The Strange Case of Origami Yoda



The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

By: Tom Angleberger

Publisher: Amulet Books

Copyright: 2010

Genre: Humorous stories/Fiction

Summary: Can a yoda finger puppet really dispense good advice and also see into the future? Different middle school kids have varying opinions and take turns telling their stories about Origami Yoda.

BOOKTALK: Can a yoda finger puppet, created by a slightly eccentric student, really predict the future and give good advice? Is this a joke? Students at McQuarrie Middle School who have a problem are seeking out Dwight, a lazy, kind of weird, kind of crazy classmate who has folded a sheet of paper to look like Yoda, from Star Wars. When a classmate comes to him, Dwight takes out Yoda and perches him on his finger, ready to listen to whatever troubles the student has. Then, using Dwight as a medium, Yoda dispenses his words of wisdom. Each student at McQuarrie takes a turn at telling their story of how Origami Yoda answered their questions (Or didn't answer their questions. It all depends on how you look at it!). Three friends in particular, Tommy, Harvey, and Kellen, put the stories together in this "case file," and the whole thing becomes, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. What will you decide after reading through the stories? Is Origami Yoda for real? Or is Dwight playing the biggest joke in school history? (*Using your best Yoda impression*) To formulate an answer, read this book, you must.

AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:



Other books written by the author:

Darth Paper Strikes Back

Horton Halfpott

CHALLENGING WORDS

p. 1 origami

p. 2 humiliation

p. 7 smirk, outcasts

p. 15 laughingstock

p. 22 skeptical, malarkey

p. 40 overrules

p. 49 sentimental

p. 51 calamity

p. 56 sarcastic

p. 81 brayed

p. 98 muzzle

p. 122 constructive criticism

p. 133 stall

p. 136 hoax

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Why do some of the students believe in Origami Yoda, and some think he is a fraud?

2. Would you take advice from Origami Yoda? Why or why not?

3. Why do you think Origami Yoda speaks in riddles?

4. Do you think peoples opinion of Dwight changes once Origami Yoda gives all of this

advice? Why or why not?

5. Do you know a kid like Dwight? How do people treat him/her? How should this kid be treated?

6. Cassie broke the teacher’s replica of Shakespeare. What would you have done if this happened to you?

7. How did Origami Yoda seem to have answers to so many problems?

8. What question would you ask Origami Yoda?

9. Which character did the illustrations in Origami Yoda?

10. What was your favorite part of the book? Why?

11. Even if Origami Yoda is not real, his advice/predictions still worked. Give an example of this.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:

Language Arts:

1. Use ReadWriteThink's Character Trading Cards interactive () to create cards for Tommy, Kellen, Harvey, Dwight, Lance, Mike, and Quavondo.

4.RL.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text.

5.RL.3 Compare and contrast two or more character, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text

2. Use the directions in the back of the book to fold a paper yoda. Whether it's a success or not, prepare to tell the class the 3 most challenging parts of the paper-folding process.

4.SL.4 Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount and experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

5.SL.4 Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

6.SL.4 Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

3. Write a letter to Tom Angleberger, telling him your favorite part of the book and why it was your favorite part.

4.W.1, 5.W.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

4.W.4, 5.W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

4.L.1, 5.L1, 6.L.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

4.L.2, 5.L.2, 6.L.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

4. Research the history of origami. Write a page about the topic.

4.W.2, 5.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

6.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

4.L.1, 5.L1, 6.L.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

4.L.2, 5.L.2, 6.L.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Other: List activities and Indiana State Standards Grades 4-6 they address here

1. Check out an origami book from the library and create some pieces of your own. Follow instructions carefully!

Visual Arts - Standard 7

Understand and apply elements and principles of design in personal works of art, utilizing a variety of media, tools, and processes

4.7.2 Identify and discriminate between types of lines (characteristics, quality), shapes (geometric and organic), textures (tactile and visual), colors (primary, secondary, complementary, tints, and shades), space (placement, perspective, overlap, negative, positive, size), balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial), and the use of proportion, rhythm, variety, repetition, and movement in own work and the works of others.

5.7.2 Identify and discriminate between types of lines (characteristics, quality), shapes (geometric and organic), textures (tactile and visual), colors (primary, secondary, complementary, intermediates, neutrals, tints, tones, shades, and values), space (background, middle ground, foreground, placment, perspective, overlap, negative, converging lines, positive, size, color), balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial), and the use of proportion, rhythm, variety, repetition, and movement in own work and the works of others.

6.7.2 Identify and discriminate between types of lines (characteristics, quality), shapes (geometric and organic), textures (tactile and visual), colors (primary, secondary, complementary, intermediates, neutrals, tints, tones, shades, and values), and space (background, middle ground, foreground, placement, perspective, overlap, negative, converging lines, positive, size, color), and the use of balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial), and the use of proportion, rhythm, variety, repetition, and movement in own work and the works of others.

Lifeskills: friendship, curiosity, problem solving

RELATED INTERNET SITES:

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda



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