Before even seeing her great-grandfather’s house, Nickie has decided she wants to live in it with her parents, but her Aunt Crystal is determined to sell the home. Review persuasive writing techniques, including gaining the audience’s trust, making an emotional connection and using statistics. Ask students to write a letter from Nickie to Crystal that will persuade Crystal to keep the house. People who break rules in Yonwood must wear buzzing bracelets as a sign of their misdeeds. Tell students to pretend they are Yonwood residents who have been assigned bracelets. Ask them to describe the way wearing the bracelet makes them feel and whether the threat of the bracelet would deter them front breaking rules.
Mrs. Beeson, who appoints herself the prophet’s interpreter, goes to extreme measures to eliminate sin in Yonwood. Team up with your librarian to help students research the Salem witch trials. Put the students into groups of three or four and ask them to prepare a presentation comparing the witch trials to the actions taken against people in the novel. When Hoyt McCoy, an astronomer in Yonwood, is accused of wrongdoing, police enter his house without a warrant. Invite a local prosecutor to your school and help students prepare to interview her about the Fourth Amendment and the requirements for getting a search warrant.
Grover loves snakes. With a science teacher, team teach a lesson on a snake’s anatomy. Put students in small groups and with your school’s computer applications teacher, help them design a brochure about one type of snake and how to care for it. Allow students to critique each team’s pamphlet and make comparisons among the types of snakes
Assign students to groups and let each team brainstorm a possible crime in Yonwood. Partner with your school’s audiovisual expert and ask each team to script and produce a news report about the incident. Allow students to do on-the-scene reporting from sites around the school.