LESSON 6.9
The Troublemaker

Grades 1-3

Now let’s deal with the right-hand side of our What Statement box:

Introducing the Troublemaker

To begin your adventure with the troublemaker, just say “Then one day …” and finish the sentence.  For example:

Then one day I fell into a pit of spiders wearing sixguns.

Then one day I won an alien pumpkin at the state fair.

Task 6.9.1 – Small Group

Enter the simple first sentence into the RH column of your What/Why Chart.

What Statement Why Statement
LH VP RH Because Why
Main Character Verb Phrase Troublemaker Because Problem
I Had A Problem With A Talking Dog
1st sentence: I Loved Jackson, My Golden Retriever. Then One Day I (Verb) A Troublemaker

Location

Use words that paint a picture. Where were you – exactly? Don’t just say “old building,” tell us if it’s made of bricks or has a creaky door. The more details you give, the more your story comes alive.

Task 6.9.2 – Small Group

  • Where did you meet the troublemaker?
  • Where exactly?
  • What was the weather like?
  • What were the surroundings like?
  • Were there trees? What kind?
  • What does the troublemaker look like – exactly? If he is a dog, for instance, is he big? How big is he? What kind of dog is he? What color is his fur – exactly?
  • What did he/she/it say to you?
  • What did you say?
  • What kind of emotional feeling did you have?

The teacher will write down the answers in no special order.

As you and your group ask and answer questions, have someone write down the answers, in no particular order.  The result will look like a grocery list.

Sensory Details

Imagine you have a special camera that records what you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.

Don’t say general words such “amazing” or “beautiful.” Tell exactly what makes them so special.

So what else can this camera sense in the scene?

  • What types of plants and animals are nearby? If, for instance, there are birds, then what type of birds are they?
  • What is the name of the nearest building? What does it look like?
  • Exactly what is the weather like? Saying sunny does not help readers see it. How does the weather make you feel?
  • If you are eating cereal, for example, what is its name? What does it tell us about you if you’re eating Count Chocula rather than raisin bran?

Task 6.9.3 – Small Group

Add sensory details to the list.

Add Emotions

What exactly did you feel emotionally?

Be realistic as possible when describing emotions. If a dog talked to you in real life, would you just start answering? You may feel fear, shock, or think you are going crazy…

Dialogue

What did you and the troublemaker say to one another? Is that what you would say in real life?

Pretend you meet the troublemaker.  What did it say?  What did you say?

Task 6.9.4 – Small Group

Role-play with classmates about meeting the troublemaker.

Task 6.9.5

Look through the grocery list.  Use numbers.

Don’t erase if something is out of order.  Instead, use numbers or letters.  For example:

            Info 3                                                  Info 3

            Info 4                                                  Info 4

            Info 3.5                                               Info 3a

Example

Meeting The Troublemaker
1 Then One Day I Met A Talking Dog.
3 Near School – Corner of 3rd And Alder
2 Summerville, Alaska
4 Edge Of Woods
5 Spruces, Evergreens
2a Fishing Community
3a Hardware Store
6 Shar-Pei
7 Rumpled As A Rug
8 Size Of A Breadbox
6a Sitting By Street Sign
9 Scratching Ear With Back Foot
10 Gray With White Spots
11 Spots Looked Like Splotches. Like Someone Spilled White Out
12 “Hey Good Looking.”
13 Thought I Was Going Crazy. Or Pranked.
14 “Down Here, Stupid.”
15 Ventriloquist Somewhere?
16 Collar Studded With Fake Diamonds
17 “Quit Staring At My Collar!”
18 “You Can’t Talk, You’re A Dog!”
19 “And You Can’t Think. You’re A Blond.”
20 My stomach growled.
21 The shar-pei growled.
1a Drizzling.
3b Water dripped off the roof.
2b Air smelled like fish.
2c Salt smell in the air.