THE INDIAN IN
THE CUPBOARD
Lynne Reid Banks
Lynne Reid Banks
Chapter 1 Birthday Presents pp1-11
Vocabulary
petrified
quivered


minute
miniscule

miniature
defiant
coherent
ferocious
baffled
bandolier

Character Development
Which object is magical, the cupboard
or the key?
Does the Indian belong to Omri?
Explain.
How would you feel if you were the
Indian? How would you feel if you were
Omri? Explain.
Chapter 2 The Door Is Shut pp12-24
Vocabulary
tantalizing
sarcastic
unwarily



appalled
row
coaxed
falteringly

ravenously
scorn

crestfallen
verdict
scowled

Character Development
Simile Study
How does Omri react when he discovers
the Indian is plastic again? Why does he
react his way?
How do you explain that the Indian is
plastic one minute and alive the next?
Discuss Indians and stereotyping.
What is Omri’s theory about the
cupboard? How will he test it?
Indian Investigations




You will care for your own Indian. Figure out a way
to provide all basic needs for your Indian. Will
keep a journal.
Create a name.
Create an environment.
Write a report on your Indian based on the region
of your Indian’s birthplace. Connect to social studies
standards on tribe, geographical location, weather,
housing, food, clothing, and customs.
Chapter 3 Thirty Scalps pp25-37
Vocabulary

despised
uncompromisingly

transported
lithely
ransacked



Why did the cabinet work on the plastic
teepee but not on the metal car? Is it magic?
What are the implications of this?
Social Studies Connection: Summarize the
difference between the Iroquois and the
Algonquin tribes.
Allusion: French and Indian War
Gaining Perspective: Place your Indian high up
on something in your house. Describe what he
or she sees from his or her perspective. Use
imagery and at least one simile.
Simile Study
Chapter 3 Continued
Geography
Skills
America
England
Iroquois
Nation
Algonquin
Nation






How does Omri react to Little Bear’s news of killing
and scalping men? What do you think Omri
expected? What had Omri bargained for?
Continue discussion on stereotyping.
Explore Omri’s understanding of war. Compare it to
your own.
Should Omri put Little Bear back in the cupboard
and make him plastic again? Explain. What would
you do? Explain.
Character Motives: What does Omri decide to do
with Little Bear, and how does he arrive at his
decision?
Explore the roles of women in society. How have the
roles changed over time?
Chapter 4 The Great Outdoors pp38-42
Vocabulary

escarpment
peril
foreboding


Gaining Perspective: Write a short
narrative in which your Indian goes on
an outside adventure in your backyard
or at a park. Remember to write from
the perspective of your Indian. Include
imagery and at least one simile.
How will the medic react to Little Bear?
What are the ramifications of Omri’s
actions? Explain.
Chapter 5 Tommy pp43-49
Vocabulary

clambered
tourniquet
forlornly

How would you feel if you were one of
the plastic toys being plucked from your
life on Omri’s whim, used to suit his
needs, and then returned to your life
again? Explain. How does Omri feel
about it?
Share your short story from Chapter 4
Gaining Perspective.
Chapter 6 The Chief Is Dead, Long
Live the Chief pp50-61
Vocabulary

peevishly
dire

bewilderment
hectoring


What is happening with Omri’s
friendship with Patrick?
How does Omri feel about taking the
chief’s bows and arrows?
Character Development: Is Omri
changing? Use evidence to support your
thinking. What about Little Bear?
Is Omri responsible for the chief’s
death?
Chapter 7 Uninvited Brothers pp62-74
Vocabulary

uncanny
galvanized
agog
reverently


imperiously
magnanimously
incredulous
soberly
feeble
shambling

Plotting Events: Create a plot chart of
major events in the story thus far.
Character Development
Explore the burden of caring for
another human. Write about caring for
your own Indian. Make personal
connections, if possible.
Will Omri allow Patrick to have his own
plastic toy become real? Should he?
Chapter 8 Cowboy! Pp75-85
Vocabulary

reluctant

mulish

aghast

Allusion: David and Goliath
Simile Study
What have the magic cupboard and
key done to Omri’s and Patrick’s
friendship?
Omri is frustrated with Patrick for
disobeying him and bringing the
cowboy to life, but Omri is still willing to
get Little Bear a wife. Why?
Chapter 9 Shooting Match pp86-96
Vocabulary

frenzied

prostrate

dolefully
Character Development
Simile Study
Do you think it is a wise decision for
Omri to take both Boone and Little Bear
to school for the day? Explain.
Chapter 10 Breakfast Truce pp97-103
Vocabulary
retorted
sidled
ornery
savage
nonplused

Why did Omri force Boone and Little
Bear to eat breakfast together? Why
did he then let them fight?
Chapter 11 School pp104-114
Vocabulary
consent
grimacing
fretfully
musingly
apprehension
raucous
skittles
haughtily



Character Development
Simile Study
Gaining Perspective: Place your Indian
in a special location in the classroom.
Write a paragraph description of the
location from your Indian’s perspective.
Include imagery and at least one simile.
Chapter 12 Trouble with Authority
pp115-126
Vocabulary

gesticulating

sulkily

dithered


Character Development
Simile Study
Why do you think Patrick showed the
headmaster the cowboy and the Indian?
What was his motivation?
How does Omri feel about Patrick now?
Use evidence to support your thinking.
What do you think will happen next?
Chapter 13 Art and Accusation
pp127-140
Vocabulary
flumoxed
enthralled
infinitesimal
microscopic
stupefaction
clamored
vouch
staunchly



Simile Study
Character Development
Why did Omri decide to invite Patrick
over to spend the night, especially after
he had shown Boone and Little Bear to
the headmaster at school?
Chapter 14 The Missing Key pp141-153
Vocabulary
loftily


awry
sheepish
myriad

rapture
transfixed
restive
sullenly

Character Development
How would you feel if you were Boone or
Little Bear and you just realized that the
magic was gone and you could never
return to your real life?
What prompted Little Bear to shoot
Boone? How did he feel after he shot him?
Why is Omri more worried about Boone
dying than he was about the Indian chief
dying?
Chapter 15 Underfloor Adventure
pp154-168
Vocabulary
bedraggled


transfusion

Simile Study
Plotting Events: Describe the rising
climax of the story. Which part is the
most suspenseful? Why?
With all that has happened, why does
Omri still agree to bring to life a wife
for Little Bear? What is his motivation?
What would you do? Explain.
Chapter 16 Brothers pp169-181
Vocabulary

bemused
huskily


Character Development: How has Omri
changed as a result of knowing and having
to care for Little Bear and Boone? Use
evidence from the story to support your
thinking.
Why does Omri decide to send Little Bear
and Boone back to where they came from?
What is his motivation?
How do you feel about the resolution to
the story? Would you have done the same
thing if you were Omri?
Novel Projects

Response to Literature: Theme





Magic
Friendship
Growing up/Maturing
Persuasive Composition: Write a persuasive letter to Omri asking for
the magic cupboard and key to bring your own plastic toy to life.
Use a minimum of two persuasive reasons for your request.
Narrative:


Create your own narrative where a different type of plastic toy comes
to life. Include imagery and similes as part of your narrative.
Write a narrative about what happens to either Little Bear and Bright
Stars when they return home to their Iroquois village or what happens to
Boone when he returns to his town. Include imagery and similes as part
of your narrative.