Getting students excited about reading can be a challenge, but finding the right book can make all the difference. “We Don’t Eat Our Classmates” is a charming and funny story that will capture your students’ attention while still teaching them important life lessons. This guide includes teacher lesson plans, anchor charts, a student workbook, reading response questions, and writing activities to help you get the most out of this book in your classroom.
Before Reading Questions:
1. What do you think the book will be about?
2. Do you have any classmates that are a little bit different from you? How do you feel about them?
3. What do you think it means to “accept” someone?
4. Do you think the book will be funny or serious?
5. What do you think the lesson of the book will be?
6. Who do you think the main character will be?
7. Do you think the book will have pictures?
8. What do you think will happen at the end of the book?
9. Do you have any other predictions about the book?
10. What questions do you have about the book?
11. Which part of the book are you most interested in reading? Why?
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During Reading Questions:
1. Why do you think Penelope was surprised when she saw her classmates on the first day of school?
2. How did Penelope’s feelings about her classmates change throughout the course of the story?
3. What lesson do you think Penelope learned by the end of the book?
4. Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t know how to act around someone who was different from you? How did you handle it?
5. What do you think are some ways that we can show acceptance for people who are different from us?
6. Do you think there’s anything wrong with being different? Why or why not?
7. The author writes that “acceptance is something we all need.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
8. What does the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” mean to you? Have you ever judged someone based on their appearance without getting to know them first? How did that make you feel afterwards?
9. The author writes that “everyone deserves a chance.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
10. What do YOU think is the best way to get to know someone who is different from you?
After Reading Questions:
1. Did your opinion of the book change after reading it? Why or why not?
2. Which character in the book did you relate to the most? Why?
3. If Penelope had not accepted her classmates for who they were, what do you think would have happened?
4. The author writes that “we all have something special to offer.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
5. What makes YOU special and unique? Do your classmates know what makes YOU special and unique? How can YOU make sure they know what makes YOU special and unique if they don’t already know?
Anchor Charts
Anchor charts are a great way to visually represent information for your students. They can be used as a reference point throughout the year and serve as a reminder of what has been learned. The anchor charts included in this guide are:
-Character Traits
-Problem and Solution
-Plot Diagram
Students Workbook
This student workbook is designed to be used alongside the “We Don’t Eat Our Classmates” book. It includes activities such as character analysis, predicting outcomes, and identifying themes. By completing these activities, students will have a better understanding of the story and be able to discuss it in greater depth.
Reading Response Questions
After reading “We Don’t Eat Our Classmates,” use these questions to start a discussion with your students about the book. These questions are also great for writing prompts if you’re looking for something different.
-What do you think is the moral of the story?
-How do you think the characters felt at different points in the story?
-Do you think any of the characters changed by the end of the story? If so, how?
– What would you have done if you were in one of the character’s shoes?
Writing Activities
These writing activities are based on events that take place in “We Don’t Eat Our Classmates.” They are designed to get students thinking critically about what they’ve read and express their thoughts in writing.
-Have students write a letter from one of the character’s perspective describing their experience during and after being eaten by their classmates.
-Have students write an informative essay about proper manners and etiquette when eating lunch with classmates. Include tips on what to do and what not to do.
“We Don’t Eat Our Classmates” is a great book for teachers to use in their classrooms as it captures students’ attention while still teaching them important life lessons. This guide includes teacher lesson plans, anchor charts, a student workbook, reading response questions, and writing activities to help you get the most out of this book in your classroom. By using this guide, you’ll be sure that your students are engaged and learning from this fun story!
Make sure you check out this unit here!