Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
December 5 – 16
Journal Entries are required to be at least ½ page in length. Students will keep their
journals/grammar practice, vocabulary activity, character bookmarks and newspaper critic
report together and turn in on the last day of the unit.
Day 1:
Vocabulary Activity: On the vocabulary worksheet, list the words from the
list below to define and identify part of speech. Use a dictionary for this
activity.
hyperactive
spastic
antsy
wagging
mesmerized
fidgeting
pledge
snagged
streamlined
stern
smudge
hesitate
scalded
imp
hovering
Day 2:
Distribute a copy of the Joey Pigza Notebook cover sheet to every
student. Have them staple to it:
1) their vocabulary activity sheet and
2) 5 sheets of blank notebook paper.
You can also allow them a few minutes to color and personalize their covers.
Read Chapters 1 & 2.
Day 3:
Read Chapters 3 & 4.
Day 4:
Grammar Practice: Prepositional Phrases
Journal #1: Explain this quote from p. 19: “And it wasn’t that the important
stuff Mrs. Maxy had to say went in one ear and out the other. It was that
it didn’t go in at all but just bounced off.”
Read Chapters 5 & 6.
Day 5:
Grammar Practice: Nouns
Journal #2: Respond to this quote from p. 50: “She was crying but I didn’t
know if it was because she drank too much or if it was just the everyday
sadness of her life with me.”
Read Chapters 7 & 8.
Day 6:
~Quiz over Chapters 1 - 7.
Read Chapter 9, 10 & part of 11.
Day 7:
Grammar Practice: Verbs
Journal #3: React to this quote from p. 94: “I could dive out the bus door
and run away and bounce off the walls all the way to Pittsburgh like my dad,
or I could pull myself together like my mom and go to special ed and get
help. It was as if my life was trapped between two words: run or stay.”
Read the rest of Chapter 11 and Chapter 12.
Day 8:
Grammar Practice: Adjectives
Journal #4: Respond to this quote from p. 125-126: Joey’s mom: “So why,
after all I put you through, do you still love me?” Joey: “I don’t know why,”
I said, “I just do. You’re my mom and I do. Anyway, you love me and I’m
messed up in the head for life.”
Read Chapter 13.
Day 9
Read Chapters 14 & 15.
Grammar Practice: Adverbs
Journal #5: Respond to this quote from p. 148: “And as Special Ed said,
‘You gotta face the hand you’re dealt and deal with it, and make your
problems be the smallest part of who you are.’ And he’s right.”
Day 10
Test
Newspaper Critic- You have become the new editor of the “Arts and
Entertainment” section of the local newspaper. Your first assignment is to
give a critique of the novel. Did you like it? Why or why not? Remember
to critique the author’s ability to develop believable characters, the plot,
and setting. Use specific examples from the novel. Also, be sure to decide
if you would recommend this book to your readers.