the one and only ivan book unit

Name ________________________________________ Date________________

The One and Only Ivan By Katherine Applegate

Teacher Overview:

The One and Only Ivan is a heartwarming and enlightening fictional account of a caged gorilla living as an attraction in a circus-themed mall. The novel, a 2013 Newbery Award Winner, is based on the life of a real gorilla, by the same name, who ultimately lived out his life at the Atlanta Zoo.

The story is told through Ivan�s eyes. It explores his heartache, observations of humans, and the intense relationships he has with the other animals at the mall, especially the elephants, Stella and Ruby.

There are many teachable moments in this novel. Especially important are the issues of capturing wild and endangered animals and the treatment of circus animals.

The writing trait of �voice� is a key element of this story, since the story is written in 1st person, through the eyes of Ivan.

Background information on the real Ivan, as well as the book, can be found at theoneandonlyivan.com.

Important Themes:

friendship; hope; treatment of animals

Unit Activities:

Comprehension/Discussion questions Vocabulary activities Writing Prompts/ Activities Character Comparison Cause and Effect Research and Creative Design Activity

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Pre - Writing Activity

Have you ever been to a circus? When watching the animals and their trainers, what did you observe? How were the animals treated? Do you think it is okay to keep animals in circuses?

State an opinion. Include at least two reasons why you think this. Provide as many details as possible.

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Pages 1 - 42 Comprehension/Discussion Questions

1. Describe Ivan�s domain. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

2. Why does the billboard on the freeway depict Ivan incorrectly? Explain in detail. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is Ivan�s opinion of the humans that visit the mall? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How does Ivan compare his artwork to Julia�s? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Why do you think Ivan doesn�t imagine the future? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. How long has Ivan been living in his domain? Days? Years? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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7. Describe what happened to Stella�s foot? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Who is Bob?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. When the mall begins to lose customers, why do you think Ivan tries to be more entertaining? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The One and Only IvanVOCABULARY: PAGES 1 - 42

Locate and copy the sentence in which each word is used. Then find and write the definition of that word.

1. majestic

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. habitat

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. domain

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. unkempt

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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5. migrate

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. forage

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. canopies

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. lame

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Stop and Reflect

Describe a typical day in the life of Ivan. How does he pass the time? What does he think about? Who does he communicate with? Use specific details from the story.

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Pages 43 - 104 Comprehension/Discussion Questions

1. What do Julia and Ivan have in common? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Stella remembers everything about her life. Ivan does not. Stella says �There�s a difference between �can�t remember� and �won�t remember� (p.53). What do you think she means? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What change is coming to the Big Top Mall? Who notices this first? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why had the circus trainers chained Ruby�s four feet to the floor, twenty-three hours a day? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Ruby told a story of how humans saved her from a large hole full of water. Why is Bob so surprised? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The One and Only Ivan VOCABULARY: PAGES 43-104

Locate and copy the sentence in which each word is used. Then find and write the definition of that word.

1. philosophers

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. amends

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. coax

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. specimen

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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5. emphasize

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. contemplating

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. homo sapiens

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. mesmerized

Sentence:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Pages 106 - 164Comprehension/Discussion Questions

1. What does Stella ask Ivan to promise? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Ivan begins to remember his past life. Why did his parents name him Mud? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

3. How does Ivan describe his father? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. When describing his sister, what does Ivan mean when he says ��.she looked at me without seeing, and I knew that the vine had finally snapped.� page 129. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Why do you think it took this long for Ivan to recall his past? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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6. Even though Julia worries, why is George hesitant to call someone about Mack�s treatment toward Ruby? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. At the beginning of the book, Ivan referred to his home as a �domain�. Now he refers to it as a �cage�. Why do you think he has changed his point of view? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. When do you think Ivan begins believing he can save Ruby? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Cause and Effect

State the effect to each cause below:

CAUSE EFFECT

Humans capture baby animals in the wild.

Stella was not properly treated for her foot injury

Ivan is given a television to occupy him in his cage.

Ivan created the large drawing with the word �home�.

Ivan and Ruby are moved to the zoo.

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The One and Only Ivan By Katherine Applegate Compare and Contrast

Compare the characters of Stella and Ivan. Think about their pasts, their strengths and weaknesses as well as their habits.

Stella Ivan

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Chapters 166 - 235 Comprehension/Discussion Questions

1. Ivan remembers Stella saying �Humans can surprise you�. What do you think she meant?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What does Ivan see in the television advertisement that helps him with his plan? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How does Julia help Ivan discover what he needs to finish his painting? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Explain why Ivan beats his chest and roars to get Julia�s attention?________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Describe Ivan�s painting. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Name 3 ways Ivan�s painting changes activity at the mall. 1.___________________________________________________2.___________________________________________________3.___________________________________________________

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Chapters 237 - 300 Comprehension/Discussion Questions

1. Ivan and Julia have had a close relationship. Explain why you think this is true. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. When Ivan awakes at the zoo, why is he surprised? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How do the zookeepers allow Ivan to get used to his new surroundings? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Do you think Ivan was happy in the zoo? Explain your answer using details from the text. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Vocabulary

Write a sentence using each word below:

1. squabbled________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. hobbles________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. temperamental________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. principles________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. monstrosity ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. gestures________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. entwine ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Post Writing Activity

The author has given Ivan his own voice so that he may tell us his story. How does this help us understand Ivan? What words and phrases are used to help us hear his voice? How different would this story be if it had been written through someone else�s eyes? Use specific details from the book to explain your thoughts.

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Post Writing Activity

On page 64, Stella says a �good zoo is how humans make amends�. What is a good zoo? If you were to design and plan a zoo, what would the animals� domains look like? What kind of food would they eat? Where would you get the animals? What else would be important? - Research the topic. - Design and plan your zoo. - Write a detailed description of your zoo.

- Create a diagram or drawing showing how your zoo would look.

Zoo Research Notes ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Zoo Design Description

Include details of physical design, animals, food and anything else important to your vision. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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ZOO DESIGN

Create a diagram or drawing showing the details described in your plan.

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Comprehension/Discussion Questions KEY

Pages 1 � 42:

1. Ivan lives in a glassed-in cage at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade; carousel, monkeys and parrots, circus ring with Ivan�s domain at one end; Stella, the elephant�s cage next to his.

2. The billboard depicts a wild, angry and vicious gorilla. Ivan is never angry. Silverback gorillas use anger to maintain order and warn of danger; to protect. Ivan has no one to protect in his domain.

3. Answers will vary.

4. Julia draws the ideas in her head. Ivan only draws what he sees in his cage. Her drawings are wild with color and movement. �Her pictures are like pieces of a dream�.

5. He has learned to accept his living situation, doesn�t get his hopes up. He thinks about what is, not what could be.

6. 9855 days; 27 years.

7. At the circus, Stella was made to balance on a pedestal and fell. She went lame and was sold to Mack, the mall owner. Her foot never healed completely and gets infected.

8. Bob is a tiny, stray dog who now lives in the mall and is Ivan�s friend.


Vocabulary

majestic p 4 migrate p. 12

habitat p. 6 forage p. 12

domain p. 7 canopies p. 27

unkempt p. 8 lame p. 30

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Pages 43 � 104

1. They are both artists; they both love to draw.

2. Answers will vary

3. Stella knows a baby elephant is coming. She can hear it crying for its mother.

4. To break her spirit so that she would learn tricks.

5. Bob can�t understand why some humans kill or capture wild animals while others rescue them.

Vocabulary

philosophers p. 51 emphasize p.97

amends p. 64 contemplating p.97

coax p. 71 homo sapiens p. 103

specimen p. 72 mesmerized p. 101

Pages 106 � 164

1. That he will take care of Ruby; get her to a safe place so that she will have a different kind of life than Stella had.

2. Because even then he was an artist, mostly using mud to draw pictures on rocks, bark and his mother�s back.

3. His father was everything a silverback was meant to be: a guide, a teacher and a protector. No one could beat his chest like his father. A simple scowl would keep the young ones in line.

4. She couldn�t handle being captured, couldn�t forget her past life. This pain of separation caused her to die.

5. He had always guarded himself by intentionally not thinking about who and what he had lost. He knew it was the only way he would survive this new life.

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6. George is afraid of losing his job, especially with so many doctors� bills for Julia�s mother.

7. Accept any reasonable answer.


Vocabulary

squabbled p. 126

hobbles p.154

temperamental p. 191

principles p. 195

monstrosity p. 197

gestures p. 217

entwine p. 282

Pages 166 � 235

1. Stella was thinking about the good in people; how some do the right thing, such as rescuing animals.

2. He sees a zoo with a family of elephants, rocks, grass and room to wander. He knows this is what he must paint.

3. Julia�s conversation with her father about spelling gets Ivan thinking about words. He remembers Mack reading the billboard and knows the 12th word, home, is what he must add. �Humans love their words� p. 195.

4. He finally has someone to protect; Ruby.

5. Accept all reasonable answers.

6. Possible answers: 1. More visitors are coming to the mall. 2. A news team interviews Mack and films the animals and circus. 3. People begin picketing the mall. 4. People come to inspect the animals and circus.

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Pages 237-300

1. Accept all reasonable answers.

2. Ivan is in another cage, of glass and steel. He expects to be in a wide open space with other gorillas.

3. They first have him watch the other gorillas on a television. Then they have him watch them through the glass. Finally, a door is opened and he is allowed to join the other gorillas at his own pace.


the one and only ivan book unit

Education