****Chapters 1-10 must be read before the first class****

Peanut Jones is a story about a 12-year-old girl whose father suddenly disappeared a year ago.  She's started a new school she doesn't like, is unhappy that her mother is going to dinner with her smarmy boss, and spends quite a bit of time in detention.  But all isn't bad; one evening she discovers a magic pencil.  Let the adventure begin! 

Meeting with with friends to discuss books is so much fun!   Books open a child's world to new ideas, vocabulary, cultures, and activities, and they allow kids to experience all sorts of adventures.  Each  meeting our book discussion will begin with a focus activity such as a  quote from the book, a scene from the book, or a description of the setting or a character.   In our book study class,  we will also complete in-class art activities relating to the book such as drawing and painting  activities as well as creative writing.  A pdf of the in-class activities will be in the classroom. 


  In order for our class to have a group discussion, the kids need to read the  assigned chapters before  each meeting. If a learner doesn't finish the readings before our  meeting, that's okay except the chapters will be discussed, so there will be spoilers.  
   Our group discussion will include discussing literary elements (plot, characters, setting, etc.) and the kids' opinions about the book. Discussing the book will help the learners with their reading comprehension by helping them to think critically about the literary elements in the book.  I will also use discussion questions that will help the kids to use reading comprehension skills such as main idea, etc.  Also, our book discussion will allow the kids to hear different perspectives about the characters, plot, etc in each book which can help them to understand the characters' emotions and motivations better, as well as using evidence from the book  to support their opinions.   
    
 Please read reviews and summaries about the book Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City by  Rob Biddulph so that you can decide if your child may read the book.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/  is a good website to use or an internet search with the book title and the words book review after it will show different reviews of each book.
Kirkus Reviews is another website where you can read reviews of each book.
  
****Siblings and Friends*****  All learners must be enrolled in the class to be fair to the other enrolled learners.
The supply list is a pdf that is in the classroom.

The class meetings will  follow this agenda:
Week 1: 
Meeting 1
Discuss Chapters 1-10 In Which Peanut Learns Some Surprising Truths using the reading discussion questions.
Story Elements--Characters



Week 1 
Meeting 2

Descriptive Writing - Write descriptions of main characters 

Art Activity-Drawing mini pictures


Week 2
Meeting 3
Discuss Chapters 11-18 using the reading discussion questions
Create Nicolas Jacques Conte facts book

Meeting 4

Discuss Chapters 19-23 Part 2 In which Peanut Discovers the City using the reading discussion questions.
Discuss  story elements- plot
Discuss what is a quest and how a quest is used in literature


Week 3
Meeting 5
Discuss Chapters 24-30 Part 2 In Which Peanut Discovers the City using the reading discussion questions.
Writing Activity: Compare and Contrast Peanut and Rockwell 

Meeting 6 

We will learn about Andy Warhol.
Draw a picture in the style of Andy Warhol

Week 4
Meeting  7

Discuss  Chapters 31- 47 in Part 3 In which Peanut Goes On a Quest using the reading discussion questions.
Discuss Chroma's resistance, Jonathan Higginbottom, and Agent 72.
Creative Writing Activity:  Create your spy character

Meeting 8
Discuss Chapters 48-51 in Part 3 using the reading discussion questions.
We will  learn about the Japanese art style kawaii and draw  pictures in this style.

Week 5
Meeting 9
Discuss Chapters 52-54 using the reading discussion questions.
Discuss Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet
Draw pictures in their style.
 

Meeting 10
Discuss Chapters 55-60 using the reading discussion questions.
Discuss secret codes
Create a cipher 


Week 6
Meeting 11
Discuss Chapters 61-74 Part 4 In Which Peanut Finds Herself in a Spot of Bother...Well Several Spots Actually   using the reading discussion questions.
Create a natural history for the kaleidoscoppi

Meeting 12

Discuss Chapters 75- Epilogue Part 5 In Which Peanut Really Wants to Go Home using the reading discussion questions.
Learn about the National Portrait Gallery in London, England
We will draw or paint a portrait of ourselves or of one of the characters.