Authors Purpose
Did the author mostly want to entertain, inform, or persuade readers with this story?
Entertain
Have you ever really wanted a toy or something like the prairie dogs wanted fuzz? How did you feel? Tell one short sentence.
(Ms. Church listens and decides.)
Look at the picture where Big Bark is covered in fuzz on page 146. What do you see that shows he took the fuzz?
He is covered from head to tail in fuzz.
What happened because of everyone fighting over fuzz?
Their town became a battleground and everyone got tired and fell asleep.
On page 131 it says, “Oooooooh!” the crowd gasped. What does gasped mean?
To take a sharp breath in a surprised way.
Which part of the story shows the author wants to teach a lesson about behavior?
The ending where prairie dogs decide "No more fuzz".
If you were Pip Squeak, what is one thing you would do to stop a fight?
Ask everyone to stop and remind them to be friends
On page 143 where prairie dogs are asleep after fighting, what picture details show they are tired?
Many animals are lying down with closed eyes and sprawled bodies.
Why did the fuzz cause problems for the prairie dogs? Give one reason.
Some got fuzz and some didn’t, which made them fight and get mad.
On page 139, the author uses the word "frenzy". What does frenzy mean in the story?
A time of great excitement and wild behavior.
Give one sentence that shows the author used humor
Silly dog names or “They were busy being hot dogs and silly dogs.”
Name one time you and a classmate had to share something. How did you solve it?
Ms. Church decides points given.
Find the picture of the eagle carrying Big Bark on page 149. How does the illustrator make the scene look scary?
Big Bark dangling from talons; big wing in the picture.
Summarize the beginning, middle, and end in three short sentences (one for each part).
Beginning—They found fuzz; Middle—Everyone fought over it; End—They saved Big Bark and decided fuzz was trouble.
On page 142, the book says “Their peaceful town was a battleground.” What does battleground mean?
A place where a fight takes place.
Why would the author choose repeating words like “picked and pruned and pulled and pinched”
To show how everyone kept taking fuzz and to make the action feel busy/exciting
At first the prairie dogs were confused when they saw the fuzz, but then they became excited. Tell one time you felt confused at first and then excited later.
Ms. Church decides points.
In the illustration where animals crowd the fuzz on pages 132 and 133, what small actions (faces, hands) show they are excited?
Reaching paws, wide eyes, mouths open, crowded together.
What is the main idea of “The Great Fuzz Frenzy”?
The fuss over fuzz causes fighting and trouble, but friends make up and learn they don’t need fuzz.
On page 142, the story calls the fighting a “fuzz feud.” What is a feud?
A long fight.
How does the author’s choice to call the event a “fuzz frenzy” help the reader understand the townspeople’s feelings?
The phrase “fuzz frenzy” shows that everyone was excited and acting wild; it helps readers picture a big, noisy event
Compare how you felt when you tried to get something with how Big Bark felt when he had all the fuzz. Use two feelings words.
Expected: proud, selfish, scared, happy, etc.; student response
On pages 150 and 151, describe how the pictures help explain what is happening in the words.
When Big Bark is falling, the prairie dogs scatter and circle around the catch him. Big Bark falls in his arms with a "Plop!"
Which sentence on page 152 from the story best tells the main idea?
“Fuzz is trouble. Right?” or “We don’t need fuzz.”
Use two vocabulary words in one sentence that shows you know their meanings.
Example answer: “When the fuzz ran out, a frenzy started and the town became a battleground.”