Active Reading with a Purpose
Ch. 1
1. List the names of the members of the Watson family.
2. 4 or 5 people in the family were born in Flint, Michigan. Which one was not and where was he/she born
and raised?
3. Who is the narrator of the story?
4. Why did mom cover her mouth when she laughed?
5. Where were the Watson family going since it was so cold at their house?
6. Why were Byron and Kenny scraping ice from the Brown Bomber?
7. What happened to By and why?
8. What did Byron and Buphead do to Kenny when they were outside?
9. Essential Questions: What are the drawbacks of prejudice and the positive aspects of diversity?
10. Sponge Activity: Journal Writing Topic - What does being prejudiced mean to you?
Activating Prior Knowledge: 1. Show short clip of Martin Luther King‘s I Have a Dream speech. (video in
school or local library).
1. Discuss meanings of prejudice.
2. Discuss preview to story, emotional and racial tensions of the 1960‘s.
Active Literacy: Students read Chapter 1 in pairs, completing Double Entry Journal as they read.
Post Literacy: Partner discussion of Modified Double Sided Journal Entry.
11. Reflection: Exit slip - Have each student complete exit slip with one thing he/she learned from vocabulary,
video clip, or reading.
Chapter 1 Review Questions
Details1. How does Byron earn the nickname “The Lipless Wonder?”
Characters’ Perspectives2. How does Momma feel about living in Flint, Michigan?
3. When Momma tells Dad that the people in Birmingham are friendlier than they are in Flint, Dad laughs and
says, “Oh yeah, they’re a laugh a minute down there. Let’s see, where was that ‘Coloreds Only’ bathroom
downtown?”
3 A. What does Dad mean by this?
3 B. What is the point he is trying to make?
Make Inferences4. Hambone scared Momma into thinking there were no black people in Michigan. Why would this bother
Momma?
5. In Chapter 1, Kenny plays along with Byron and Buphead’s Surviving the Blizzard test. On page 11 he says,
“I made up my mind that no matter how hard they threw me in that snow I was going to get up laughing.”
5 A. Why would Kenny do this?
5 B. Do you agree with his choice?
Chapter 1 Review Questions
Details1. How does Byron earn the nickname “The Lipless Wonder?”
Characters’ Perspectives2. How does Momma feel about living in Flint, Michigan?
3. When Momma tells Dad that the people in Birmingham are friendlier than they are in Flint, Dad laughs and
says, “Oh yeah, they’re a laugh a minute down there. Let’s see, where was that ‘Coloreds Only’ bathroom
downtown?”
3 A. What does Dad mean by this?
3 B. What is the point he is trying to make?
Make Inferences4. Hambone scared Momma into thinking there were no black people in Michigan. Why would this bother
Momma?
5. In Chapter 1, Kenny plays along with Byron and Buphead’s Surviving the Blizzard test. On page 11 he says,
“I made up my mind that no matter how hard they threw me in that snow I was going to get up laughing.”
5 A. Why would Kenny do this?
5 B. Do you agree with his choice?
Chapter 1 Journaling Topics- Choose 1 prompt and write a detailed response of at least 5 sentences. Use a
paragraph format with a topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence.
 If you were Kenny Watson, how would you feel about your brother Byron’s behavior? If you were
Joetta, what would it mean to have your big brother be called a juvenile delinquent?
 Have you ever been in an uncomfortable situation where you felt pressured to act a certain way? Tell
about a time that you went along with the crowd, despite feelings that you shouldn’t.
 In just a few sentences, pretend you are Kenny and summarize what happened in Chapter 1. Focus on
the main parts of this chapter.
Chapter 1 Journaling Topics- Choose 1 prompt and write a detailed response of at least 5 sentences. Use a
paragraph format with a topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence.
 If you were Kenny Watson, how would you feel about your brother Byron’s behavior? If you were
Joetta, what would it mean to have your big brother be called a juvenile delinquent?
 Have you ever been in an uncomfortable situation where you felt pressured to act a certain way? Tell
about a time that you went along with the crowd, despite feelings that you shouldn’t.
 In just a few sentences, pretend you are Kenny and summarize what happened in Chapter 1. Focus on
the main parts of this chapter.