Name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________

Maniac Magee has many of the elements of a tall tale:

A superhuman main character who has a unique mission to accomplish

A problem that is often resolved humorously

Frequent use of hyperbole and exaggeration

Characters who appear normal in most respects

Choose a tall tale character to research the next time we go to the library:

1. Paul Bunyon 2. Johnny Appleseed3. Pecos Bill4. John Henry5. John Chapman

Using the venn diagram on the next page, compare and

contrast the tall tale characteristics of Manic Magee with your research character.

QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Chapters 12-16

Example:

I Am

I am sharp and focusedI wonder what the camera really seesI hear the buzzing beeI see flowers in early morning lightI want to stop time in a boxI am sharp and focused

I pretend to be a statueI feel the shakes insideI touch the shutter buttonI worry about the blurry resultI cry that the moment has forever passedI am sharp and focused

I understand moments in timeI say let's freeze them foreverI dream of watercolor effects coming to lifeI try to see all the soft muted edges

Name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________

I Am PoemWrite an I Am poem from the perspective of one of the characters. You may use this page, or do it on another piece of paper.

I am ________________________________I wonder____________________________I hear ______________________________I see _________________________________I want _______________________________I am _________________________________

I pretend ____________________________I feel _________________________________I touch _________________________________________I worry _________________________________________I cry ____________________________________________I am ____________________________________________

I understand ___________________________________I say ______________________________________________I dream __________________________________________I try _______________________________________________I hope _____________________________________________I am _______________________________________________

Character Traits ChartThere are many notable characters in this story who possess memorable traits. As you read, please fill in as much information as you can about each of the characters. Use the vocabulary word bank below to help you.Chapters 17-21

Name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________

Maniac Magee Amanda Beale John McNab

Earl Grayson Mars Bar Thompson Russell and Piper McNab

Final

Community Project: Chapters 27-32

After Reading

Name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________

What can we do?Together, we will organize a fundraising campaign for

the homeless in our community. We will use the money we raise to support the efforts of a local homeless shelter or a related service organization.

We will:

_____work in small groups to brainstorm ways to raise money.

_____focus on a single event or plan a series of them over a period of time.

_____ form teams to do the necessary research and to make posters and flyers.

_____host a fundraising event and take turns managing a general information table, sharing what we know about the area's homeless population.

Activity PointsExceptional Clear, Well Lacks Not thinking, Defined, Creativity/ Complete

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________

Thorough & Complete ThoughtCreative

Participation Contributes actively in

literature discussion daily Completes responsibilities

as part of the daily literature circle

Participates in vocabulary activities

20 15 10 0

I Am Unique activity

Decorates shoe with unique qualities/characteristics

Shares project

3 2 1 0

Discrimination Journal

Thoughts on how discrimination still exists in today’s world

5 3 1 0

What is “Home?” Completes collage using

newspapers, magazines, or drawings to depict own view of “Home”

5 3 1 0

Running for Mayor!

Design an election poster Design a campaign slogan Write an endorsement

speech Present speech to class

10 8 5 0

Tall Tale

Research Character from Tall Tale

Complete Venn Diagram

10 8 5 0

Name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________

I Am poem Writes an I AM poem from

the perspective of one of the characters

5 3 1 0

Interview Write thought provoking

interview questions Conduct interview with an

elderly person of your choice

10 8 5 0

Character Traits Chart Complete chart with

characteristics/information about the main characters in the story

5 3 1 0

Stretch to Sketch Visualize and draw what

you think Giant John and the twins house looks like.

3 2 1 0

Discrimination Chart Complete the 4 quadrants

of the discrimination chart by comparing Maniac’s world to your own.

5 3 1 0

Tableau Performance

Choose a scene Write a description of the

scene and an explanation of why you chose it

Perform the scene with your classmates

5 3 1 0

Meet the Author! Read about Jerry Spinelli Complete journal entry

5 3 1 0

Name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________

Final Community Project Brainstorm fundraising Plan an event Research necessary

details Create publicity

posters/flyers Collaborate and work

together at final event

10 8 5 0

Total Possible Points: 111Other Books that have similar themes to Maniac

Magee:

Spinelli, J. (2003). Loser.New York: Harper Collins.

The journey of a typical student from 1st through 6th grade who is noticeably different from his peers. Instead of being accepted for those differences, he is mocked, and considered a ‘loser.’ Through his actions, people realize that he is not in fact a ‘loser,’ but someone with a

heart of gold, who has an impact on other’s lives in big and small ways.

Bridges, R. (1999). Through My Eyes. New York: Scholastic.

The true story of a little girl’s historic experience as the first African American student to integrate an elementary school in New Orleans in 1960. It gives the reader a 1st grader’s true impression of what it was like to move from being the target of

frenzied anger outside the school to being the cherished single student of a dedicated teacher once inside.

QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________

Kasza, K. (2003). A Mother for Choco.New York: Putnam Juvenile.

The endearing story of a little yellow bird who has lost his mother. After trying a bunch of different mothers, he realizes he doesn’t need one that looks just like him in order to get the things he needs to feel loved.

Seuss, D. (1961) The Sneetches and other stories.

New York: Random House. The Sneetches is a wonderful story about the starbelly Sneetches and the plain belly Sneetches who both thought they were better than the other group. Then one day the sneetches got tricked into losing their stars or gaining ones and they didn’t know who was who.

In a creative way, Dr. Seuss manages to teach children not to judge others by the way they look!

Rowling, J.K. (1997). Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone.

London: Bloomsbury.Like Maniac Magee, Harry Potter is an orphan who has special talents. Harry gets the opportunity to leave his Aunt and Uncle’s home, where he is terribly unhappy, and attend Hogwarts School of

Wizardry. Like Maniac, he makes new friends and impresses others with his modest powers.

QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________

Bunting, E. (1991). Fly Away Home. New York: Clarion Books.

This is the story of a homeless boy and his father who live in an airport. The story is told from the point of view of the boy. This book has a sense of hope and exudes the feeling that we can adapt to anything. This reminded me of Maniac as he was searching for a home, yet adapted to where he lived to survive.

Hahn, M. D. (1991). Stepping on the Cracks. New York: Avon Books, Inc.

This book takes place during the WWII and both Margaret and her best friend Elizabeth have

brothers that are away serving in the war. But they have a war themselves at home – against Gordy, a school bully. They soon realize that Gordy has reasons for being so mean…and they form an unlikely friendship with him, much like Maniac and Mars Bar.

Yep, L. (1991). The Star Fisher.New York: Penguin Books.

This is a novel about racial prejudice towards Chinese Americans and the struggle to overcome the hardships created by such prejudice. The novel takes place in Clarksburg, West Virginia, in the year 1927 where Joan Lee has just moved

with her family from Ohio. Joan's father wants to start a laundry

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________

business in Clarksburg, a town where no other Chinese-Americans live. From the very beginning, the family experiences isolation and intolerance in the town.

Rappaport, D. (2001). Martin’s Big Words.

New York: Hyperion Books. An unforgettable portrait of a man

whose dream changed America…and the world. The story of Martin Luther King’s Jr.’s life is told using his own words, and those of the author. The stunning collage illustrations

help make this book magical.

Scott, J. (2009) Dawn of a New Discovery, inspiring world

poems. Frederick, Maryland: Publish

America.Dawn of a New Discovery is a

book of world poetry that endeavors to provide beautiful poetic

presentations in a way so as to promote understanding between

diverse cultures in the United States, as well as to focus on youth and children in the inner city and the

world.

QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.