would Rufus save the half sandwich for his little brother? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Read the excerpt from the book below:

This guy was real desperate for a friend because even though I wouldn’t say much back to him he kept jabbering away at me all through class.

What can you infer are the meanings of the words “desperate” and Jabbering”? Explain your answer. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter Three: The World’s Greatest Dinosaur War Ever

Vocabulary

Academic Language

Page and Paragraph Definition Use the Word in a Sentence

Hostile

Vital

Incapable

Emulate

Write a Short Story using the words above. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter Three: The World’s Greatest Dinosaur War Ever

Possible Class Discussion Questions

1. When Kenny goes to Rufus’ house to try to make amends, Rufus says to Kenny, “I didn’t think you was like all them other people. I thought you was different.” How does this make Kenny feel?

2. When Rufus tells Kenny that he thought Kenny was different, what did he mean by this? In what ways was Kenny “different” from others? Why was this important to Rufus?

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ 3. So far, How does this story relate to what we have already learned about Black History.

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter Four: The World’s Greatest Dinosaur war Ever

Comprehension Questions

1. Kenny compares Byron and himself to a solar system on page fifty one. What type of figurative language is this, and why did he make this comparison?

A. Metaphor; they were big and vast. B. Metaphor; they were like aliens. C. Simile; Byron kept circling Kenny. D. Simile; Kenny kept circling Byron.

2. How does Byron help Kenny with Joetta in chapter four?

A. Byron consoles Joey when she cries. B. Byron takes off Joey’s coats in her classroom. C. Byron walks her to school for Kenny. D. Byron tells her the story of “Froze up Southern Folks.”

3. Why did Rufus look the other way when Kenny started crying in this chapter?

A. Rufus didn’t want Kenny to see him laughing. B. Rufus didn’t want Kenny to get angry at him. C. Rufus knew it was really embarrassing to cry. D. Rufus was trying to find Byron.

4. You can infer that Sugar Ray Robinson is which type of athlete? (p. 60)

A. A track star B. A football player C. A boxer D. A basketball player

Using Evidence from the text

1. Rufus figures out that Larry Dunn stole Kenny’s gloves. What evidence does he have to prove it?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How does Kenny react when he realizes he only has one glove? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. In this Chapter we learn that Larry Dunn is poor. What evidence supports this inference? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter Four: The World’s Greatest Dinosaur war Ever

Writing 1. We notice in this chapter that several of the characters cannot afford proper clothing for

the winter. This is very true for many people in our country. Do you feel a responsibility to treat the needy with compassion? What are some ways that communities can help those who are unable to afford clothing and food? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Write a letter to Momma from Joey or Kenny persuading her to let them wear fewer layers to school. In your letter, include at least THREE good reasons why she should consider this.

_________________________________ Date

Dear_______________________________, Greeting

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ Sincerely,

__________________________________ Closing

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter Five: Chapter 5 “Nazi Parachutes Attack America…”

Comprehension Questions 1. How did Kenny FIRST know Byron was going to do something bad in the bathroom? A. Kenny heard By lighting matches. B. Kenny heard the toilet flush repeatedly. C. Kenny heard By lock the door. D. Kenny heard Momma yell at Byron.

2. Why does Curtis use the simile, “He looked like one of those ballerinas that dance just on the tips of their toes?”

A. To describe Byron’s feet when Momma carried him down the stairs. B. To describe Larry Dunn as a carp in The Great Carp Escape. C. To describe how Kenny ran down the stairs after getting matches. D. To describe Dad as he ran down to the stairs after finding out Byron’s actions.

3. Why were the matches that Momma held wet?

A. They had fallen into the sink. B. They had been outside in the rain. C. They had fallen into the toilet. D. Momma’s hands were so sweaty.

4. How do the Watsons kids know that Momma is angry?

A. She screams. B. She talks “southern style.” C. She throws things. D. She slams the door.

5. Why does Kenny compare Joetta to a traffic cop on page seventy? What type of figurative language is this?

A. Joetta was blowing a whistle; metaphor B. Joetta was blowing a whistle; simile C. Joetta was standing between Momma and By; metaphor D. Joetta was standing between Momma and By; simile

6. Momma was pretty upset at Byron. Momma is likely upset because she knows first hand how dangerous fire can be. What happened when she was a little girl? Include a quote from the text to support your answer. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter Five: Chapter 5 “Nazi Parachutes Attack America…”

Vocabulary

1. Consider the following sentence from Chapter 5 (p. 66):

Byron was on take seven when Momma finally wondered why the toilet was being flushed so much and came upstairs to see what was going on. The whole upstairs smelled like a giant match and she knew something was fishy even before she got to the top step.

Given the context of the sentences, what do “take seven” and “fishy” mean? Explain your answer. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Complete the missing Information in the chart Word Page

Number Copy the Sentence from the text

What can you infer this word means?

Strangling

67

Traitor

72

Strangle

squeeze or constrict the neck of (a person or animal), especially so as to cause death.

Deserve

Be worthy

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter Six: Chapter 6 “Swedish Cremes and Welfare Cheese”


1. Why does Momma repeat the grocery list to Byron on page seventy five? A. Byron did not hear her the first time. B. Byron could not hear her over the chopping. C. Momma wanted Byron to do as she asked. D. Momma wanted Byron to get the list right.

2. Why is Byron convinced that their family is now on Welfare?

A. Daddy has lost his job. B. Momma tells Byron to sign for the food. C. Byron heard Momma and Dad discussing it. D. Byron found the paperwork for the Welfare.

3. Why is Byron happy when he finds out about signing for the food?

A. Byron knows he can get whatever food he wants now. B. Byron knows the family is not on Welfare. C. Byron knows his family is wealthy. D. Byron knows Kenny will get in trouble.

4. Why does Byron hide behind the comics when the boys go to get the food?

A. Byron is very interested in comic books. B. Byron doesn’t want Mr. Mitchell to see him stealing. C. Byron doesn’t want to be embarrassed by “signing” for the food. D. Byron doesn’t want Kenny to see him.

Cause and Effect Questions 5. What caused the mourning dove to die? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. What effect did the bird’s death have on Byron? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. What lesson, if any, do you believe Byron learned from the dove’s death? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter Six: Chapter 6 “Swedish Cremes and Welfare Cheese”

Vocabulary (Includes chapters 1-6) Directions: Find the following historical words/phrases in the book. Use context Clues and Research to figure out their meanings. Even if you are not able to research, the context clues are enough to help you along. Words and Phrases Quote the sentence from the

text here What do you think this word or Phrase means?

Coloreds-Only Bathrooms (p. 5)

“Coloreds” (p. 5)

“Negroes” (p. 23)

Langston Hughes (p. 24)

Welfare (p. 76)

Handkerchief (p. 87)

Making Predictions: How do you think Byron’s parents will react when they find out that he signed for “free food” in the form of cookies at the grocery store? Explain your answer. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 7: “Every Chihuahua in America Lines Up to Take a Bite out of Byron”


1. What is the most likely reason Kenny’s head automatically goes down sometimes? A. He is sad about something that has occurred. B. He is laughing too hard about something that has occurred. C. He is embarrassed and lacks self confidence. D. He is angry about something that has occurred.

2. What does Kenny compare Byron to when they are waiting for daddy to get home?

A. A porcupine B. A clown C. A Mexican D. A prisoner

3. What event is Kenny referring to when he says Byron has been banned from matches?

A. Momma’s Smokey the Bear story B. Byron’s NAZI parachuting movie C. The Greatest Dinosaur War Ever D. The Great Carp Escape

4. What does Byron mean when he says jive on page ninety two?

A. Silly B. Smart C. Funny D. Great

5. How does Joey treat Byron when she sees what he did to his hair?

A. She is angry at him. B. She is protective of him. C. She laughs at him. D. She teases him.

6. Who is the “executioner” Kenny refers to on page ninety one?

A. Momma B. Daddy C. Grandma Sands D. Mrs. Davidson

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 7: “Every Chihuahua in America Lines Up to Take a Bite out of Byron”

Grammar Parts of Speech

Directions: Identify the part of speech underlined in the following sentences as a noun, verb, adjective, or pronoun. I was sitting at the kitchen table doing homework and watching Momma

make dinner when Byron came in through the back door.

He was surprised we were there ‘cause as soon as he saw us he turned around and tried to walk right back out.

Both me and Momma smelled a rat .

“Byron,” Momma said , “what have I told you about wearing that hat in the house?”

“Oh yeah, I was just going right back…” He pushed the screen door open again.

Byron was trapped in the doorway, with his right foot in and his left foot out.

Momma put down the knife she’d been peeling potatoes with and wiped her hands on a dish towel.

Byron ’s inside foot joined his outside one in trying to getaway.

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________

“Uh, I’ll be back in a minute, they ’re waiting for me down at --“

“Byron Watson, you take off that hat and get over here right this minute!”

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 8: “The Ultra Glide” Comprehension Questions

1. Why does Kenny turn his head to the side when he looks at his reflection?

A. He likes to look at his profile from the side. B. He wants to look at himself from his “good” side. C. He wants his eyes to look like they’re going the same way. D. He saw Dad do it and wants to be just like him.

2. Which word would BEST replace seniority on page 106?

A. Minority B. Rank C. Height D. Strength

3 . Why does The Author make a point to say that Byron crowded around the car on page 109?

A. To show you that they were all so curious that even “cool” Byron looked. B. To show you that Byron hadn’t been sent into the house. C. To show you that Byron was a part of the family. D. To show you that Byron thought he was too cool to look at the mysterious item.

4. What is the main reason Momma gave Dad a dirty look on page 109?

A. She was mad at Dad for not showing her the record player first. B. .She was mad that Dad had spent money to buy a record player. C. She was mad at Byron for saying “ain’t .” D. She was mad at Kenny for not pulling off the towel quickly enough.

5. What caused Dad to be sad, according to page 110?

A. Momma hurt his feelings by yelling at him. B. Byron hurt his feelings by not being impressed. C. Momma hurt his feelings by going inside. D. Kenny hurt his feelings by not being impressed.

6. Momma and Dad had threatened to send Byron to Grandma Sands’ house many times, but the kids never believed it would really happen. Where in the book does Kenny list the three good reasons to believe that his parents were bluffing? What are the reasons? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 8: “The Ultra Glide”

Analyzing Characters

Directions: Match each character from chapters 1-8 to his or her description. 1. _____ Byron A. Kenny’s former playmate who stole dinosaurs

2. _____ Buphead B. Momma; from Birmingham, Alabama

3. _____ Rufus C. Teacher at Clark Elementary

4. _____ Kenny D. Dad; from Flint, Michigan

5. ____ LJ Jones E. Wilona’s mother who lives in Birmingham, Alabama

6. _____ Joetta F. Byron’s best friend

7. _____ Daniel G. Narrator of the story; Middle Watson child

8. ____ Wilona H. Kenny’s good friend who moved from Arkansas

9. ____ Mr. Alums I. Eldest Watson child; juvenile delinquent

10.____ Grandma J. Youngest Watson child; very sweet and caring

Create a Chart with Pros (positives) and Cons (negatives) to sending Byron to Grandma Sands for Kenny. Include at least three Pros and three Cons.

Topic: Sending Byron to Grandma Sands

Pros Cons

1. 2.

1. 2.

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________

3.

3

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 9 “The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963”


1. Why did Momma go to the library prior to the family’s trip? A. To research Birmingham for the children. B. To make copies of maps for their trip. C. To look up information about the states they were traveling through. D. To get the kids books to read on the trip.

2. Why does Buphead say that Byron will “be as black as the ace of spades” after being in Birmingham on page 134?

A. Byron will get beaten by Grandma Sands. B. Byron will be darker from the hot sun in Alabama. C. Byron will get beaten by the violence of the Civil Rights Movement. D. Byron will be tired from all the hard work he does in Alabama.

3. What is Byron’s plan to get back at Momma and dad on the trip to Birmingham?

A. Byron is going to sing loudly and annoy everyone. B. Byron is going to lie down in the back seat to annoy everyone. C. Byron is going to play the same record over and over. D. Byron isn’t going to talk, even when Momma and Dad ask him questions.

4. Which of the following emotion BEST describes Kenny at the end of Chapter Nine?

A. Scared B. Excited C. Confident D. Embarrassed

5. Why does Dad ask if Kenny wants to go in the house and get “ Yakety Yak”?

A. It is Kenny’s favorite song. B. It is Dad’s favorite song. C. It is Byron’s favorite song. D. It is Momma’s favorite song.

6. What does Dad compare being an adult to?

A. Running a race B. Driving a car

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ C. Painting a wall D. Walking up stairs

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 9 “The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963”

Roadtrips The Watsons are taking a Roadtrip, and you are going with them! Create a list of ten items that you need for the trip. For each item, write one sentence why this item is necessary for a road trip.

RoadTrips

Items Explanations

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Possible Discussion Questions

1. Remember, there are strong themes of racial conflict in this story, and particularly in this chapter. Look at page 132 where the kids asked why Dad couldn’t just drive until he was tired. Dad replied in his best Southern-style voice: “Cuz boy this is the deep south.... Y’all colored folks cain’t be jes’ pullin’ up tuh any ol’ way-uh and be ‘spectin’ tuh get no room uh no food, huh her, boy? …You thank this he-uh is Uhmurica?”

Pretend that you are Kenny and Byron and respond to what Dad said. What questions would you have about the south? How would you react to Dad’s joke?

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ 2. How would you feel if you were separated from your peers or denied certain rights because

of the way you looked or because of a set of beliefs you had? What are ways that diversity actually makes our lives better? Can you think of examples of how differences among people have improved a situation?


Chapter 10 “Tangled Up in God’s Beard” Comprehension Questions

1. What is Kenny emphasizing when he says, “It looked like someone had crumpled up a pitch black blanket and dropped the Weird Watsons down into the middle of it” on page 145?

A. How strange the family was. B. How Momma was angry at Dad. C. How the mood of the story was. D. How dark it was the mountains.

2. What does Kenny compare the water pump to at the rest stop?

A. A pitch black blanket B. A star explosion C. A space robot D. Scary organ music

3. Why does Byron take toilet paper from the rest stop?

A. He has a runny nose. B. Dad said this was the last rest stop that would have toilet paper. C. Dad said he used to have to use a Sears catalog. D. He doesn’t want to risk not having toilet paper at Grandma Sands.

Drawing Conclusions 4. Kenny knows that once Momma falls asleep Dad plans to drive much further than her schedule would allow. How does Kenny figure this out? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Why are the Watson children frightened when the family stops in Tennessee? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Characters’ Perspectives 6. Why is Momma angry that Dad has not followed the driving schedule?

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Why do you think that Byron was so nervous about being near the Appalachian Mountains, especially in the dark? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 10 “Tangled Up in God’s Beard”

Writing Comprehension

1. At this point in the story, with which character do you most closely identify? Why? What makes you similar to that character?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. We have learned a lot so far on the Watson Roadtrip. Summarize the Road Trip so far below. Be sure to include at least TWO important places they have stopped and why those places are important to the story. (No less than EIGHT sentences)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 11 “Bobo Brazil Meets the Sheik”


1. Why did Dad not notice that the record player was skipping? A. He was asleep while Momma drove. B. He was too tired from driving to notice. C. He was too busy yelling at the kids to stop fighting. D. He was too busy fighting with Momma.

2. What is the most likely reason Dad tells Kenny to keep it between the two of them that something is wrong with the record player?

A. Dad doesn’t want Momma to know it’s broken because she’ll be angry. B. Dad doesn’t want Byron to know it’s broken because he’ll get upset. C. Dad doesn’t want the salesman to find out it’s broken because he’ll get in trouble. D. Dad doesn’t want Joetta to find out it’s broken because she’ll be sad.

3. What can be inferred about Dad’s white hairs in his beard?

A. Dad needs to shave. B. Dad looks like Santa Claus. C. Dad is getting older. D. Dad had forgotten to shave.

4. What did Momma’s grunt mean on page 152?

A. She was very angry at Dad. B. She was very tired from being in the car. C. She didn’t want to tell Dad he was right. D. She was mad at the kids for being bad.

5. How did the Watsons know that Dad was going to start “acting the fool” on page 152?

A. Dad started giggling and laughing. B. Dad cleared his throat and rubbed his hand over his chin. C. Dad cleared his throat and ran his fingers through his hair. D. Dad took a deep breath and cleared his throat.

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ 6. What does Grandma Sands mainly mean when she says, “Lona, maybe there’s two who should be spending the summer down here with their granny?”

A. Grandma Sands wants to spend the summer with both her grandsons. B. Grandma Sands want to spend quality time with the kids. C. Kenny may need to stay too since he was talking ugly about Byron. D. Kenny may need to stay too to keep Byron in line.

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 11 “Bobo Brazil Meets the Sheik”

Written Response Using Evidence from the Text Dad was acting strangely towards the end of the Watson’s drive. What evidence from the text lets us know that? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Characters’ Actions How did Momma act when the family first pulled up to Grandma Sands’ house? Why would she behave this way? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ When Byron meets Grandma Sands, all of his sass is gone. Instead he smiles and speaks politely to Grandma Sands. This seems out of character for Byron. Why would he behave this way? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Characters’ Perspectives How does Kenny feel about the way Byron addresses Grandma Sands? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Why would Kenny feel this way? Why wouldn’t he just be happy that Byron is behaving? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Making Predictions Do you believe that spending time with Grandma Sands will improve Byron’s juvenile delinquent behavior? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 12 “That Dog Won’t Hunt No More”


1. Why does Kenny compare himself and Byron to pigs at the beginning of the chapter? A. They are eating a lot of Grandma Sands cooking. B. They are very dirty after playing at the park in Alabama. C. They are sweating a lot in the Alabama heat. D. They are fat because they have been eating so much in Alabama.

2. What type of athlete can you infer that Joe Louis was, according to the story?

A. Runner B. Boxer C. Football player D. Baseball player

3. Why did Mr. Robert have to save Toddy’s life? A. Toddy was run over by a car. B. Toddy almost drowned in the lake. C. Toddy was almost drowned by a raccoon. D. Toddy fell out of a tree.

4. What is the most likely reason Momma’s hands were sweaty on page 166?

A. She was nervous about being in Birmingham early. B. She was nervous about being able to afford the trip back home. C. She felt anxious about the things Grandma Sands was telling her. D. It was very hot inside Grandma Sands’ house.

5. What were Grandma Sands and Momma discussing on page 166?

A. The kids getting into trouble. B. The food they would be eating this week. C. Byron and all his bad behavior. D. All the people who live Birmingham.

6. Why did Kenny spill his corn flakes when Grandma Sands laughed?

A. He was startled by Grandma’s scary laugh. B. He coughed because she scared him.

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ C. He started laughing too. D. He is clumsy and spills things a lot.

7. What is most likely the MAIN reason Momma was upset about Mr. Robert?

A. She was sad that Grandma Sands had chosen him over her daddy. B. She was sad that Grandma Sands had moved on after her daddy passed. C. She thought Mr. Robert was a mean man. D. She thought Grandma Sands was too old to have new friends.

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 12 “That Dog Won’t Hunt No More”

Constructed Response

Activity

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________


Chapter 13 “I Meet Winnie’s Evil Twin Brother, the Wool Pooh” Comprehension Questions

1. Why did Kenny think Joe Collier had put up the sign on page 173? A. Joe didn’t want to share his lake with anyone else. B. Joe was scared of the Wool Pooh too. C. Children had lost their lives there. D. Joe was a mean, old man.

2 . Which of the following was the SECOND warning Kenny had before he got in trouble at Collier’s Landing?

A. Byron and Joey followed the arrow to the left and Kenny went to the right. B. Kenny saw a big, green turtle. C. Kenny saw a stupid looking, slow moving fish. D. The knots wouldn’t come out of his tennis shoe laces and he had to tug them off.

3 . Which of the following is NOT a way Kenny described the Alabama fish? A.Stupid looking B. Slow moving C. Cute D. Friendly

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ 4. Why would the fish NOT go into the deeper water at Collier’s Landing?

A. The water was too cool at that end. B. There was a big turtle at that end. C. There was a big drop off at that end. D. There was a net that prevented them. 5. What caused Kenny to go into the deeper water at Collier’s Landing?

A. He reached for the turtle. B. He reached for the fish. C. He walked there to get cooler. D. He wanted to see the bigger fish.

6. Sequence the following events by numbering them in the correct order _________ Kenny tries to catch fish _________ Grandma Sands warns the Watson kids to stay away from Collier’s Landing. _________ Byron pulls Kenny to the shore. _________ Byron tries to scare Kenny and Joey with the story of the Wool Pooh. _________ The rocks slip from under Kenny’s feet and he gets caught in the churning water. _________ Kenny ignores the warning sign. 7. Now that Byron has shown Kenny how much he loves him (by saving his life and then crying over him), do you think the brothers’ relationship will change? How will things be different, if at all? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 13 “I Meet Winnie’s Evil Twin Brother, the Wool Pooh”

Research

WhirlPool Facts In Chapter 13, when the kids decide to go swimming, they are warned about staying away from Collier’s Landing because of a dangerous whirlpool that has already claimed the lives of several people. To steer his siblings away from the danger, Byron makes up a fantastic story about the Wool Pooh, Winnie’s evil twin, who hides under the water so that he can snatch up “stupid” little kids. Read the Facts about a WhirlPool below, and then follow the directions for your written response.

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ Definition of a whirlpool A rapid circular current of liquid. [syn: vortex, maelstrom]

● A vortex is any whirlpool with a downdraft. ● A maelstrom is the term applied to the most powerful whirlpools.

The most powerful "natural" whirlpools are the result of tidal changes and the resulting fast-flowing water through narrow shallow straits. But most people are more familiar with smaller less dangerous whirlpools that occur in streams or at the bottom of waterfalls. To be sure, these whirlpools can cause lots of problems for watercraft, and they can pull people down and not let them up. So they are dangerous, but not to the scale of a maelstrom whirlpool that can swallow a boat. How do whirlpools form? Any time water flows through a narrow path, it forms at least a partial whirlpool. As the water passes through the narrower opening, it accelerates and forms a more powerful force. If the downstream area then enlarges, it can mature into a complete whirlpool. As water is pulled into an opening by gravity, it begins to spin. The direction it spins is discussed below. Once this begins, it intensifies and forms a cavity in the center of the drain. The cavity creates a vacuum into which objects such as bubbles, water molecules, and other floating objects are pulled. As these objects are “sucked” into the vortex, the centrifugal (outward) force maintains the hole in the middle through which air passes. What makes whirlpools spin? As the water is pulled down into the opening, the water particles fight for the smaller space and push each other to the side. This pushing and nudging by itself would not necessarily cause the water to spin, especially in a perfectly-shaped funnel and no other directional influence on the water. But a perfectly-shaped funnel never exists in nature. There are inconsistently-shaped rocks or other obstructions that force the water away from them. This initiates a spinning motion that accelerates as the water is pulled by gravity. Written Response: Based on The Reading above and the story, What can you infer REALLY happened with Kenny and the Wooh Pooh? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 14 “Every Bird and Bug in Birmingham Stops and Wonders”

Comprehension Questions 1. Why did make Kenny make a comparison between the adult’s hands to a flock of sparrows on page 186?

A. They were flying all around the girls. B. They seemed too nervous to land. C. They were running around scared. D. They were flying in the sky. 2. Why did Kenny squeeze his hands between his knees on page 186?

A. They were shaking because of what had occurred. B. They were sweating because of the hot weather.

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ C. They were hurting because of what had occurred. D. It was the only way he could sit still.

3. Why does Curtis mention the picture inside the shoe on page 187?

A. He wanted to give a good description of it. B. He wanted the reader to see how it had ripped. C. He wanted the reader to remember the shoes that Joey had on in the car. D. He wanted the reader to be able to picture it in his/her mind.

4. What does Kenny mean when he says that Joey helped Byron save his life when she was in the water?

A. He had a vision of her as an angel who pointed up. B. She had gone into the water too and helped pull him out. C. She had given him CPR on the shore. D. She told him not to go into the water.

5. What did Kenny think when he saw Joey back at Grandma Sands?

A. That she was a ghost. B. That she was okay. C. That she had been home the whole time. D. That the Wool Pooh was taking her on her last visits.

Cause and Effect 6. What caused Joetta to leave the church early? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. What effect did this choice have on Joetta? And on the entire Watson family? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 14 “Every Bird and Bug in Birmingham Stops and Wonders”

Research

Birmingham Church Bombing

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ 16th Street Baptist Church Many of the civil rights protest marches that took place in Birmingham during the 1960s began at the steps of the 16th Street Baptist Church, which had long been a significant religious center for the city’s black population and a routine meeting place for civil rights organizers like Martin Luther King Jr. Ku Klux Klan members had routinely called in bomb threats intended to disrupt civil rights meetings as well as services at the church. At 10:22 a.m. on the morning of September 15, 1963, some 200 church members were in the building—many attending Sunday school classes before the start of the 11 am service—when the bomb detonated on the church’s east side, spraying dust and bricks from the front of the church and caving in its interior walls. Most church members were able to evacuate the building as it filled with smoke, but four young girls (14-year-old Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Carole Robertson and 11-year-old Denise McNair) were found beneath the rubble in a basement restroom. Ten-year-old Sarah Collins, who was also in the restroom at the time of the explosion, lost her right eye, and more than 20 other people were injured in the blast. The bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church on September 15 was the third bombing in 11 days, after a federal court order had come down mandating the integration of Alabama’s school system. Written Response: This novel is historical fiction, meaning it contains some true events from history. The church bombing was a true event during the Civil Rights Movement. Write a Paragraph answering the following questions: Why do you think the church was bombed? Why do you think people bomb places? How did this chapter make you feel? Why? Do you think this bombing will change the Watson family? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Chapter 15 “The World Famous Watson Pet Hospital” Comprehension Questions

1. Why did Byron MOST LIKELY hold his chin hair “like it was worth a million dollars?”

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ A. He was excited to be growing up. B. He was so excited that he got a chin hair before Buphead . C. He was so excited that he got a chin hair before Kenny. D. He was so happy that he was going to be able to show all the girls.

2. What caused Kenny to start crying and fall off the toilet?

A. Byron hit him really hard. B. Kenny noticed he didn’t have a mustache yet. C. Kenny noticed he had a mustache. D. Kenny saw himself looking really sad.

3. What did Kenny say he felt had been done to him?

A. Someone had punched him. B. Someone had ripped out all of his hair. C. Someone had pulled a plug on him. D. Someone had broken his arm.

4. What was the main thing that Kenny discovered about himself in the “World Famous Watson Pet Hospital?”

A. He was scared that someone was going to hurt him. B. That he was angry with the people in Birmingham. C. That he was really ashamed of himself. D. That he had no reason to be upset.

5. Why does Kenny think the back of the couch would be a safe place for him to hide? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Sequence the following events by numbering them in the correct order. _____________ Kenny goes behind the couch to receive the magical powers of the World-Famous Watson Pet Hospital _____________ Byron takes Kenny to the bathroom to show him his whiskers. _____________ Kenny breaks down and cries. _____________ Byron figures out where Kenny goes each day, _____________ The Watsons leave Birmingham. _____________ Kenny Feels better.

The Watsons go to Birmingham Chapter 15 “The World Famous Watson Pet Hospital”

Written Response

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ Writing Prompt: Byron changes throughout the novel. Write one page on THREE ways Byron changed and why you think he did. Include quotes from the book to support your answer. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Project Option One

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________

A protagonist is the main character of a story. It could be a “good guy”, but it doesn’t have to be. A protagonist is whoever the story is mainly about.A protagonist faces challenges in the story Fill in the Blank: The Protagonist in the Watsons go to Birmingham is ______________________________.

Project Draft Project should be completed on a poster board. Make sure you have ALL of the requirements.

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________

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Digging Deeper Activities Project Option Two

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ Project Draft

Project should be completed on a poster board. Make sure you have ALL of the requirements.

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Digging Deeper Activities Activity One: Story Map

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Digging Deeper Activities Activity Two: What would the Character do?

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________

1. Question:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Question:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Question:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Question:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Name:________________________ Date:_________________________ 5. Question:____________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Question:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Question:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Question:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Documents

Na me : Da t e · 2020. 3. 19. · The Watsons go to Birmingham Novel Study Introduction : Scholars will read “ The Watsons Go to Birmingham” for Quarter Three. The story is an