by Jeff Kinney
Kinney, Jeff (2007).
Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
New York, NY., U.S.A.: Amulet Books
Copyright: 2007
Publisher: Amulet Books
Reading Level:
Lexile: 970L
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.3
Interest Level: 3-5
Genre: Fiction, graphic novel
Description: comedy, friends, growing up, middle school, journals ,
Delivery Suggestion: Independent reading
Summary: It’s a new school year and Greg finds himself suddenly in middle school where it seems everyone is taller and meaner than you are. Greg records the hazards of sharing the hallways in his diary. While Greg is happy to have his best friend Rowley by his side, but when Rowley becomes more popular, Greg’s antics will put their friendship to the test.
Electronic Resources:
3. degrading- causing a loss of self-respect; humiliating
4. humiliate - make (someone) feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and self-respect especially publicly
5.violence - behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage or kill someone
6.ridiculous - deserving or inviting derision or mockery; absurd
7. sissy - feeble and cowardly
8. jerk - a contemptibly obnoxious person
Teaching Suggestions:
Journal activity: How does humor help mask some more serious issues such as trust, loyalty and fear? In what ways does using humor make it easier for readers to think about such issues and how they surface in their own lives?
Kinney, Jeff (2007).
Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
New York, NY., U.S.A.: Amulet Books
Copyright: 2007
Publisher: Amulet Books
Reading Level:
Lexile: 970L
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.3
Interest Level: 3-5
Genre: Fiction, graphic novel
Description: comedy, friends, growing up, middle school, journals ,
Delivery Suggestion: Independent reading
Summary: It’s a new school year and Greg finds himself suddenly in middle school where it seems everyone is taller and meaner than you are. Greg records the hazards of sharing the hallways in his diary. While Greg is happy to have his best friend Rowley by his side, but when Rowley becomes more popular, Greg’s antics will put their friendship to the test.
Electronic Resources:
- Students and Teachers http://www.wimpykidclub.co.uk/teachers-resources/ This website resources for both students and teachers. There is games for students such as Wimpy Wars and information about the other books in the series.
- Padlet – Students will use this resource to show what they considered the funniest part of the book.
Vocabulary:
1. cooties - a children's term for an imaginary germ
3. degrading- causing a loss of self-respect; humiliating
4. humiliate - make (someone) feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and self-respect especially publicly
5.violence - behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage or kill someone
6.ridiculous - deserving or inviting derision or mockery; absurd
7. sissy - feeble and cowardly
8. jerk - a contemptibly obnoxious person
Teaching Suggestions:
- Use this book to teach journaling.
- Use this book to teach features of a graphic novel.
- Use this book to teach humor in writing.
Comprehension Strategies:
- Before Reading:
- Anticipation Guide: What do you think a wimpy kid should look like? Design your book cover.
- During Reading:
- Fishbowl Discussion: How “wimpy” is Greg exactly? Are the reason that he may think he’s wimpy the same ones that the rest of his world would agree upon?
- After Reading:
- Response Writing: Why do you think Greg is so good about keeping his “diary” over time? How does it help him?
Journal activity: How does humor help mask some more serious issues such as trust, loyalty and fear? In what ways does using humor make it easier for readers to think about such issues and how they surface in their own lives?