Vocabulary
What does fragile mean?
easily broken
What is the goal of an egg drop design?
to protect the egg from breaking
What is a major theme of the book?
Friendship
Who is Natalie’s best friend?
Twig
What is Natalie trying to win during this part of the book?
The egg drop competition
What does hypothesis mean?
educated guess
What materials help cushion the egg?
Bonus 100: Name a material Natalie bought.
How does the author show that emotions aren’t simple?
-through Natalie’s confusion and her mom’s behavior
-asking tough questions
One way Twig is different from Natalie?
Teacher decides: more carefree, spontaneous, and outgoing
What idea gives Natalie hope to help her mom?
What does resilient mean?
The tower is a resilient structure, designed to flex in high winds.
The fish are resilient to most infections.
the ability to move through and grow from difficult times
What does Natalie enjoy about science?
it gives her clear answers and control
Reminds her of her mom
What theme is shown through Natalie keeping secrets?
fear of judgment
What is one way Natalie’s mom is different during this part?
Faking it for Grandma
What challenge does Natalie face while preparing her project?
Working with Twig and dealing with disagreements/problems
What does analyze mean?
to examine closely?
What does variable mean in an experiment?
something that can change
What does Natalie’s focus on the egg drop competition reveal about her?
A. She enjoys science more than anything else
B. She wants to impress her teachers
C. She is trying to solve a problem she cannot control
D. She prefers working alone
C. She is trying to solve a problem she cannot control.
What lie or secret does Natalie keep from others about her mom?
that her mom is not okay and stays in bed most of the time
Why are the orchids important?
they connect to her mom’s happiness and past
What does withdrawn mean as used to describe Natalie’s mom?
pulling away from others
What does the egg likely symbolize in Natalie’s life?
Something fragile—like her mom or her own emotions.
Which idea is BEST supported by Natalie’s actions early in the story?
A. Problems can always be solved quickly
B. People should not depend on others
C. Some problems are more complicated than they seem
D. Science is the only way to understand the world
C. Some problems are more complicated than they seem
Why might Twig feel frustrated with Natalie?
Natalie doesn’t open up or explain what’s going on
What can you infer about how Natalie feels at school?
feels distracted, anxious, and different from others.