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Junie B. Jones Is A Graduation Girl



Last updated Saturday, June 3, 2006

Author: Barbara Park
Date of Publication: 2001
ISBN: 0375902929
Grade Level: 4th    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jun. 2006

Synopsis: Junie B. Jones and her classmates from Room 9 are getting ready to graduate from kindergarten. Everyone is excited as their teacher passes out their white graduation gowns in a box to keep until their big day. Junie B. can?t wait to try hers on, but as she is playing an accident happens and her white graduation gown is now covered with spots of grape juice. Can she find a way out of this mess? Or will graduation be a spotted disaster?

Note to readers:
•  While this book is fairly short, it is a chapter book. You may or may not be able to finish it. If you do not finish it, remind students that it will be in their school library so they can check it out and read it themselves.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Can anyone explain what graduation means? Or graduate? What does a graduation represent?
•  Have you ever been to a graduation ceremony? What goes on during the ceremony?
•  Are there different kinds of graduations? Is kindergarten graduation different from high school graduation?
•  Have you ever read about Junie B. Jones before? What books have you read? What do you know about her?

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  What kind of person is Junie B. Jones? How does the teacher feel about her? Do you know anyone like Junie B.?
•  How does the principal feel about Junie B.? Is he really laughing on page 21? Why?
•  How does Junie B. get in trouble with her graduation gown? What is her solution? What would you have done in her place?
•  Why does Junie B. not tell anyone about the spotted graduation gown? What do you think would have happened if she told someone?
•  Why do Junie B.?s friends also mark up their graduation gowns? Would you have done the same thing for your friend? Why or why not?
•  Has anything ever gone wrong at the last moment for you?

Craft ideas:
•  Imagine what Junie B?s first day in first grade will be like. Write a short story or draw a picture about what might happen.
•  Draw a picture of your family and yourself during your next graduation ceremony. What will your graduation gown look like?
•  Make your own graduation cap and decorate it. See sample.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!