Nick’s father received a check for $2,250 for all the items sold with the “Frindle” name. Nick’s father responds that this will help pay for Nick’s college. In a small group, research to find out how much it currently costs to go to one semester of college (choose a state or local college). There are two semesters in an academic school year. How much does it cost to attend that college for one year? If the cost of college doesn’t increase, how much will it cost to go for four years? If Nick wants to pay for himself and ten more people to go to college, how much money does he need? Justify your answers using pictures, words, and numbers.
0 Comments
What if Mrs. Granger had created and used the word Frindle? What do you think would have happened? Would the outcome have been the same?
How do the media cover events in this story? Are they truthful? What role did the newspaper story in the Gazette play in the use of the word Frindle? Discuss the role of media in this story: Were they a good or bad influence? Find examples to support your decision. Substitute yourself for Nick in the Gazette newspaper article (Chapter 11). How would you react and what would you do?
New inventions and technology have changed how words are used in our everyday language. For example, meat used to mean ALL food—today its definition is much narrower. Awful was a short version for “full of awe” and now has a negative meaning. Friend means a buddy or pal that you can trust and think of with affection, but with the advent of Facebook, it has taken on a new meaning: Can you really be a friend with someone you have never met? Can you think of new words we use today, or new meanings for old words? Some examples might be stumble, stream, tag, spam.
What is a trademark? Why is it important? Explain the importance of a trademark in this story.
Chapter 9 is titled “Chess.” Explain how the events in this chapter are like a chess game. Can you think of another metaphor that would explain the interactions between Nick and Mrs. Granger?
Similes and metaphors are tools that writers use to help with descriptions. Find examples of similes and metaphors and explain how they help set moods and tell us more about characters. An example might be, “Her eyes were the color of a thundercloud.” Or “Nick could feel a homework assignment coming the way a farmer can feel a rainstorm.”
What is the relationship between Nick and Mrs. Granger? Find examples and quotes in the story that show how they interact with each other, and how the author has developed the relationship between Nick and Mrs. Granger.
Nick is full of creative ideas. Students are used to his antics and are delighted when they know what’s going to happen. Write about a creative idea that you have had. How would you use this idea in your school? Would your idea have a positive impact on your school? Explain why or why not, and support your answer with examples.
The first two paragraphs of the book describe Nick as a student. As you are reading, find examples of why you agree or disagree with this description. At the end of the book, do you still agree with the description of Nick at the beginning? Explain why or why not. If you were to write a description of Nick, what would it be?
|
Frindle
|