Surprises According to Humphrey (19 page)

• Can you remember a surprise that was especially wonderful (a gift, a party, a visitor)? Describe how you felt.

• Can you remember a surprise that wasn’t so great (a grade, an injury, a canceled trip)? Describe how you felt.

• Make a list of five nice surprises your teacher would like…or five surprises a member of your family would like. Have your class plan five nice surprises for your custodian.

• Aldo says, “
Me llama Aldo.
” What is he saying? If you don’t know, ask other people if they know. (Hint, Aldo is his name.)

• Can you think of another time Humphrey heard a language other than English? Whose family was he visiting? Who was trying to learn English in that family?

• Why do we need rules in a classroom? At a swimming pool? In the library?

• What is an example of a rule you think is good? Why? What is an example of a rule you don’t agree with? Why?

• When would it be a good idea to disobey a rule? When would it be a bad idea to disobey a rule?

• If you thought a rule was unfair, what could you do to change it? At home? At school?

• If you were A.J., how would you have handled the team selection? Would you have picked Garth? Why or why not? Can you think of other ways that A.J. could have handled the situation?

• Name three things that you’re good at (for example: math, singing, eating cookies). Name something you’d like to be able to do better. List three things you could do to improve your skills.

• Have you ever let your imagination run away with you? When you were younger, did you imagine situations that were not real? What were they?

• If you saw a spaceship from another planet land in your yard, what’s the first thing you would do?

• Draw a map of the layout of your school. Make sure to mark your room, the playground, the principal’s office.

• If you were inside a hamster ball, how would things look and sound to you? How would you make it move from place to place?

• Why do you think Heidi always forgets to raise her hand? Think of three things Heidi could do to remember to raise her hand.

• Some students never volunteer to answer questions. Why do you think that is?

• If you had a suggestion box in your classroom or home, what ideas would you submit?

• If you don’t have a suggestion box, how else can you get your ideas across to people?

• How do you think Sweetums would write about this situation, as seen through her eyes. How would she describe Humphrey?

• How would other things look through the eyes of a hamster? How do you look to your pet? Write a description of yourself as a pet might see you.