"Love That Dog" By: Sharon Creech
Love That Dog Interpretive Questions - due Friday, May 9
Include textual evidence and cite quotes from the text for ALL questions.
Activities: (CHOOSE ONE) - due Friday, May 9
Include textual evidence and cite quotes from the text for ALL questions.
- Jack doesn’t want to write poetry at the beginning of the book. Why doesn’t he want to? He doesn't want to write poetry because he thinks its for girls.
- In Jack’s first poem, he writes:
So much depends upon
a blue car splattered with mud
speeding down the road.
Why was the blue car important to Jack? The blue car was important to Jack because it was his first poem.
- What caused Miss Strechberry to be so interested in Jack’s first poem? Describe what Miss Strechberry does to get Jack to write more poems, especially about the blue car. Miss Strechberry was interested in Jack's poems because Jack is inspired by the poems other people make so he uses them to make his own poems.
- How does Jack respond when Miss Strechberry asks him to write about a pet? Why do you think Miss Strechberry insists he write the poem despite Jack’s reaction? Jack responds like he doesn't have a pet because he is sad that the pet he used to have died. She insists he writes a poem about his pet because by using his pet in his poems he can feel more excited about poetry
- What are Jack’s feelings toward Sky? Make a list of details from the book that describes Jack’s feelings toward his dog. Jack is sad because Sky died, happy because of the good memories he had with Sky, and loving because he loved Sky.
- Jack changes a great deal in the novel. Think about these changes. Then create a two- column chart with two headings: “Beginning of school year ” and “End of school year ”. Under each heading, list examples of the things Jack does, thinks and says in the beginning of the year compared to the end of the year.
- Imagine Miss Strechberry has just asked Jack to write an essay telling what he has discovered about poetry and how it can change a person’s life. What would the essay say? The essay would say that poetry can affect a person deeply through emotions. It would also say that poetry is a way of life because poets write books for kid to read.
- Sky’s death affected Jack deeply. If you had just lost a much-loved pet, what things could you, or other people, do to help you cope with the loss? Create a list of ideas. Some one could write a poem about the animal and read it to make me feel better or I could hang a picture of my pet and I on the wall.
- Miss Strechberry is able to convince Jack to write poetry and share his feelings even though he doesn’t want to. Point out the qualities Miss Strechberry has as a person, and as a teacher, that allow her to reach Jack. She inspires Jack to write poems when he doesn't want to because Ms. Strechberry believes Jack can make poems.
- Why does Jack fall in love with Walter Dean Myers’ poetry? What effect does Mr. Myers’ visit to the school have on Jack? How do you know? He likes Walter Dean Myers' poetry because it reminded him of things he does and used to do everyday. It makes Jack more excited about poetry because Walter Dean Myers' inspired Jack more about poetry.
- There are many ways a poet can paint a picture in a reader’s mind with words. They include, similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and more. Find examples of the techniques the poets use in Love That Dog. As a group, choose three verses from the novel that created the most vivid pictures. Jacks first poem, the Yellow Dog by Jack and the onomatopoeias when he talked about the city.
- How might Jack’s life have been different if he hadn’t had Miss Strechberry as his teacher? Jacks life would be different if he didn't have Miss Strechberry because maybe the other teachers wouldn't inspire Jack like what Miss Strechberry did.
- It’s the end of the school year, and Jack wants to thank Miss Strechberry for being such a great teacher. Compose a letter or write a poem from Jack that shows his appreciation for Miss Strechberry.
- How did reading Love That Dog change your point of view about poetry? Explain your answer.
- At the end of the book, the author includes poems by seven famous American poets. Which poem did you like the best, and why? My favorite poem was The Apple by S.C. Rigg because the narrator wanted to show and apple and he used words describing the apple and at the same time creating the shape of the apple while using words that describe the apple like red and yummy.
Activities: (CHOOSE ONE) - due Friday, May 9
- Choose your favorite poem at the end of Love That Dog, and tell what the narrator was trying to say in your own words. My favorite poem was The Apple by S.C. Rigg because the narrator wanted to show an apple and he used words describing the apple like the words red and yummy.
- Create your own poem where the words make the shape of the poem’s subject. Use The Apple, by S.C. Rigg and My Yellow Dog, by Jack, as models to work from.
- Get a collection of poems from your favorite poet. Read the collection, then select your favorite poem. Create a collage that illustrates what the poem is about.
Beginning of the school year- says poetry is for girls
- not inspired by poetry - thinks poetry is hard |
End of the School Year- poetry is his favorite thing now
- inspired by poetry - poetry is easy and can make poems fast |