A STUDY GUIDE BY CHRISTINE EVELY http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN: 978-1-74295-024-2 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au Introduction ABOUT THE BOOK Beginning life as a series of online cartoons, Diary of a Wimpy Kid topped the pop culture scene when Kinney’s first ‘novel in cartoons’ was published as a book in 2007. Spending almost three years on the New York Times’ children’s best-seller list, Diary of a Wimpy Kid has sold in excess of twenty-eight million copies and has been translated into more than thirty languages. The sequel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules does not disappoint readers eager to find out more about the trials and tribulations of its main character, Greg Heffley. As in the first book of this illustrated literary series Jeff Kinney’s por- trayal of Greg Heffley seems somewhat autobiographical. The series continues to capture the imaginations of formerly reluctant readers and generates countless print and video reviews and social networking fan groups. DID YOU KNOW? The books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney have been described as semi-autobiographical journal/cartoon books. They are available both online and as traditional hard-copy books that appeal to both competent and struggling readers. - Students can log on to funbrain.com each day to read the online version <http://www.funbrain.com/ journal/Journal.html?ThisJournalDay=1& ThisPage=1>. - They can also visit the official website for the series of books at <http://www.wimpykid.com>. Here you can encourage students to find out about more SCREEN EDUCATION about the books in the series, the author and play some cool games. 2 In this Wimpy Kid sequel, Greg Heffley, the kid who made About the film ‘wimpy’ cool, not only begins year seven, but he and his brother Rodrick must learn how to deal with each other, as Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is a live-action comedy they cope with their parents’ misguided attempts to have film, based on the book of the same name. It is a sequel them bond! In addition, it is important for Greg to impress to both the book and the film Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Thor Holly Hills … Freudenthal, 2010). Like the first film, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (David Bowers, 2011) draws its style from the However, as Greg’s diary soon reveals, his summer break witty dialogue, humorous journal entries and cartoon-style began miserably when he joined the swim team (his father’s illustrations of the books in the series. Zachary Gordon, idea). To add to his misery his friend Rowley went away Robert Capron, Devon Bostick, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn, on yet another exciting summer vacation; and his three Connor and Owen Fielding, Karan Brar, Laine MacNeil, and year old brother Manny, and his older brother Rodrick, are Grayson Russell are all reprising their roles from the first both continuing to drive him crazy! While Manny is very film,Diary of a Wimpy Kid. annoying, Rodrick RULES! Why? Because Rodrick knows about something REALLY embarrassing that happened Once again the life of the main character, Greg Heffley, to Greg during the summer. And he is just revelling in the is the focus, and it is quite a saga, filled with a myriad of chance to hold it over Greg’s head. Added to all this, Greg humorous incidents. This time they centre upon the way must still find ways to deal with the annoyances of school, Greg deals with the fact that his older brother Rodrick ‘rules’ homework, bullies, the consequences of his poor choices, – all because he knows something about Greg that is way and of course – parents - all the while desperate for Rodrick too embarrassing to be shared. to keep quiet. Like the first book in the series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: While it seems that there is no love lost between Greg and Rodrick Rules is designed to look like a diary – no, Rodrick, when the chips are down it is clear that they do SCREEN EDUCATION according to Greg it’s a ‘journal’, and in this case it is filled care for one another, and in the end Greg must set aside with sketches and cartoons. The story is narrated by Greg his animosity towards his older brother to help him when he through the pages of his diary, er, journal. needs it. 3 TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES Create A PITCH AND A POSTER USING THE BOOK AND FILM DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES IN THE CLASSROOM Have each student develop a thirty-second ‘pitch’ with the funniest idea they can think of to include in a third book or Filled with hyperbole, both the book and the film will appeal film in the Wimpy Kid series, and then based on the pitch, to tweens and teens, who will recognise the problems that create a large poster to advertise a third film in the series. arise from time-to-time as they navigate their lives both at home and at school. Cheese Touch and other Food Stories with a Twist This study guide provides teachers and students from Jeff Kinney’s representations of childhood in Diary of a early primary to lower secondary levels with background Wimpy Kid captivated readers and highlighted some of the information, a range of discussion questions and activities absurdities of middle school life. One particularly popular to support the curriculum areas of English, The Arts and incident was the ‘cheese touch’, which became a legendary SOSE/HISE. middle school story evoking horror, disgust and gossip. At Greg’s school, a mouldy piece of cheese mysteriously appeared in the schoolyard, growing more foul and powerful BOOK TO FILM by the day. Like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, this film has been adapted from Readers and viewers quickly learn that if there’s a thing that a book that is part of an illustrated novel series. The se- these middle schoolers dread, it’s accidentally touching the ries has evolved from one on-screen form - popular online disgusting slice and being branded with the cheese touch’s stories - into a series of books, then to another screen, this nuclear cooties. The only way to get rid of the cheese touch time the big screen, as a series of movies. is by touching some other unfortunate classmate – it’s like a game of tag, only grosser. • What do you think? • As a class discuss why the ‘cheese touch’ may have Do you think a third Wimpy Kid film will be made? Why or also been incorporated into Diary of a Wimpy Kid: why not? Rodrick Rules, and then consider what could be worse than the cheese touch? HOLD A CLASS MINI-DEBATE: Some people criticise films that are based on books SCREEN EDUCATION because the filmmakers change elements of the story. DID YOU KNOW? Debate: More than 70,000 people read Wimpy Kid stories online every day. Go to <http://www.funbrain.com/journal/ Filmmakers have the right to interpret a story any way they Journal.html?ThisJournalDay=260&ThisPage=1>. wish. Agree or Disagree. 4 parts of the book and any events that provoked strong DEAR Diary emotions such as pity, disgust or anger. Have students read the diary entry above and then, • Discuss as a class: using their imaginations, use Worksheet 1 to sketch and brainstorm ideas about what has happened to the missing - Do you think you need to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid cheese, and write a short description of the worst possible to be able to understand and enjoy Diary of a Wimpy idea – within reason! Kid: Rodrick Rules? Why do you think this? OPENING LINES - What things have made the Wimpy Kid series so popular? Have students write really interesting opening sentences for a story about a toast wall on large strips of paper. - Why might Jeff Kinney have decided to use illustra- tions or sketches to create a journal series? DEAR Diary Cartoon IT Ask students to use Worksheet 2 to write a diary entry that relates to ‘the toast wall’? Have students create a cartoon or a cartoon strip that depicts a funny episode in their own lives, either at home or Reading the book at school. • Read Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules to the class, Jeff Kinney explains, ‘I wanted to create a character that and/or encourage students to read it themselves. It can was realistic. Many times in children’s literature, the pro- be fun to seat students in a circle and take turns to each tagonist is really just a miniature adult. I wanted to come up read one entry aloud. Students could be given the entry with a kid who was relatable and far from perfect. I worked they will read in advance to allow time to rehearse their hard to avoid dumbing down the books, talking down to reading. kids, and wanted to make sure the stories avoided lots of lessons learned.’ • While the book is being read, pause between diary entries to list characters and settings, key events and WIMPY Reports themes that emerge on a large class chart. SCREEN EDUCATION Ask students to use Worksheet 3 to create a report card • When the book has been read, have students share with outlining reasons for the popularity of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: a partner, their favourite parts of the book, the funniest Rodrick Rules. 5 Alternatively, have students use Worksheet 4 to draw and write about Jeff Kinney’s success in representing childhood.