This document contains classroom materials and instructions for students, including warm-up writing prompts, vocabulary lessons, directions for independent reading and completing reading comprehension questions. It discusses the book The Explosion and has students analyze how different influences like a character's mother, father and hometown affected the main character Homer. Students are asked to make inferences, characterize characters, and discuss times they got in trouble.

1. The Explosion
A MEMOIR

2. Turn in Worksheet on
Characterizing Mary
Independent Reading
– SILENTLY
Fill Out Log

3. Warm Up – 9/15/2014
Who do you count on to help point
you in the right direction? Describe
a time when someone did or said
something that helped you make
an important choice.
Use details in your story. Try 2 solid
paragraphs of 5 sentences each.

4. Partner Share at your table.
Are there any similarities in your
stories?
As a team, make a list of important
factors to consider when making a
decision.

5. Vocabulary on pg. 9
Apparently
 seeming to be
 Joseph apparently found the situation funny, since he was trying hard
not to laugh.
 Creative
 showing imagination and originality
 Leticia’s fashion designs are beautiful and creative.
 Industrial
 having to do with industry (factories, metal)
 The class visited an industrial paper plant to learn how cardboard is
made.
 Careen
 to swerve crazily while moving forward
 We watched the loose hubcap careen across the highway and into a
ditch.

6.  Exclamation
 a loud, emotional statement
 My brother made an exclamation of disgust when I shoved a bug in his
face.
 Smolder
 to burn without flames
 The flames have died down, but the campfire will smolder for hours.
 Snicker
 to laugh quietly in a mean way
 When I spilled my soup on the floor, Ed and Zack snickered.
 Wrath
 intense anger or rage
 Leo was filled with wrath when he heard that three older kids had bullied
his little sister.

7. Warm Up – 9/16/2014
 Look on page 12 of the textbook and re-read the section
we read yesterday. How does Sonny try to get out of
trouble with his mom?
 Does Sonny’s mom behave differently from his dad? How
so?
 Describe a time when you got in trouble? (Have you ever
broken or lost something valuable?
 Does your mom treat you differently than your dad? Or
your grandmother/father or teacher? Why? Explain with
examples.

8. Independent Reading – SILENTLY
Fill Out Log
Logs are due on Friday – you need to have
at least 8 entries.

9. Reading pgs.10-15
 Complete the margin questions in your notes
section. Make sure they are all done in
complete sentences. Hint: Use part of the
question as the beginning of your answer to
receive full credit.
 For example: (pg.13) The explosion gets Homer’s mom
concerned because_____________________
When asked to underline or circle, rewrite the
sentence into your notebook since we cannot mark
the textbook. Then write out the answers you would
check for the questions.

10. Warm Up – 9/17/2014 – Must finish up to
pg. 15 first
Consider each of the following influences on Homer;
Mom, Dad, and Coalwood. Describe how each
affected him, in a positive or negative manner.
Hint: What does Mom want him to do? Dad? How does
growing up in a coal town affect a boy? What is
expected?
 Make sure you have completed all of the margin
questions (in complete sentences). I will come around
and check your work.

11. Warm Up – 9/18/2014
 Complete the “Making an Inference” worksheet.
 Begin working on the chart for the characterization of
Sonny/Homer. Fill in 2 examples each of: thoughts,
actions, looks, effect on mom/dad and what he says.