1. Hokey-Pokey Floor Show
1
"Hurry up, Sarah!" Christopher called from the top of
the stairs. His four-year-old body was practically jumping
out of its skin with excitement.
2
Ever since he'd come home with his "plan," as he called
it, he had almost been beside himself. Their parents had
finally given in and helped him carry out his farfetched
plan. Now Sarah had to miss her favorite TV program, just
to get this out of her little brother's system. She sure would
like to know which parent at Chris's playgroup had told the
kids about this Fish Tank Floor Show Night. Sheesh — little brothers can be so
annoying!
3
Sarah reluctantly tromped up the steps. She really wished she had paid closer
attention to Christopher's rambling at the dinner table. She honestly had no idea what
was in store. The only thing she could remember for sure was that it had something to
do with the fish in the aquarium in the family room.
4
Her mom met her as she stepped into the family room. "Honey, you really need to
try to be patient with him. He is so excited about this."
5
"I know, Mom. You don't need to harp at me. I'm trying — honest." Sarah tried to
glue a smile on her face. Lately there seemed to be less and less to actually smile
about. Learning that her brother had been diagnosed with childhood cancer had taken
the wind out of her sails. He was so darned cute —and so innocent. How could this be?
It just didn't make any sense. Her whole world seemed to have spun out of control —
and nothing made sense any more.
6
"Stand over here by me, Sarah," Christopher directed. Sarah ruffled his hair as she
walked to the place he had indicated. She glanced at her parents. They both had dark
circles under their eyes. She had heard their voices late into the night as she tried to go
to sleep the night before.
7
"Um, Christopher, what are we doing again?" Sarah asked as cheerfully as she
could.
8
"Sarah, I already told you! Please pay attention this time," Christopher answered
sternly. His cute little nose scrunched up as he spoke. "At playgroup, we learned about
Fish Tank Floor Show Night. We are going to do that!"
9
"OK, I know that part — but what exactly am I doing?"
10
"Well, you are going to help us entertain the fish."
11
At this point Sarah was really sorry she had let her mind wander while he chattered
about this at dinner. What was he talking about? Entertaining the fish? What on earth?
Why?

2. 12
"Sorry, buddy. I need to check with you again. Why are we entertaining the fish?"
13
"Well, you know how the fish spend all of their time under the light for our
entertainment? This is the night we pay them back and entertain them for a change."
14
"Oh, uh, yeah. Um, what are we going to do to entertain the fish?"
15
"We're going to do the hokey-pokey!"
16
The smile on Christopher's face lit up his entire being. There was no way Sarah
was going to rain on his parade. She would do the hokey-pokey for the fish if that's what
he wanted. Sarah looked over at her parents. They, too, seemed to notice how much
this plan pleased Christopher. Soon the family had all joined in and began to giggle and
wiggle with the words of the song.
17
Sarah couldn't remember the last time her family had laughed together. It seemed
like a huge black cloud had fallen over the family following the cancer diagnosis. Leave
it to her brother to find a way to make them all enjoy each other's company again Sarah
thought with a smile.

3. Name _____________________________ Date ___________________
Hokey-Pokey Floor Show
1. At the beginning of the story, Sarah is 2. Where did Christopher learn about Fish
unhappy because she is going to____. Tank Floor Show Night?
Miss her favorite TV program At playgroup
Miss her brother From a friend
Miss dinner At school
Miss her friend's phone call At the doctor's office
3. When had Christopher first told his 4. What is meant by: "Learning that her
family about his plan? brother had been diagnosed with
While watching TV childhood cancer had taken the wind
At playgroup out of her sails"?
When he was in the hospital Sarah was happy.
At dinner Sarah was tired of breathing.
Sarah felt powerless.
Someone had punched Sarah in
the stomach and knocked the wind out
of her.
5. What is meant by: "There was no way 6. Why was the family doing the hokey-
Sarah was going to rain on his pokey in front of the family's aquarium?
parade"? Because they needed the
Sarah was not going to do the exercise
hokey-pokey. Because they wanted to laugh
Sarah was afraid to take her again
brother to a parade. So they could forget about
Sarah was not going to take her Christopher's cancer
brother out into the rain. Because Christopher wanted to
Sarah was not going to make fun entertain the fish
of her brother's idea.
7. Sarah doesn't like her brother very
much.
True
False

4. Name _____________________________ Date ___________________
Hokey-Pokey Floor Show: Math
Complete and show your work.
1. The equation c + 147 = 264 describes 2. Ulalie C. Urchin bought four tickets for
the number of children and adults at the floor show at a cost of $7.45 each
the Fish Tank Floor Show yesterday. If (sand dollars, of course!). He gave box
147 is the number of adults that office clerk $50. How much change did
attended the show, then how many Mr. Urchin get in return?
children were at the show?
3. Polly Parrotfish saves the ticket stubs 4. Sammy Shark bought three programs
from all the shows she has attended. for the floor show for $30.6. If his
She puts them in scrapbooks with 33 brother Sal bought five programs at the
pages. Each page holds 22 stubs. How same price per program, what would
many scrapbooks does she need for the total cost be?
189 ticket stubs?
5. The floor show at the Under the Sea 6. Olivia Octopus practiced for two days
Theater was a sell-out for each of its 31 on her part in the floor show. She
shows last week. The theater holds practiced a total of 243 minutes. If she
250 citizens of the sea. How many sea practiced 35 minutes longer on the first
dwellers attended the shows at the day, how long did she practice each
theater last week? day?