Twelve Terrible Things

           By Marty Kelley

 

 

Summary

Written from the perspective of a child, Marty Kelley describes the things that are intimidating and scary for children that many adults have forgotten about from their childhood, but many scenarios may still be relatable to the child in all of us.

 

 

 

 

 

Activities

 

1.   Language Arts

 

Activity

Have students come up with other things they are frightened of.  What makes something scary?  Who decides what is scary? Have students create their own terrible scenario individually or in a group.  As an introduction have students brainstorm and use graphic organizer/Venn diagram to organize scary/not scary things.

 

2.   Math

 

Activity

List the scenarios on the board.  Note how many students agree with the book and think these are scary scenarios. Use Graph Club to illustrate the class’s findings.

 

3.   Science

 

Activity

What are twelve terrible/scary things about Science?

 

4.   Social Studies

 

Activity – Warning!

The first page of the book could be used to discuss warnings.  Do we heed the warning or continue?  Why do people give us warnings? Why do we ignore them?  When should we be careful?  Have students create a warning for something in the classroom. (Example:  Don’t sharpen your pencil if you are wearing a long sleeve shirt.  It could get caught and shredded in the small pencil opening.)Watch http://www.brainpopjr.com/health/besafe/safetysigns/ movie as an extended activity about warnings and warning signs. Do the graphic organizer under activities as a group or individual assignment. http://www.brainpopjr.com/health/besafe/safetysigns/activity/

 

 

Internet Resources

 

      Author’s Website        http://www.martykelley.com