Characters
Who is the narrator and main character of the story?
Francisco
Where does Francisco go for the first time in the story?
School
What does cocoon mean?
A protective covering/home where a caterpillar changes into a butterfly.
Why is Francisco nervous about starting school?
He cannot speak or understand English.
What animal does Francisco become interested in at school?
A caterpillar
Who is Roberto?
Francisco's brother
Why do Francisco and Curtis get into a fight?
Curtis claims Francisco's green jacket belongs to him and tries to take it.
What does prefer mean?
To like one choice better than another.
Why does Francisco sometimes daydream during class?
Trying to understand English gives him headaches, so daydreaming helps him escape.
What is Francisco's favorite activity at school?
Art/drawing
Who is Curtis?
The biggest, strongest, and most popular student in Francisco's class.
What surprise does Miss Scalapino give Francisco near the end of the school year?
She returns his butterfly drawing and gives him a blue ribbon for winning first prize.
What does stubbornly mean in the story?
Refusing to give up or change what you are doing.
How does Francisco begin to change as the school year continues?
He learns some English and becomes more comfortable at school.
What happens to Francisco's caterpillar after the fight with Curtis?
Francisco discovers it has formed a cocoon.
Who is Miss Scalapino, and how does she affect Francisco's experience?
She is Francisco's teacher. He cannot understand her English at first, which makes school difficult and frustrating.
What happens when Francisco speaks Spanish to Arthur?
Miss Scalapino tells him to speak English.
What does accompany mean?
To go somewhere with someone.
How is Francisco similar to the caterpillar?
Both experience change and growth. Francisco becomes more comfortable and begins learning English as the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly.
Why does Francisco like the green jacket Mr. Sims gives him?
It keeps him warm, is green, and hides the suspenders he dislikes.
How does Francisco's relationship with Curtis change by the end of the story? Give evidence.
Francisco shows kindness toward Curtis despite their earlier fight by giving Curtis his prize-winning butterfly drawing.
What does Francisco do at the very end of the story?
He asks Arthur how to say “It’s yours” in English and gives his butterfly drawing to Curtis.
Use context to explain what anxious means based on Francisco's first days at school.
Nervous, worried, or uneasy.
What is a major theme of “Inside Out”?
Change can be difficult, but going through challenges can lead to growth.
Why is the butterfly important to the story rather than just being an animal Francisco likes?
Its transformation represents Francisco's own growth and change as he adjusts to school, learns English, and becomes more confident.