Reading Is an Adventure
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READING IS AN ADVENTURE. RHCBooks.com SQUIRM EDUCATORS’ GUIDE CLASSROOM DISCUSSION • There are several incidents of bullying in the Why does Billy feel he must lie? Debate whether novel. How does Billy stand up to the bullies in he is protecting his mother or himself. his school? What does he do to defend Chin? • Billy becomes separated from Summer Chasing- ABOUT THE BOOK Discuss the significance of the gift that Chin gives Hawks and Little Thunder-Sky in the high-timber him. Billy’s mother reminds him that the school Billy Dickens, a loner and snake enthusiast, lives country of the Rockies. He spots a remote- has rules about bullying in the Code of Conduct with his free-spirited mother in Florida, where she controlled drone hovering over him. Discuss (p. 8). How are these rules universal? Debate moves the family from town to town in search of the note that Dennis drops from the drone (p. whether such rules are always effective? bald eagle nests. He hasn’t seen his father since 53). What is the irony in his writing “Love, Dad”? his parents divorced when he was four years • Describe Billy’s mother. The family moves often Discuss why Dennis Dickens uses the note, and old. Now an eighth grader, Billy conducts some in search of bald eagle nests. Discuss how the that moment, to apologize for all the lost years shrewd detective work and finds that Dennis frequent moves affect Billy and his sister, Belinda. with his children. Dickens, his father, lives in Montana, where he is involved in some type of secret work. Billy • Billy is curious about his dad. Why does his • Explain why Billy feels anger and sadness when travels across the country in search of his elusive mother tear up the return address labels on his father doesn’t interact with him in person. father, and finds himself on a journey in which he the envelopes containing his child support How does Billy get to know his father as the novel floats down a river with his father’s new wife and payments? Billy manages to piece together the progresses? Discuss the phrase “forgive and stepdaughter, hikes deep into a mountain, and address. How does he convince his mother to let forget.” Billy isn’t likely to forget his adventure with comes dangerously close to a grizzly bear and him go to Montana? Explain why Billy’s mother his father. Do you think he forgives him? her cubs. His only communication with his father sends someone disguised as Billy’s uncle to meet • Discuss what Billy means when he says to his is through a note that drops from a drone. Later, him at the airport. What does Billy discover when dad, “You didn’t just ‘move out.’ You bailed out.” his father returns to Florida to apologize for his he gets to his father’s house? (p. 113) His dad admits that he was a coward. years of absence and takes Billy on a mission to • Describe Dennis Dickens, Billy’s father. Why is Explain what he means when he tells Billy “fear the Everglades to save an endangered Florida he so secretive about his job? How does Aunt turned to shame.” (p. 114) Dennis Dickens panther from a wealthy poacher. Sophie’s money allow him to follow his passion? doesn’t fear the poachers. Why does he fear his Grades 3–7 At what point does he decide to tell Billy the truth family? At what point does he confront his fear F&P: Y • Lexile: 740L ABOUT THE AUTHOR HC: 978-0-385-75297-8 about his work? How does he know he can trust and shame? CARL HIAASEN was born GLB: 978-0-385-75298-5 Billy with the truth? EL: 978-0-385-75299-2 • Describe the relationship that Billy forms with and raised in Florida. He writes a CD: 978-1-524-75483-9 • Billy’s mom says that there is nothing “usual” Summer Chasing-Hawks and Little Thunder-Sky. column for the Miami Herald and about Dennis Dickens. Cite evidence that she How do they feel about Dennis Dickens? is the author of many bestselling PRE-READING ACTIVITY is correct. Why does she call Dennis Dickens a novels, including Razor Girl and • Billy embarks on a journey with his father in “serial quitter”? (p. 41) How might the same thing Lead a class discussion about the difference Photo © 2014 byTim Chapman Photo © 2014 byTim Bad Monkey. His books for younger Florida to find the poacher Lincoln Chumley be said about Billy’s mother? Discuss whether readers include the Newbery Honor winner between “endangered,” “threatened,” and Baxter IV, a real estate tycoon from San they were too much alike to live together. Hoot, as well as Flush, Scat, Chomp, and Skink— “vulnerable” species. What and who determines if Francisco. What is the difference between No Surrender. a species is placed on these lists? (animals.mom • Sarcasm is defined as a sharp and often satirical “chasing” and “tracking” Baxter? Billy’s father says .me/difference-between-endangered or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain. that Baxter isn’t an “ordinary” poacher. What is You can read more about Hiaasen’s work at -threatened-vulnerable-species-11408.html) Billy is a master of sarcasm. Identify some of his unusual about him? carlhiaasen.com, and follow him on Instagram, Tell students that Squirm is set in both Montana many sarcastic remarks. How does sarcasm Facebook, and Twitter at @Carl_Hiaasen. • Explain the title of the book. and Florida. Have them find out which species make Billy appear brave and in control? are on the lists in these states. Correlates with Common Core State Standards in Reading Literature: • Billy lies to his mother on several occasions. He Key Ideas & Details RL. 4-7.1, 4-7.3; Craft & Structure RL. 4-7.4, 4-7.6; Correlates with Common Core State Standards in Writing: Text Types Speaking & Listening: Comprehension & Collaboration SL. 4-7.1, 4-7.3; & Purposes W. 4-7.2; Research to Build & Present Knowledge W. 4-7.7; says, “When you’re not used to lying, it’s easy to Language: Convention of Standard English L. 4-7.1; Knowledge of Language: Convention of Standard English L. 4-7.1, 4-7.2; Knowledge Language L. 4-7.3; Vocabulary Acquisition & Use L. 4-7.5. of Language L. 4-7.3. get tripped up.” (p. 31) What lies does he tell, and when does he come close to getting tripped up? CURRICULUM eagle in Montana (fieldguide.mt.gov /speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABNKC22010). Have READ AND EXPLORE WILDLIFE CONNECTIONS students research the similarities and differences All of Carl Hiaasen’s books take place partly in Florida and emphasize the importance of wildlife Identify the figurative language in the following between these two types of eagles. Then preservation. As you read, explore Florida’s ecosystems and the implications of using its resources passage: “Billy, it’s like looking for a microscopic have them create an informative PowerPoint through the below projects. needle in a super-giant haystack. A needle that presentation that Billy’s mother might show to doesn’t want to be found.” (p. 73) What is the local bird-watchers. SPECIAL SPECIES EXTRA, EXTRA! RESEARCH haystack? Who is the needle? Ask students to Correlates with Common Core State Standards in Writing: Text There are 350 different kinds of birds and 27 THE EVERGLADES! write a simile and a metaphor that describe the Types & Purposes W. 4-7.6; Research to Build & Present Knowledge W. 4-7.7; Language: Convention of Standard English L. 4-7.1, 4-7.2; varieties of snakes that live in the Everglades. scene when Billy finds his father tied up and left to Ask students to find websites or newspaper and Knowledge of Language L. 4-7.3. Ask students to identify at least 20 birds and five be eaten by the grizzly bears. magazine articles to help them understand oil Carl Hiaasen is noted for writing ecological snakes common to the area. Have them do a drilling and oil use in present-day America. Then Correlates with Common Core State Standards in Language: colored sketch and write a brief description for a Vocabulary Acquisition & Use L. 4-7.5. mysteries. The main focus of a mystery is a crime engage them in a discussion about whether land that needs solving. Ask students to write a paper wildlife brochure on Everglades National Park. like the Everglades should be kept pristine from oil Dennis Dickens’s second wife is a Crow Indian, that discusses why Squirm is an ecological drilling and mining or if these activities should be and her name is Little Thunder-Sky. Billy’s mother mystery. What is the crime? How is there more EXPLORING allowed. Be sure that students address the impact says the name is “mountain poetry.” (p. 34) Write than one mystery to be solved? What is Billy’s role THE EVERGLADES on animals (especially endangered species) and a poem about one of the following characters: in solving both mysteries? Cite specific scenes ECOSYSTEM their habitats. and use direct quotes from the novel to support Little Thunder-Sky In Hoot, Roy gains a greater appreciation of GET TO KNOW Summer Chasing-Hawks your arguments. wildlife when the Eberhardts take a Sunday- THE FLORIDA KEYS Billy Big Stick Correlates with Common Core State Standards in Writing: Text afternoon boat trip through the Everglades. Ask Types & Purposes W. 4-7.1; Research to Build & Present Knowledge the class to study the Everglades’ ecosystem.