People
Name 5 characters from the book.
Stanley (caveman), Xray, Zero, Armpit, Squid, Magnet, Zigzag, Mr. Sir, Warden, Mr. Peldanski, Clyde Livingston
Why was Stanley Yelnats sent to Camp Green Lake?
The police thought he stole sneakers that belonged to a famous basketball player, Clyde "Sweet Feet" Livingston.
Why do boys go to Camp Green Lake?
Camp Green Lake is a boys detention center. Boys get sent there if they do something against the law.
Do you believe in bad luck? Do you believe someone can be cursed?
Yes- tell why.
No- tell why.
Act out your favorite part of the book.
Others should be able to figure out what you are acting out.
When Stanley got arrested, who did he blame it on?
Stanley's no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great, great grandfather.
What does Stanley’s dad do for a living?
He is an inventor.
Why does Mr. Pendanski say the boys are digging holes?
Why were the boys REALLY digging the holes?
The boys were told that digging holes builds character.
The boys were REALLY digging holes to look for hidden money.
Have you ever known anyone who was punished for something s/he didn’t do?
Tell details from the event.
When Mr Sir told the Warden about "Stanley stealing" his stolen bag of sunflower seeds, the Warden scratched up his face.
How does Mr. Sir punish Stanley for what happened to his face?
Mr Sir would not fill up Stanley's canteen with water. He let the water run next to his canteen, outside of it. He did this for many days.
Who was Katherine Barlow?
Katherine Barlow (Kissin' Kate Barlow): Katherine Barlow was a school teacher in a one-room school house on Green Lake one hundred and ten years before it becomes Camp Green Lake. She falls in love with Sam, a man who sells onions in the town, who eventually is shot. Kate then kills the sheriff, kisses him, and becomes an outlaw. She robs banks and people, including Stanley's great grandfather. She buries her money at Camp Green Lake.
Stanley didn’t actually commit the crime he was arrested for. What really happened?
Zero stole the sneakers from the shelter because he needed new shoes. He did not know they were valuable at the time. After he realized he could get in trouble because of this, he put them on top of a parked car. When that car drove away, the sneakers went flying, and landed on Stanley. (Hit him in the head!)
What was the size of the holes the boys had to dig?
How did they know the hole was big enough?
5 feet long, 5 feet wide, 5 feet deep.
It was the length of their shovel.
Do you have to be big in size to be intimidating?
No. People can be intimidating by the way they act, not their size.
Tell about Zero and Stanley's "adventure" when they ran away.
Stanley tried to steal the water tank truck but drove into a hole.
Stanley found Zero hiding under a boat, in a hole in the ground. Zero was very sick and weak.
The boys try to find water and food. They eventually find onions to eat and muddy water. They also find Sploosh to drink (fermented peaches).
The boys wandered to find the big thumb mountain, and then returned back to Camp Green Lake to get food. Zero stole some Frosted Flakes and got some fresh water before they were found by the Warden, Mr. Sir, and Mr. Pendanski.
Sam and Katherine fell in love. Why is this a problem?
Is this still a problem today?
MANY years ago, it was against the law for a black person to kiss a white person, or get married.
This is NOT against the law today. Everyone is equal.
What does Zero ask Stanley to teach him?
Zero wanted Stanley to teach him how to read.
What “dangerous” animals did they have to look out for at the camp?
Yellow Spotted Lizards
Rattlesnakes
Would you lie to protect someone? Is it ever okay to lie?
Topic for discussion.
Why didn’t the lizards bite Stanley and Zero?
Stanley and Zero ate so many onions and they smelled like onions. The lizards did not like the smell of onions.
Who arrives at Camp while Stanley and Zero are in the hole, and what do they want?
Stanley's lawyer and a man
What does Stanley like about Camp Green Lake?
This was the first time he had friends. At his school, he was bullied and made fun of. At Camp Green Lake, he felt like he was part of a group.
What do The Warden, Mr Sir, and Mr Pendanski decide to do after Zero runs away?
Since Zero is a warden of the state, no one will come looking for him. They decided to throw out and delete all records of him being at the camp.
Why did Stanley give Xray the golden tube that he found?
He figured it was better to have Xray as a "friend" than an enemy.
He also felt that Xray was at Green Lake longer, and deserved a break first since he was only there for a few days.
Stanley didn't want to cause any trouble.
What does Madame Zeroni do to help Elya since he wants to marry Myra?
What does Elya need to do in return?
Does he remember to do it?
What was the end result?
Madame Zeroni gives Elya the runt of a litter (pig) and she teaches him a song to sing it. He has to carry it to drink from a river every day.
Elya needs to bring Madame Zeroni to drink from the river before she dies.
He forgets to do it.
Elya's family is now cursed forever.