Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Introduction
For the next few days we will be reading a chapter book titled Fig
Pudding by Ralph Fletcher. Take a look at the cover and read the back
cover.
The book is written in first person, do you know what that means? Ia character is telling the story.
Clifford Abernathy is the narrator as well as a character. Everyone
calls him Cliff.
This book was published in 1995 so there are some differences than
what you might hear or want today. At one point his sister asks for a
transistor radio, do you know what that is? What would the equivalent
of that be today?
Also, this book may be based on some of ralph Fletchers own
childhood memories so it may be a little different than life today.
Each chapter in this story is a new story that goes throughout a year
of Cliffs life.
Cliff has a large family. Cliff is the oldest of 6 children. Are any of you
the oldest? How do you think it would feel to be the oldest of that
many children? There are also 5 boys and only one girl.
Today we are going to read through page 30 so that is chapter 1 and
part of chapter 2. You will see a break in the page on 30 and that is
where we will stop.
RR
Prediction
Reading
Finish chapter 2- a Yidda Yadder
Character maps
In notebook start character maps for
Cliff
Josh
Chapter 3- Under the kitchen table
We dont know much about Teddy yet. In chapter 3 we will learn more
about him. Teddy likes to spend a lot of time under the kitchen table.
The word gullible is in this chapter. Do you know what it means to be
gullible?
Read
Character map
Teddy
Journal
Write about something that is very important to you that you would
never want to give away, or let someone else have.
Chapter 4 Intro
Cliff gets a present in this chapter that is very important to him and
he did not want to let anyone else use it.
Character Map
Add to Cliffs character map
Writing

 What was Cliffs problem? How was his problem resolved?

Activity
Illustrate chapter 4. See attachment

Day 4

Day 5

Discussion
Today we are going to read chapter 5 titled Traded Away
This chapter is mostly about Cyn- What do we know about her (Mind
MAP CYN
Cyn spends a lot of time at Sharons house. Can you imagine why?
Cyn also gets a new pet in this chapter
What have you noticed about each chapter so far? But whose point of
view do we always get the story from?
Who is the focus of each chapter on?
We should be able to add more information to our mind maps about
Cyn and Teddy after reading this chapter.
Think about how all the family members are different as we read this
chapter
Reading
Read chapter 5
Written Response
o What is the theme of this book? (big message)
Discussion
o Why does Cyn seem to want to be a part of the other family?
o How do Cyns mom and dad respond to her new behavior?
o Dad has always said no to a kitten. Why do you think he
changed his mind?
o What is important about the way Teddy behaved in this
chapter?
Introduce Chapter 6
This chapter is titled The Headless Chicks
Cliff and Brad do something together in this chapter.
What do we know about Brad?
Remember we know that Brad is gullible. What does that mean?
Reading
Read Chapter 6
Discussion
Read page 98, starting with Dad saying, We got ourselves a
mystery.
As you read think about how the author helps the reader learn what
the Abernathys are like as a family. What is important about them?
On page 93 they use the word hesitated. What do you think that
means?

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Introduce Chapter 7
Chapter 7 is titled A Steaming bowl of Sadness
What does the title make you think is going to happen?
Whatever happens in this family, what do you predict given what you
already know about this family?
As you read think about how this story is different from others in the
book.
Also, think about what you are still learning about the family.
There will be a lot to talk about when we finish. Think of one thing you
would like to discuss as you read.
Discuss
Have each student share one thing they were thinking while reading.
Discussion
Chapter 7 was very sad. How did the family handle their grief?
How did Uncle Billy describe sadness and grief? Do you remember the
story he told?
o The author used a metaphor when something happens
everyone has a big bowl and has to eat the whole thing **
Could do more with metaphors**
o Discuss
How do you think Uncle Billys metaphor helped Cliff?
Vocabulary
Tight lipped on page 111
Introduce chapter 8
Chapter 8 is titled The Walking Wounded. What do you think this
title means?
The year is almost over for the Abernathys and it is getting close to
Christmas. How do you think they feel about this?
Write a prediction about what their Christmas may be like
Read Together
Discuss as you see fit
Activity
Update character mind maps
Introduce chapter 9
Today we are going to read chapter 9, which is the last chapter in the
book. It is titled A Family Secret
What is the situation for the Abernathy family at the beginning of the
chapter? (still very sad)
What about Cliff? What is he experiencing?
As we read today think about how Cliff is feeling throughout the
chapter
Read together
Activity- Book Illustration
For this activity you will spilt your class into 9 groups. (smaller classes
just make pairs and complete as many chapters as you can)
Number popsicle sticks 1-9 (one of each chapter)
Have one member from each group pull a stick, which will be the

chapter their group has to illustrate.

(leave out chapter 4 if you do not have enough

groups, they illustrated this chapter on their own on day 3)

Day 9

Have each group divide their paper into 6 squares.

They must draw six pictures to illustrate the sequence of events
throughout their chapter. They must also include a quote and the
page number from which they got the quote. (See sample below)
o I allowed the rest of this class period and the following day.
Remind students it is something they should be proud of so we
can hang it in our room.

Finish posters

Present posters in order of the book

Write Final Letter
Directions:

Day
10

We have already discussed why laughing is so important now you are going to write
about it
Today you are going to write a letter to me explaining your own thinking.
You will write about the importance of laughter throughout this book.
Your letter should be at least three paragraphs. Some things you could include:
Their family dynamic (how they interact with one another)
Why they stopped laughing
How they started laughing again
Why you think laughing is an important part of life
How their family
compares to your family