diary of a wimpy kid
September
Pages 1 - 20,
Before the Main Discussion
  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid is subtitled "a novel in cartoons." How do the cartoons affect the story? Besides the cartoons, in what ways do you think the book is different from other novels you have read?
  • With the title Diary of a Wimpy Kid, what do you think the author is trying to tell you about Greg Heffley? How would you define wimpy?
  • What characteristics and behaviors do you associate with Greg? What characteristics and behaviors do you want people to associate with you? Why
Pages 1-20: The Discussion
Teacher:
Whose idea was it for Greg to write a journal?
Students:
His mom's
Teacher:
Why Greg didn't want to have a word 'diary' on the cover?
Students:
Because he didn't want 'some jerk to catch him carrying this book around and get the wrong idea'
Teacher:
What could happen?
Students:
He didn't want to look like a sissy boy with a diary and look like a girl.
Teacher:
What is he going to write in there?
Students:
He doesn't want to write his feelings in it, but he imagines that his journal will be useful when he is rich and famous and everyone wants to know all about him.
Teacher:
Describe what you imagine Greg thinks he's going to be famous for.
Students:
Ss' own answers
Teacher:
Why do we want to know all about rich and famous people and the details about their early lives?
Students:
Ss' own answers
Teacher:
Greg gives advice on what to do on the first day of school. Would this be good advice to follow? What advice would you give to someone on their first day of school. (Encourage your Ss to list up to five things)
Students:
Ss' own answers
Teacher:
(Page 15) 'But if there's one thing I learned from Rodrick, it's to set people's expectations real low so you end up surprising them by practically doing nothing at all.' Do you agree with this statement? Why would it feel good if people didn't expect much of you?
Students:
Ss' own answers
Teacher:
What difference from elementary school did Greg notice?
Students:
The way girls choose boys.
Teacher:
How is it different in middle school?
Students:
In elementary school, you could get all the girls if you were the fastest runner. Now it's about the kind of clothes you wear or how rich you are.
Teacher:
What's the Cheese Touch?
Students:
It is basically like the cooties. Once you get it you are stuck with it until you pass it to someone else.
Teacher:
How can you prevent getting the Cheese Touch?
Students:
If you cross your fingers then the person who has the Cheese Touch can't give it to you.
Teacher:
Why do you think the Cheese Touch got started? If you got the Cheese Touch, how would you react?
Students:
Ss' own answers
Teacher:
What does Greg think middle school should be based on, if not age?
    Students:
    Height
    Teacher:
    Is it a good idea in your opinion?
      Students:
      Ss' own answers
      Teacher:
      What trick did Rodrick play on Greg?
      Students:
      He made Greg think he slept through summer (when it was the beginning of summer) and it was time for school (at 3 AM)
      Teacher:
      Instead of saying 'Let's play', what should Rowley say?
      Students:
      Let's hang out.
      Teacher:
      Why is it important for Greg?
      Students:
      He wants to look cool.
      Teacher:
      Do tyou think his reasons for this were fair? What would you do in his situation? What was wrong with Rowley asking Greg to 'come over to my house and play'? Does it matter what others think?
      Students:
      Ss' own answers.
      Teacher:
      If Rowley is so annoying then why is Greg friends with him?
      Students:
      Greg felt sorry for him and enjoys playing all the tricks on Rowley that his brother played on him
      Vocabulary
      Fill in the gaps
      go in one ear and out the other
      fall for
      screw loose
      make a racket
      play a trick on
      chew sb out
      tag along
      1) If you ever visit the bamboo gardens, I'd like to _______.
      2) They have ears for hearing — but what they hear _________.
      3) His dad ____him___ after seeing his poor grades.
      4) I can't believe how many people still _______ the coin glued to the sidewalk.
      5) If someone has a _________, they are crazy.
      6) Love can ________ you.
      7) Elephants _______ when they're feeding, but they can also move silently through dry leaves and twigs.

      KEYS

      If you ever visit the bamboo gardens, I'd like to tag along.
      They have ears for hearing — but what they hear goes in one ear and out the other.
      His dad chewed him out after seeing his poor grades.
      I can't believe how many people still fall for the coin glued to the sidewalk.
      If someone has a screw loose, they are crazy.
      Love can play a trick on you.
      Elephants make a racket when they're feeding, but they can also move silently through dry leaves and twigs.
      After the Reading...
      ACTIVITY #1
      If Greg Heffley was interviewed on the television, what do you think he'd be like in real life? Brainstorm your ideas using the following headings:
       APPEARANCE
      VOICE
      BODY LANGUAGE
      FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

      ACTIVITY #2 HOME ASSIGNMENT
      RESEARCHING THE AUTHOR, JEFF KINNEY

      Lead-in questions:
      What sort of person would write the Wimpy Kid books? What things might he or she be interested in?

      Give each group a different subject to research:
      JEFF KINNEY'S LIFE
      JEFF KINNEY'S BOOKS
      JEFF KINNEY'S WIMPY KID FILMS
      JEFF KINNEY'S AWARDS
      Made on
      Tilda