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Road Trip
Last updated Monday, July 8, 2024
Author: Gary Paulsen
Illustrator: Jim Paulsen
Date of Publication: 2013
ISBN: 9780385741910
Grade Level: 5th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jul. 2024
Synopsis:
Dad and Ben haven't been getting along recently and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad's plan and invites Ben's thuggish buddy, Theo. The family dog, Atticus, comes along too and the story is told by Ben and Atticus. When their truck breaks down, they commandeer an old school bus, along with its mechanic, Gus. Next, they pick up Mia, a waitress escaping a tense situation. Only sharp-eyed Atticus realizes that Theo is on the run - and someone is following them.
| Note to readers: |
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This book is about a teenager who takes an unscheduled road trip to pick-up a puppy from a rescue
shelter. The trip turns into an adventure.
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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This book is about a teenager who takes an unscheduled road trip to pick-up a puppy from a rescue
shelter. The trip turns into an adventure.
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Have you ever been on a road trip? Where did you go? Who did you go with? Did you have a good
time?
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Do you have a pet? What is it? Is it a rescue?
Vocabulary
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Border collie: a breed of herding dog used especially to herd sheep. Very intelligent, loyal and needs lots of exercise.
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Profile: representation of something in outline especially the human face from a side view.
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Flipping: (as used in this book) to buy and renovate a house or building for a quick resell.
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Renovate: to restore something to its former state by repairing, cleaning, etc.
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Allege: to assert without proof or before proving something has been done.
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Zamboni: a large truck like machine use to resurface ice rinks by smoothing out the surface with water and a scraping motion. Named for the man who invented it.
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Do any of you watch hockey games? Do you like it?
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Have you ever played ice hockey or street hockey?
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Atticus, the dog, speaks in his own voice between chapters. If you have a dog or cat, does it seem like
they understand you or know what your thinking? With dogs in particular, if they have done something
they shouldn’t have do they seem to “know” they’ve been “bad”? Give an example.
READERS: Remind the kids that if gets really hot this summer and they don’t have air conditioning
there is always one place they can go to keep cool … the public library.
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| Special activities: |
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Do the word search
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*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!
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