book 6: lake rescue activity...

Book 6: Lake Rescue Activity Guide

More fun activities for girls on: www.beaconstreetgirls.com Copyright 2006 Beacon Street Girls, All Rights Reserved

Book 6: Lake Rescue Activity Guide

More fun activities for girls on: www.beaconstreetgirls.com Copyright 2006 Beacon Street Girls, All Rights Reserved

Lake Rescue Intermediate Reader, 226 pages

ISBN: 0-9758511-3-6

Big time adventure awaits the Beacon Street Girls and the rest of their seventh-grade class

when they head to Lake Rescue in New Hampshire for their big overnight trip. How cool!

Maeve and Katani are afraid of spiders and things that go bump in the night, but Avery is

ready for some serious wild animal sightings and hiking, while Isabel is hoping for scenic

inspiration for her next painting. Will the physical challenges of this outdoor adventure prove

too challenging for one overweight seventh-grade girl?

Themes

• outdoor adventure

• healthy living

• childhood obesity

• physical challenges

• increasing sensitivity toward others

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Beacon Street Girls – Book 6 Activity Guide

Discussion:

1. Considering Chelsea’s Feelings

2. Bullying

3. Role Play: Trust Fall

Writing:

1. Speaking of Ghosts!

2. Keeping a Journal

Research:

1. Diabetes

2. Trail Markers – How to Read them

Art:

1. Design Your Own Pajamas

2. Design a Postcard

These activities may be used in your classroom and/or after-school program. If you have any questions,

comments, or suggestions, please feel free to email us at: [email protected].

Get FREE Bonus Materials for you class: Go to the books section of our site:

http://www.beaconstreetgirls.com/Books/tabid/62/Default.aspx to download posters for your classroom. You will

also find: Book Club questions for each book, quizzes, and activities.

Beacon Street Girls - Activity Guide – Lake Rescue

More fun activities for girls on: www.beaconstreetgirls.com Copyright 2006 Beacon Street Girls, All Rights Reserved 1

D Discussion Activity 1: Considering Chelsea’s Feelings

“The rules say we’ll have teams. Like anyone would want me on their

team. I don’t really have a friend. If it’s like those survivor programs,

I’ll get picked to go home first.”

~Chelsea Briggs’ Journal, Lake Rescue p. 36

Years ago, it was common for gym teachers to select two captains, one each for two teams and the captains picked their teams. Many children had their feelings hurt when they were picked last for a team. Does one of your teachers avoid hurt feelings by asking you to "count off " 1,2,3,4 to form 4 teams, all the ones on one team, twos on another and so on? Does she/he ask everyone wearing a red shirt to be on one team, blue on another? What about everyone born in a winter month, spring month, summer month, or fall month being on a different team? What other clever ways can teams be selected?

Can you think of any other ways to pick teams without hurting anyone’s feelings?

Have you ever been picked last for a team? How did that make you feel?



Why does Chelsea think she would get picked to go home first?

If you were Chelsea’s friend, what would you say to her?



D Discussion Activity 2: Bullying

“Katani looked at Maeve. ‘Kiki Underwood needs a major attitude

adjustment. She acts like a bully.’

‘I couldn't agree more,’ said Maeve. ‘I just don't get why she has to be so

insulting all the time.’ ”

~Lake Rescue p. 118

Divide into groups of 4 or 5 members and discuss. Try to list as many possible reasons your group can find to explain Kiki's bullying tactics. Why do you think Kiki is so insulting all the time?

Have you ever been bullied? What did you do?



Have you ever witnessed someone else being bullied? What did you do?

Have you ever bullied someone else? Why did you do that?


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D Discussion Activity 3: Role Playing

“This is a trust exercise. Here’s the plan. One of you is going to close

your eyes and fall backward. Your partner is going to catch you… Don’t

forget to relax.’

‘No way will I even try to catch Chelsea … Chelsea Bigg … oops sorry,’

Kiki made a face. ‘I meant Chelsea Briggs. But, really. Is there anyone

here who can catch her?’

Chelsea had had just about enough. ‘OK, Ms. Kiki Underpants, so I got

a weight problem,’ Chelsea shouted angrily. ‘You don’t have to be so rude

about it.’ ” ~Lake Rescue p. 139

Divide into groups of 4 or 5 members and discuss. Chelsea’s feelings were hurt when Kiki called her “Chelsea Bigg” in front of the other kids, but should she have called Kiki a mean name?

Why do you think Kiki was so mean to Chelsea?


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What would you say to Kiki if she made fun of you?

Beacon Street Girls - Book 6 Activity Guide – Lake Rescue


�� Writing Activity 1: Speaking of Ghosts!

“ ‘Are you listening, Ave?’ Scott kept on. ‘This ghost is real, believe me.

One night I woke up to someone screaming and then a moaning sound.

And some creepy voice was crying, Bring it back, bring it back.’ ”

~Lake Rescue p. 39

Materials: pencil, paper, flashlights, bookstore (real or online) Even if you are like Avery and don't believe in ghosts, write or find a ghost story. Look in a book about camping for children in your library or bookstore. Tell your story around a campfire. Remember the best ghost stories give you chills first and then make you jump in fear and surprise at the end. Boo! To simulate a campfire, turn off all lights. Draw the curtains. Form a big circle with your BFF sitting on the floor. Each person holds a flashlight under her chin to give her face an eerie look. Tell the story. Watch for the goose bumps and jumps at the end! Boo! My ghost story …

Beacon Street Girls - Book 6 Activity Guide – Lake Rescue




�� Writing Activity 2: Keeping a Journal

“Remember, your number one assignment is to keep a journal. Here are

some suggestions for journal starters, but I want you to 'free write' each

day about your experiences. Each day, write about someone you helped

and someone who helped you. What you learned about working

together. If you get to know someone new, write about that person. If

you learn something you never knew about yourself, or if someone

surprises you, write about that.”

~Lake Rescue p. 98

Materials: Pencil and paper. What do you think Chelsea would write in her journal?



Imagine you are a camper at Lake Rescue. What would you write in your journal?



In Lake Rescue, Ms. Rodriguez asked the BSG and their classmates to start a journal on their outdoor adventure trip. Follow the Ms. R’s directions and write a journal entry for yourself today. Remember, poems and doodles are fine. Be creative! Dear Diary…



R Research Activity 1: Diabetes

“I just hate gym. My doctor says I'm supposed to lose thirty pounds - he

said something about Type 2 diabetes.”

~Lake Rescue p. 30

Research: Type 2 Diabetes: Internet access, questions of family health history, brochures on diabetes from doctor's offices or library. Chelsea's doctor advises her to lose 30 pounds to lessen the risk of type 2 diabetes. See if your doctor's office has information about type 2 diabetes, or use the American Diabetes Association. Find out about this disease. Do you know of families who have a history of this disease? What steps, other than weight control, can be taken to lessen the risk?



Resource List: (organizations, helpful adults, websites, etc.)



R Research Activity 2: Trail Markers – How to Read Them

“Chelsea thought of blazing a tree trunk as they walked, but she feared

that might scar the tree. Not nice to the tree, Chelsea smiled to herself.

Instead, she broke the end of an occasional limb where it hung near the

path, then showed Kiki and Maeve how to stack up the few rocks they

could find to make their own cairn. Anyone seeing the tiny rock

formation would know it wasn’t natural. Or, if Chelsea was wrong and

they were going in the wrong direction again, they could backtrack with

no effort.” ~Lake Rescue p.201

Materials: Hiking manuals, internet, library, paper or poster board for trail markers (optional), pencils or markers Hikers and hunters have been marking trails for years. There are standard trail markers on established hiking trails. Use a scout manual to find out how those trail markers work. Try making paper models of trail markers and mark a trail in your yard. See if a friend can follow your trail markers. On treeless expanses of land in Alaska, the native peoples would mark directions for latecomers in a hunting party by building rock cairns in the shape of a person (Anookshook) and show the direction they went by indicating that direction with a dot on the right or left arm. These “Anookshooks” are used today in Alaska as lawn decorations.

How do hikers and hunters mark their trails?

What would you do if you were lost in the woods?



Resource List: (organizations, helpful adults, websites, etc.)



�� Art Activity 1: Design Your Own Pajamas

“Can you come over to my house after school? Mom said she’d

take us to Fabric World. We can get a pajama pattern and the

striped flannel for our pjs. If you stay for supper, maybe we can

get them cut out. Then we’ll split the sewing job.”

~Lake Rescue p. 86

Supplies: paper, pencil, ruler, stencils (optional), markers, crayons or colored pencils, clothing store flyers or catalogs. If you are sewing the pajamas, you’ll need fabric, thread, sewing machine or needle and thread, pattern, scissors, straight pins or safety pins, elastic for waistband, buttons or Velcro closures. Directions: Design a fabric by covering a sheet of paper with your design. Try to follow an interest you have or an object and colors you enjoy. Make it a fun pattern. Decide how often the pattern will repeat. Trace a pajama pattern from a catalog or clothing store ad. What would your PJ's look like? Optional: Enlist the help of a friend, any age, who can sew. Buy a pattern and fabric and actually make a pair of PJ's for yourself!



�� Art Activity 2: Design a Postcard

“ ‘I wish we could write to Marty,' Avery said. She was almost serious.

‘Send a postcard to a dog?’ Billy Trentini said. ‘I can see it now. Dear

Marty, wish you were here. There are lots of sticks and skunks to play with.’ ”

~Lake Rescue p. 157

Materials: large index card, pencils, markers, colored pencils or crayons. Directions: Use a large index card and write a short message to Marty from Avery. Design an appropriate stamp and place your drawing on the upper right of the card. By the way, what's the postage required for a postcard these days? On the flip side of your index card, draw a picture of the campsite at Lake Rescue. What part of the camp would Marty enjoy most? Tell him about it and use X's to mark the spots he'd enjoy. Woof!

Back of Postcard:



Front of Postcard:

book 6: lake rescue activity...

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