Learning
With
Literature
(Gothic Children’s
Novels)
Literature units using Blooms Taxonomy
By Tony Shaw
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About this book
I believe that children from primary school onwards deserve to be exposed to quality
literature written by the world’s best writers.
I believe that classic literature, whether it be written in a previous century (such as:
Kidnapped, Frankenstein, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea or Oliver Twist) or
in recent times such as the books used in this text should be read and enjoyed by all
young children and used to help stimulate their thinking skills and creativity.
In this text I have used the Revised Blooms taxonomy model to develop literature unit
plans for three modern classics.
Blooms taxonomy has been around since the 1950s. It is a model that orders the difficulty
of thinking from simple recall (remembering) to generating original ideas or ways of
viewing things (Creating) It was updated in the 1990s by one of Bloom’s former students,
Loren Anderson . It is not the only thinking model used in teaching but I think it’s the
easiest for first timers to use.
The revised Blooms hierarchy of thinking is:
 Remembering: recognising, listing, recalling, identifying
 Understanding: interpreting, summarising, inferring, explaining
 Applying: implementing, carrying out, using new knowledge
 Analysing: comparing, attributing, organising, differentiating
 Evaluating: Checking, judging justifying a decision or course of action
 Creating: designing, constructing, and generating something original.
The three stories in this book are all considered to be modern gothic tales for children.
They feature some of the salient characteristics of gothic literature. (Such as; the
supernatural, haunted houses, darkness, decay, secrets, curses, villains) They are part of a
revival of the genre for children which started with R.L.Stine’s Goosebumps books in the
early nineties. Each of the books covered form part of a series of books. I have featured
activities for the first 2 or 3 books of each series allowing children to continue reading
their favourite books purely for pleasure.
I would suggest using these books as the literature component of an integrated classroom
theme. Teachers can read the book aloud to students as a serial (Children could read them
independently if you have class sets but children of all ages still love being read too.) and
then complete worksheets as you proceed or when the book is completed. Creative
writing/craft ideas have also been provided with ample activity suggestions for 2-3 weeks
work per book. As you read the books and children become engaged in the story you will
come up with loads of ideas of your own.
Tony Shaw has been teaching primary age students for over twenty years and has been a
teaching principal in small rural schools in Australia for over ten years. He is an
enthusiastic advocate for using classic literature and the Blooms taxonomy model to
stimulate thinking skills, encourage creativity and imagination and develop in his
students a life long love of reading.
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Contents
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Page 4
Spiderwick
Page 23
Edgar and Ellen
Page 47
Illustrations (other than children’s work samples) and photos by T. Shaw
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A Series of
Unfortunate Events
Story map
Books 1-3
By Lemony Snicket
These stories are decidedly grim and disturbing. In fact the book’s backcover blurb warns the reader of the dreadful things described within each
book (there are 13 in the series) and respectfully suggest reading something
else instead. (The movie has the same warning)
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Therefore you should read with care! Once you make the decision to read on
then you will enter a gothic world of truly evil villains, forlorn orphans and
desperate heroes.
About the author
Lemony Snicket, is the pseudonym for Daniel Handler.
Handler was born and educated in San Francisco. He is married with one child and lives
in an old Victorian house.
Handler began writing A Series of Unfortunate Events under the name of Lemony Snicket
in 1999. The books concern three orphaned children who endure a series of horrible
experiences at the hand of the evil Count Olaf.
Snicket acts as the narrator and biographer of the unfortunate orphans. A film version of
the first three books (there are 13 in the series) was released in 2004 featuring Jim Carrey
as Count Olaf) The film includes passing glimpses of Lemony Snicket as the narrator and
has a dark, gothic feel about it. There are some chronological changes to the story but it
was well received by critics, fans and the author.
About the books
A Series of Unfortunate Events tells the story of the three Baudelaire children, Klaus,
Sunny and Violet who suddenly find themselves orphaned and put in the care of a very
distant relative called Count Olaf.
Each child has a skill which can help them to survive the Count’s desire to gain their
inheritance. Violet is an inventor, Klaus is a reader and Sunny is a biter and together they
must outwit the evil Count Olaf.
Count Olaf, a very bad actor, leader of a troupe of oddballs and a master of disguise will
do anything to gain the Baudelaire orphan’s fortune including violently removing
genuine guardians, fooling the gullible Mr.Poe and attempting to marry Violet against her
will.
The story is narrated by the fictional Lemony Snicket who continually warns the readers
that they might prefer to read something more pleasant and constantly describes words
that the readers might be unfamiliar with by saying ‘a word which here means…’. He
also translates for the infant Sunny and constantly praises the courage and resilience of
the 3 orphans whose unfortunate lives he is recording.
The first 3 books in the series (The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room and The Wide
Window) have been turned into a successful movie and are part of a 13 book series.
Activities in this unit relate mainly to the first book but also contain activities relating to
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its 2 sequels. The books have recently been published in paperbacks and audio books.
There was a PC game which can be bought online and Snicket is starting a new series of
books the first one was published in 2012 and is called ‘Who Could That Be at This
Hour?’
I have taught this unit many times and it is always a sure-fire hit with children from grade
3 upwards.
Activities
Remembering






List the type or chores that the Baudelaire orphans have to do when they come to
stay at Count Olaf’s house. In contrast what is a typical day for the ‘world’s
greatest actor’
Write 5 quiz questions about the story
Draw a picture / plan of Count Olaf’s house. (Include some sinister secret rooms)
Complete a ‘Who said that?’ chart based on ‘The Bad Beginning’
Complete a word search and crossword based on the story.
What could VFD stand for (Create an acrostic poem format and create your own
sinister or mysterious organisation abbreviation? See if other students can guess
what it’s called. List some of their guesses. Design a poster or secret document of
some kind which explains what this organisation is about)
Understanding







Complete a Venn diagram comparing your parents with Count Olaf
Create a KWL about the Unfortunate Events stories prior to reading any of the
books. What do the children know? If they haven’t read the books they may have
seen the movie or played the PC game and read similar types of books.
Complete a PowerPoint project on snakes, knots, leeches, eyes, fire safety, sailing
or acting.
List some good and bad features of living at each of the homes the Baudelaire
orphans have to live at.
Create an alternative DVD cover for the story and explain your views and
reactions to the story as if you were a film reviewer.
Complete a ‘Y Chart’ on The Baudelaire orphans first night with Count Olaf or
their first impression of living with Uncle Monty
All the titles in the Snicket books are alliterations. Have the children create their
own complex alliterations and illustrate them.
Application

Write a letter from one of the orphans to Mr. Poe describing life with Count Olaf
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




Write a newspaper report about a mysterious event or death that occurred during
the story.
Write a ‘care for’ pamphlet for one of Uncle Monty’s snakes. What special needs
will it have? (Exercise, careful management, food, shelter etc.)
Create four black and white illustrations for the 4 most important events from one
of the stories. (You choose them.)
Make a list of items you would take with you if you were going to live at an
unknown relative’s house. (Just the essentials)
Violet has the amazing ability to devise inventions to get her family out of
trouble. List 7 everyday objects and explain how you would use them to escape
from imminent death.
Analysis







Use a matrix to compare the events, plot, setting and characters from the first
three stories. Devise your own criteria. Use Word to create your own matrix.
Complete a character analysis of one of the main characters. (Start with a simple
web for Count Olaf)
What are the themes of the three stories? Is there a moral you can find? Can you
recognise any of the characters from your own life? (I hope you don’t know
anybody like Count Olaf!) What does the story say about families and how they
can support each other? Write a letter or send an email to lemony Snicket
discussing your thoughts and feelings about his books.
Are there gaps in the story? What isn’t told? (i.e. How did the disastrous fire
start? Who is the mysterious narrator? Who is Beatrice? Why is there a warning
on each book?) Design a poster for the library illuminating one of the ‘gaps’ in
the story.
Select parts of the story that were the funniest, saddest, happiest and most
unbelievable. (Compare them with those determined by other students)
Lemony Snicket uses very sophisticated words in his writing. He helps the reader
to understand the meaning of these words by providing definitions. Choose an
interesting word and provide an illustration and have course definition. (Some
words to investigate may be: alcove, adversity, blanched, grotesque, mollify,
misnomer, standoffish, revulsion etc.)
In what ways do the Bauderlaire children support each other in this story? Provide
examples of how they helped each other.
Evaluate


Write a happy ending to one of the stories. (Make it exciting, humorous or
frightening)
Decide on whether Count Olaf is a good or a misunderstood character and make a
wanted poster saying why you made your decision and providing proof to back
yourself up.
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

What are two reasons supporting Olaf’s continued guardianship of the Baudelaire
orphans and 2 against?
Write a letter to Mr. Poe as an outside observer reporting to him on the condition
of the Baudelaire orphans under Count Olaf’s care.
Create






Plan and write a sequel (Book 4)
Plan and plant a small vegetable or herb garden. Write some recipes (Like the
children’s spaghetti puttanesca meal) to go with the produce you anticipate
growing. Maintain a diary for your garden. Determine what you include in
your diary.
Create a model of the destroyed Baudelaire Manor or what you think might be
hidden up in the tower. Create a model of an invention Violet might make to
rescue Sunny.
Count Olaf wears disguises and creates aliases to try and eliminate those who
stand in the way of him and the inheritance he believes is his. Create your own
alias complete with disguise and false ID.
Create a coat of arms for “Count’ Olaf.
Create your own ‘The Bad Beginning’ PowerPoint presentation. Children will
recall elements of the story (characters, problem, solution and events) on
slides. The PowerPoint should consist of 5 slides:
 The title
 Character slide (listing the important characters, facts about them and a
picture)
 The problem (Describe the major problems faced by the characters.
 Solution (Describe the solution to the problem)
 Summary (A summary of the story)
*Page numbers refer to the original series of hardback books
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The Bad Beginning Who said it? (Page 1-25)
I realise that my humble home
isn’t as fancy as the Baudelaire
mansion, but perhaps with a bit of
money we could fix it up a little
nicer.
Goodness me no! I don’t actually
know him that well. He is my
next-door neighbour.
Perhaps one day you could come
over and help me with my
gardening.
They perished in a fire that
destroyed the entire house. I’m
very, very sorry to tell you this
my dears.
He is an actor by trade, and often
travels around the world with
various theatre companies.
Hello my children. Please step
into your new home, and wipe
your feet outside so no mud gets
indoors.
I am afraid I have some very bad
news for you children.
Gack (or Look at that mysterious
figure emerging from the fog)
If he lives in the city, why didn’t
our parents ever invite him over?
Choose from: Justice Strauss, Count
Olaf, Sunny, Mr. Poe and Violet
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Unfortunate Events
A day in the life of the country’s
world’s greatest actor
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An Unfortunate Word find
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An Unfortunate Crossword
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Across
3. She bites
7. Count Olaf has a tattoo of one on his ankle
8. Marvellous .............
9. .............Lake
10. The greatest actor in the world .............Olaf.
11. She invents
13. Incredibly ............ viper
14. He was an uncle
Down
1. He works in a bank
2. ........... Strauss
4. He reads
5. The author
6. They ate Ike.
12. People who no longer have parents
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A Series of unfortunate Events
KWL
What I Know
What I Want To
Learn
What I Have
Learned
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Unfortunate Events
Alternative DVD cover
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Unfortunate Events
‘Y Chart’ for ……………………………………..
What you might hear
What you might see
What you might feel
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Unfortunate Events
Funniest
Saddest
Happiest
Most
Unbelievable
(Creative Writing ideas)
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At the end of The Wide Window the Baudelaire orphans comfort each other on the
windswept Damocles Dock waiting for the arrival of a new guardian who will
hopefully protect them from Count Olaf. Create a portrait for a new guardian
If Count Olaf was brought before Justice Strauss (He does get his comeuppance in the
movie) how would he defend himself. Write a monologue for the count where he
defends himself and his actions.
What is the ‘Marvellous Marriage’ about? Create a playbill for the Count’s
performance or write a newspaper review of the play
Create a story map for one of the 3 tales we’ve read. (In Wide Window, Snicket
describes where Aunt Josephine lived: “The inky blob of Lake Lachrymose, huge and
dark as a monster.”) Create a tourist guide for the lake including a map and
advertisement for local businesses (The Anxious Clown) and attractions (The Curdled
Cave)
If you were to meet Count Olaf, what would you say to him? (Write a short 2-person
play about the encounter)
Watch the film version of the story and other movies which show an alternative
universe set in the past but where modern technology occurs earlier than in reality.
(This genre is called Cyberpunk) Describe in poster or comic or PowerPoint format
how reality in the movie differs from our reality.
Send a suitable glum unfortunate greeting card to a friend.
Try to start a ‘Count Olaf’ Fan Club. What do you offer your members? (Check out
the Counts web site for fascinating information about him)
Create posters to display around the playground advertising the arrival of count Olaf’s
Troupe to your local area.
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Student example of ‘A day in the life of Count Olaf’
A day in the life of the towns states
countries actor Count Olaf
01. Make the orphans and the biting
monkeys life a misery
02. Do number 1 some more
03. take candy from small child
04. be lazy with theatre troop
05. think about roast beef
06. squash some butterfly’s
07. conspire about evil plan
08. repeat number 1
09. stare at people in the park
10. be a public nuisance
11. think about roast beef some more
12. get drunk with theatre troop
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Story map for Lake Lachrymose (Add suitable illustrations and captions for important
events from the story)
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Create a collage showing what might be inside the tower
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Spiderwick
By Holly Black and
Tony DiTerlizzi
Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with
their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along
with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an
alternate world full of fantastic creatures some willing to
help them, others determined to destroy them.
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About the authors
Tony DiTerlizzi
Tony DiTerlizzi is the illustrator of the Caldecott Honor Book The Spider and the Fly and
the co-author and illustrator of the best-selling Spiderwick Chronicles. He lives in
Massachusetts,
http://www.diterlizzi.com/
Holly Black
Holly Black's first book, Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale, was published in Fall 2002 to
impressive reviews. She lives in New Jersey.
http://www.blackholly.com/
About the books
Book One opens with the Grace family, (Jarred who has a gift with animals, Simon who
doesn’t want to move and seems troubled by his parents separation and the oldest
Mallory who is feisty and a bit dangerous in full fencing gear) moving into their great
aunt Lucinda's decrepit old Victorian house (Aunt Lucinda is in care and apparently
suffering dementia.) Her house is decrepit and dangerous and full of mystery and
midnight mayhem.
While investigating the noises in the walls, Jared discovers a secret room full of stolen
knick-knacks. This is home to the grumpy household brownie Thimbletack, who doesn't
want outsiders in his house. Thimbletack is even angrier when, against his advice, Jared
hunts down a curious hand-bound book: the Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around
You, written by an ancestor called Arthur Spiderwick, Aunt Lucinda's brother. Although
told to abandon the book, Jared decides to keep and read the book which starts a series of
escalating calamities resulting in the children confronting a myriad of fantastic creatures
living in an unseen, life threatening world.
The books in the series (There are 5 in the series as well as reference books by the
authors with a film to be released in 2008 and a new series of stories starting in 2007) are
fast paced and atmospheric. The illustrations are evocative and the color plates are
reminiscent of children’s books published in the 19th century.
The activities are primarily for the first book but some can be carried over while reading
the second. Such as ‘That Happened to Me’, ‘Prediction Trail’ and even the ‘Excitement
Graph’) the first book really sets up the series. It’s not until the second book that any real
mystery and excitement occurs. I‘d prefer to give the students a taste for the books with
the first 2 in the series and have them independently read the rest.
There is an excellent official site for the books: http://www.spiderwick.com/
Puzzle books were also published to coincide with the release of a movie version of the
series.
23 | P a g e
Activities
Remember


Complete a wordsearch and crossword based on the story
Complete a glossary of interesting words from the story
Understand
 Make a fact quiz about the story (5 questions)
 Predict cause and effect in the story.
 Think of an episode from the story which is not illustrated and create an
illustration in the style used by Tony Terlizzi
 Complete a Venn diagram comparing the 2 twins.
 Create an alternative book cover (or invent a cover for a 6th book)
Application
 Write a haiku or acrostic poem about Spiderwick
 Create a recipe based on a meal from the book.
 Complete a ‘That happened to me’ worksheet (Can you think of 3 events or
people from the story that reminds you of characters, places or events from your
life?)
 Create a newspaper front page about strange happenings at Spiderwick Estate.
 Create a ‘care for’ pamphlet for a boggart.
 Create a comic about what happens to Mallory at night when they are ‘attacked’
by the boggart.
Analysis
 Complete a ‘Prediction Trail’ while listening to the story.
 Complete an excitement graph
 Complete a ‘Who said that?’ worksheet
 Complete a story map
 Create a ‘Y Chart’ for a scene from the story (i.e. there first night in the house, the
discovery of the secret library or the kitchen in the morning after the boggart went
mad.)
 One of the children write a postcard to their father telling him what’s happening
or to Aunt Lucinda asking for help.
Evaluate
 Create a bookmark with a personal recommendation written on one side. OR
Compare it favourably or otherwise with another similar book.
 Create a display of gothic novels in the library. Have the children vote on their
favourites.
Create
 Create a newspaper front page story about an episode from the book.
24 | P a g e



Create a treasure chest full of treasures.
Create an advertisement for the sale of Great Aunt Lucinda’s house.(Use
imaginative real estate agent language to help sell it)
Create a job advertisement for a housekeeper, gardener or odd jobs person for
Spiderwick estate. What special skills / knowledge would they need?
http://www.simonsays.com/content/feature.cfm?sid=803&feature_id=2552 (The Simon
and Schuster site includes a map)
http://www.spiderwickchronicles.com/ The official Spiderwick movie site
Page numbers refer to the hardback editions.
25 | P a g e
Word Scramble
Spiderwick
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ANIMALS
AUNT LUCINDA
BOGGART
BROWNIE
DUMBWAITER
FAERIE
FENCING
FIELD
GOBLIN
GUIDE
HOGSQUEAL
JARED
JEFFREY
LEMONDROP
LIBRARY
MALLORY
SIMON
SPRITE
THIMBLETACK
TIBBS
TROLL
UNCLE ARTHUR
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Spiderwick Crossword
27 | P a g e
Across
1. Mallory was good at this sport.
3. The author of the Spiderwick books
4. Arthur .............
5. Jared pulled himself up in the ........... to the secret library
6. There was a .......s head knocker on the front door.
9. Aunt ...........
11. He liked collecting animals.
Down
2. The Grace family left ..... ...... to live in Aunt Lucinda's old
house.
4. The children thought the scratching noise was caused by a
..........
7. A boggart likes to drink ........
8. Jared found a secret ..........
10. Jared found clues in the .....
28 | P a g e
Spiderwick
Glossary of interesting words from the book (i.e. malicious Page 74 or apothecary
page 72)
Meaning
Illustration (if
possible)
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Spiderwick Cause and Effect
(Pages 1-72)
Cause
Effect
Jared, Mallory and
Simon’s parents are
divorced.
The broom handle broke
through the plaster.
Mallory woke up
covered in bruises.
Jared scattered handfuls
of flour on the floor of the
kitchen.
30 | P a g e
Spiderwick
As you listen to the story, think about things that have happened to
you or you have seen or heard about that remind you of
characters, places or events from the book.
In the story
In my life
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Spiderwick
As we read the story, stop often and make a prediction about what you think
will happen next!
Write your prediction in the foot. (Possibly boggart prints left on the kitchen
floor?) If you’re correct shade it blue if wrong shade red.
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Spiderwick
Complete an excitement graph for 4 events of your choosing from
the story.
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Excitement Graph
1= no excitement at all
5= Very exciting
5
4
3
2
1
34 | P a g e
Spiderwick
Who said that? (Pages 1-45)
Sometimes you can tell what a character is like by what they
say. Identify the quotes and make a judgement about the
character based on the quote
What it tells about them
Only crappier!
…………………………………
….
This is a chance for all of
us to start over.
…………………………
….
There was a library! A
secret library with weird
books and something was
there, it wrote in the dust!
……………………………
….
What it tells about them
What it tells about them
What it tells about them
Oh no! Jeffery and
Lemondrop chewed their
way loose!
…………………………
….
35 | P a g e
Spiderwick
For each area make a judgment on what you think about the
story. (Give it a grade out of 10) and give a reason for your
opinion.
Opening:
Did you like how it began? Did you get into the book straight away?
Characters:
Plot:
Did you like the characters?
Did you like the idea behind the story? Was it original?
Ending:
What did you think about the way the story ended?
36 | P a g e
Creative writing ideas
Create three of your own Spiderwick Chronicles type magical creatures.
Create a profile of each creature in a similar format to the profiles in the ‘Arthur
Spiderwick Field Guide’.
Include a detailed annotated sketch of the creature
Include information on where it lives, what it eats, its life span and any interesting
characteristics.
Also include a journal extract telling about an encounter you had with the
creature.(include information about how to catch, repel, befriend or destroy these
creatures)
You arrive to live in a decrepit old mansion (why?)
with a friend or family member. (Describe it in detail. How do you feel about being
there? What are your first impressions?)
Mysteriously your friend disappears (he /she is kidnapped by magical creatures) Write
about saving them. What do you have to do? Why was your friend captured? Write
about your adventure as a letter to your friend’s family.
Create a story map of a spooky old house like the Spiderwick Estate full of terrible
secrets and mysteries. Draw a rough plan first; consider the best place to put doors,
passageways and staircases. Include secret rooms containing mysterious imaginary
creatures and threats.
Create a Spiderwick board game with trivia questions about the first 2 stories to go
with it. (An example can be found on the official book site)
Research an unusual pet or find some information about squirrels.
Research fencing (The sport, not building fences!)
Draw what you think might be lurking behind the front door of Spiderwick. (Refer
worksheet)
Create a collage of odds and ends that might be inside the wall cavity.(Refer
worksheet)
Create some book titles for the secret library bookshelves.(Refer Worksheet)
Create a medical report for Aunt Lucinda or a school report for Mallory at her new
school or Jared at his old school (where he gets into fights and received a black eye.)
Write a note for a boggart and leave a message or warning for it.
Design and create a fencing medal for Mallory.
Create a warning sign in the forest for goblins
In 1885 Arthur Spiderwick’s brother Theodore was eaten by a bear (or so an old
newspaper story said) Write the story.
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Compare the troll from ‘The Seeing Stone’ with the troll from ‘Three Billy Goats
Gruff’
Consider these names the hobgoblin gave the Grace children. (Ninnyhammer,
Chucklehead, Dumbellina and jinglebrains)
Illustrate 4 of them and make up some of your own.
Create a story map of the Spiderwick stories.
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Inside the walls collage
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What lies behind the front door?
(Decorate the door, cut along the edge and attach an image of what might be
behind.)
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Create some authentic book titles for these books on the bookshelf of the ‘secret
library’.
Create some authentic specimens / potions for the library shelf.
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Spiderwick (The Seeing Stone)
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Across
2. The name of Simon's missing cat.
5. The name of the house brownie who doesn't want Jared to have the
guide.
8. The injured griffin bit off the goblin's ..... when he poked him with a
stick.
10. Jared saw Simon being dragged away by ...............
12. The Seeing ...........
13. The ........ stone was found in the carriage house.
Down
1. Hogsqueal was a not a goblin he was a ..........
3. Simon was stuck up in a ....., hanging from the branch of a tree.
4. Theodore was thought to have been killed in a .....attack.
6. Jarrod and Mallory found the goblins when they smelt the ......... fur.
7. The river ……………… tried to catch and eat Mallory and Jared.
9. When the children got home they were ......... for a month by their
mother.
11. The children could 'see' after they rubbed hobgoblin ....... into their
eyes.
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Spiderwick (book 2)
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BRIDGE
CAGES
CAMPFIRE
GOBLIN
GRIFFIN
GROUNDED
HOBGOBLIN
HOGSQUEAL
JARED
MALLORY
SIMON
SPRITE
STONE
STREAM
SWORD
TEETH
THIMBLETACK
TIBBS
TROLL
TRUNKS
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EDGAR and
ELLEN
Twins Edgar and Ellen live alone (Their parents are on an extended holiday) in a
mysterious tower in a boring squeaky clean Middle American town. They spend their
time avoiding their creepy groundskeeper Heimertz and terrorizing the hapless
inhabitants of their home town Nod’s Limbs. This unit focuses on the first of the six
current books in the series with some additional activities for the second book.
The Author
This short biography is straight from the Simon and Shuster web site and is both brief
and puzzling:
Charles Ogden is an avid camper and fisherman. He collects insects and has traveled
in pursuit of various specimens to the North Pole, the South Pole, and Poland. Mr.
Ogden and his insect collection make their home in a cool, dry, preservation-friendly
environment, far removed from prying eyes.
Edgar and Ellen have their own excellent official web site:
http://www.edgarandellen.com/
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About the book
The first book in the continuing series (6 so far) is called Rare Beasts. In this book we
are introduced to the two bizarre twins Edgar and Ellen. (like Mr. Poe in Unfortunate
events this is a tribute to the great 19th Century gothic author, Edgar Allan Poe) They
live in a frighteningly normal and boring town called Nods Limbs. They live alone in
a dilapidated 13 storey tower on the wrong side of town. They own a unique woolly
pet called…Pet and keep clear of their mysterious groundskeeper Heimertz. They
spend most of their time plotting to swindle and upset their neighbours. They steal
neighbourhood pets and try to sell them back to their owners as exotic pets. The
second book Tourist Trap further explores Nod’s Limbs and its inhabitants. Edgar and
Ellen have to fight, scheme and plot to save their home from Mayor Knightleigh’s
plan to create a luxury hotel on their junkyard.
Edgar and Ellen have their own cartoon show and in the US there is a mountain of
merchandise to go with it. The Edgar and Ellen stories are more humorous than
Spiderwick and A Series of Unfortunate Events and have more in common with
Charles Adam’s ‘Adams Family’ characters than more serious gothic thrillers but they
still have their fair share of creepy houses, mysterious creatures and decay.
Activities
Remembering


Complete a wordsearch and crossword based on the story
Complete a glossary of interesting words from the story
Understanding
 Make a fact quiz about the story (5 questions)
 Think of an episode from the story which is not illustrated and create an
illustration in the style used by Rick Carton
 Complete a Venn diagram comparing the 2 twins. (Refer page 10-11) or the
right side and the wrong side of town. (page 5-6)
 Create an alternative book cover (or invent a cover for a new book)
Application
 Write a haiku or acrostic poem about Nod’s Limb
 Think up a prank for the twins to play on the unsuspecting folk of Nod;s Limb.
 Create a newspaper front page about strange happenings at Nod’s Limb.
 Create a care for pamphlet for ‘Pet’.
 Create a comic about what happens to the twins when they get their just
desserts.
Analysis
 Create a ‘MindMap’ for Rare Beasts.
 Complete a ‘ridiculous’ graph
 Complete a ‘Who said that?’ worksheet
 Complete a story map. (There are great descriptions of Nod’s Limbs on page 3
and their house on page 6-8)
 Create a ‘Y Chart’ for a scene from the story (i.e. the rare pets emporium)
47 | P a g e


As Edgar or Ellen write a postcard to your parents telling him what’s
happening at home. Write your version of the letter left by their parents when
they went on their ‘holiday’. Create a police file or missing persons file on
their parents.
Complete a ‘character cash’ character profile.(Refer worksheet)
Evaluate
 Create a bookmark with a personal recommendation written on one side. OR
Compare it favorably or otherwise with another similar book. (Spiderwick)
Create
 Create a newspaper front page story about an episode from the book.
 Create a wanted poster for a pet thief or a missing pet poster.
 Create an advertisement for a ‘rare beasts’ sale.
 Create a job advertisement for a housekeeper, gardener or cook for the
children. What special skills / knowledge would they need?
 Write a brief biography for Heimertz.
 Make a model of a covered bridge.
 On Publisher create business cards for characters from the story.
 Create a brochure for your own ‘lame zoo’ like the one at Nod’s Limbs (refer
pages 80-83)
Student story map of Nod’s Limbs
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Rare Beasts
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ELLEN
ENGINE
HEIMERTZ
HIDE AND SEEK
MILK
NODS LIMBS
PAINT
POSTER
RARE
SEARCH PARTY
SNAKE
WRONG and ZOO
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Rare Beasts
Crossword
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Across
1. Edgar and Ellen were .......(sibling relationship)
5. Edgar and ...........
8. Type of snake that went missing
9. Rare .............
11. The twins often sing rhyming ......
Down
2. the right and the ....... side of town
3. Hide and ..........
4. Nod's Limbs had .......... covered bridges.
6. Nod's ...............
7. Throughout Nod's Limbs ...... went missing
8. He was an exotic pet that the twins already owned.
9. Covered .............
10. The Nod's Limb’s ......... didn't have any interesting animals
(except for some fire ants)
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Rare Beasts
Who said that? (Pages 54-82) Choose from Von Barlow, Ellen, Mr. Matterhorn and
Edgar)
Sometimes you can tell what a character is like by what they say. Identify the quotes
and make a judgement about the character based on the quote
I know it’s popular to have
something that’s one of a kind,
but I’d prefer to have things as
similar as possible. (Page 54)
What it tells about them
…………………………………
….
Ah Sewers. It’s been a while since
we’ve spent any quality time
exploring them sister. (Page 62)
What it tells about them
…………………………
….
Well, I’m glad to get her out of our
hair, who’d be afraid of that snake?
All he does is sleep and he’s got a
leash on him. Silly little girl (Page 72)
What it tells about them
…………………………
I tell the Zoo’s Board of Directors,
let’s get a seal or a lion. All they
say is ‘sheep are nice’. About the
only interesting thing we have is a
colony of fire ants. (Page
82)………………………
What it tells about them
…….
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Rare Beasts (Creative Writing task 1) Create a ‘FOR SALE’
advertisement for a newspaper Real Estate section for the
Twin’s house.Read some advertisements from the newspaper.
Take note of their style and presentation. Remember you want to
make the house sound great so it will be bought for top
dollar…so you may need to bend the truth a little?
Rare Beasts (Creative Writing task 2)
Create three of your own rare beasts.
Create a profile of each creature.
Include a detailed annotated sketch of the creature
Include information on where it lives, what it eats, its life span
and any interesting characteristics.
Rare Beasts (Creative Writing task 3)
You arrive to visit Edgar and Ellen in their old decrepit mansion
on the wrong side of town. You’ve been invited to their birthday
party but you’re the only guest (include a copy of the invitation)
(why?)
What food do you get? What gifts do you bring? What party
games do you play? What is in your goodie bag?
Write your impression of the party for journal writing at Nod’s
Limbs Elementary School the next day.
Rare Beasts (Creative Writing task 4)
Create a story map of the spooky old house the twins live
in.(Refer pages 6-9) Draw a rough plan including all the floors
and rooms you need, hiding places and the shed (refer page 2930). Include secret rooms containing mysterious imaginary
creatures and threats.
Rare Beasts (Creative Writing task 5)
Create an Edgar and Ellen board game with trivia questions
about the first 2 stories to go with it.
Rare Beasts (Creative Writing / Research Task)
 Research an unusual pet or find some information about
pythons (Mr. Poo Poo).
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 Create a poster about correct pet care.
 Children cannot be left abandoned by their parents to look
after themselves. Find out what the law says about this and
create a fridge magnet ‘action card’ or wallet sized ‘about
me’ fact card with important telephone numbers and
information that might be important if you are left alone or
lost

Find out about ‘covered bridges’ and make a model of one.
Other ideas


Create a school report for one of the twins


Create your own song or rap like Edgar and Ellen.
If the twins had succeeded in selling their ‘rare pets’ then
what do you think they would have done with all the
money?
Edgar and Ellen are inspired by a real life American gothic
author from the 1820s-40s called Edgar Alan Poe. Find out
about Poe and his work. Create a poster for the library
promoting his most famous work.
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Rare Beasts
Newspaper story
NOD’S LIMBS TIMeS
4th July 2012
Price 1 Quarter
Rare Beasts
What’s new at the Zoo
Comic
STOP
PRESS
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‘Tourist Trap’ writing ideas
Tourist Trap 1
The children’s favorite inscription on a Nods Limb’s gravestone is: ‘In
memory of Bertel Herringbottle, died from an infestation of the cuckoo
wasp, 1825’
Create some of your own funny inscriptions (refer worksheet)
Tourist Trap 2
Mayors of Nods Limbs have placed warning signs at the junkyard. What do
they say? What do they warn about? What punishment might you suffer if
you are caught at the junkyard? Create your own warning sign.
Tourist Trap 3
Ellen feeds a carnivorous plant at the ‘gadget graveyard’ called Berenice.
Create a fact file on a species of carnivorous plant.
Tourist Trap 4
Write your own ‘declaration’ from Mayor Knightleigh (Refer worksheet)
Tourist Trap 5
Draw a map of the gadget graveyard or set up your own unique Gadget
Graveyard display. Create a ‘priceless’ discovery of your own.
Tourist Trap 6
What is French toast? Write a recipe. Take photos with a digital camera of
the cooking procedure. What gastronomic delight would your town be
famous for? Design a poster advertising your local food festival.
Tourist Trap 7
What books might be in Edgar and Ellen’s library. (Invent some strange
titles (refer to the worksheet)
Tourist Trap 8
Create a page of a local guide book (for Nod’s Limbs or your home town)
make it quirky or downright scary like Edgar and Ellen’s.
Tourist Trap 9
If Heimertz did speak to Edgar and Ellen one day what would he say? Create
a telephone conversation between him and the children.
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Tourist Trap 1
Worksheet
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Tourist Trap 4
Worksheet
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Tourist Trap 7
Worksheet
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Tourist Trap 10
Create your own Edgar and Ellen type version of a nursery rhyme. (Refer to
their version of Rock-a-bye baby in chapter 13.
Tourist Trap 11
What is quick sand? How does it work? Why is it dangerous? Where can it
be found? How do you know what is sand and what is quick sand? What do
you do if you fall in it? Create a warning poster or fact file about quicksand.
Write a newspaper report about escaping from quicksand.
Tourist Trap 12
What is behind the Mayor’s barricade? At the end of chapter 13 have the
children guess what it might be. Some building sites have observation holes
so passer-by’s can see what is happening behind barricades at building sites.
Have the children design a 3-D model of what might be behind the
barricade.
Tourist Trap 13
Invent a seven word Edgar and Ellen type message for the covered bridges.
(Refer to the worksheet)
Tourist Trap 14
Investigate ‘urban legends’. Find out about a ‘legendary’ monster such as
the Yeti, Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster
Tourist Trap 15
Create a postcard that Edgar and Ellen would might create for Nod’s Limbs
or create your own loathsome postcard for your own town. Take digital
photos a local ‘eyesore’ for your postcard. (Refer:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/uglypostcards/pool/ )
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Tourist Trap 16
Create a story map of Nod’s Limbs while reading the story. (A map of the
town is included in this book) Highlight all the ‘places of interest’ that the
twins show the VIPs.
Tourist Trap 17
Create your own unique sandwich recipe and make it at school. Create a
platter of Edgar and Ellen type open sandwiches. (Refer worksheet)
Tourist Trap 18
Who was Nod? (Refer chapter 20) Write a brief story about how he ‘lost’ his
limbs and why he became famous. (He did have a town named after him…or
his limbs did anyway)
Tourist Trap 19
Find out about the world’s most famous wax museum. (Madam Trussauds:
http://www.madame-tussauds.co.uk/)
List and draw 3 people you would have in a wax museum.
Tourist Trap 20
Complete a word search based on Tourist Trap
Tourist Trap 21
In the Black Tree Forest the VIPs are warned against vampire bats and
sloth’s. What is a sloth? Find out about them. Are they natives to Australia,
where do they live? Are they man-eaters? Think of 5 questions you’d like to
ask about sloth’s. Write them down and research brief answers for a profile
on sloths
Tourist Trap 22
Nods limbs has a flag (Its colors are marigold and pea soup!) Draw your
design for a Nods Limbs flag. (Refer to the worksheet)
Map site: http://www.kidinfo.com/Geography/Maps.html
Tourist Trap 23
The Big Book of Universal records is like the Guiness Book of World
Records. Check out this site: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/
Choose a record you think is the most amazing and write about it.(Refer to
the woman with the longest nails below) Think up a record you’d like to set
and write about you achieving your ‘dream’.(Refer worksheet)
Tourist Trap 24
Investigate candle making (Candle making is undertaken at Sovereign Hill.
Set up a display of unusual candles you may have at home.)
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Tourist Trap 11
Worksheet
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Tourist Trap 15
Draw and label the sandwiches
Worksheet
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Tourist Trap 22
Worksheet
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Map of Nod’s Limbs
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Covered bridge
Create your own model of one of Nod’s Limbs covered bridges.
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