Character Sketcher
Your job as a Character Sketcher is to identify a character’s actions (traits) and explain or prove these traits, identify the character’s goal (which is what the character wants to do or accomplish), identify the problem and solution in the reading, and complete a sketch or illustration of the character.
 Your job is to do a character sketch on Prime Minister Decree.

Discussion Director
Your job as the Discussion Director is to come up with thinking questions.  You really want to make your group think about what you all have just read.  You are trying to make sure everyone in your group understands or comprehends the reading.  You need to write down the questions, your answers to your questions, and the page numbers where the students can reference the text to justify their responses to your questions.
Your job is to ask 6 questions, the answers to your questions and the page and paragraph.  Where the answers are found (if possible).  Ask good thinking questions!  Ask the following: 1 multiple choice
  1 prediction
  3 thinking questions
  1 opinion

Passage Picker
Your job as Passage Picker is to pick out a passage you would like to share with your group and write down the page number and paragraph.  Write down the first two words and the last two words of your passage.  Then you tell what type of passage you have chosen and explain why it is this specific type.  Then you think of a good thinking question about the passage and write it down along with the answer to the question.  The last thing you do is answer one of these questions in a complete sentence: Why did the author include this passage in the story? What does this passage add to the story?
Pick 4 passages that exhibit the following:
1 fantasy
1 descriptive
1 informative
1 exciting
 
 
 

Word Wizard
Your job as Word Wizard is to write down the word, the page number, and paragraph number.  Copy the sentence from the book in which the word appears.  Write down what part of speech you think the word is, and write down what you think the word means.  Then look up your word in the dictionary and write your own definition of the word.  Write down an explanation telling how this word adds meaning to the story.  Think about the characters, plot, setting, theme etc.  Make your word wizard card.  Be sure to include LARGE PRINT your word and the page and paragraph number.  On the other side of the card you should draw a picture to represent your word, the word, and the definition of the word.
Your job is to complete the role sheet for the following words:
Scuffle p. 30 par. 1
Trodden p. 13 par. 2
Serene p. 18 par. 2
Trudged p. 31 par. 5

Illustrator
Your job as Illustrator is to draw some kind of picture related to the reading.  It can be a sketch, cartoon, diagram, or stick figure scene.  You can draw a picture of something that’s discussed specifically in your book, something that the reading reminded you of, or a picture that shows any idea or feeling you got from the reading.  After you finish your picture, write a descriptive paragraph about your drawing.  Your paragraph should include: who or what my picture is about, where my picture takes place, when it is happening, why I drew this picture.  Try to use describing words when writing your paragraph.
Draw a picture that relates to the reading.  Then write a descriptive paragraph about your drawing.
 
 

Title Page

Launch

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6

Section 7

Section 8

Section 9

Biblio- graphy

1. What was the Prime Minister’s adopted son’s real name?  Vaungaylen (pg.18 para.1)
 

2. A.  Who is Hemlock?
a. the King
b. the Queen’s brother
c. a close friend
d. the prime minister

*B (pg. 21 para.2)

B.  In your opinion, what significance does Hemlock have to the story?  I think that Hemlock is an additional character that will be involved in the argument over the definition of delicious since he believes the answer should be nuts.  I find it very interesting that the author describes him as an unpleasant man who is a friend to no one.

3. Why does Gaylen have to go pole the entire kingdom?  To find out what food the majority of the people find to be most delicious in order to put it in the dictionary.  (Pg.29 para.2)

4. Why do you believe Gaylen is feeling uneasy the next morning?  He feels that the people might get dissatisfied with the king’s work and trouble will begin to occur.  (Pg.32 para.2)

5. What food do you believe is going to be voted most delicious?  I believe it is going to be the walnut because I think Hemlock is going to persuade the kingdom to go against the king and vote for his definition.

6. What do you think Gaylen was feeling on page 28 when he took a bite of the apple and found a forced walnut inside?  Why do you think Gaylen stared at the apple for a moment and a shivery feeling twinkled down his spine?  I think Gaylen felt uneasy about the apple because he was unsure if Hemlock had really put the walnut in the apple and maybe what if the apple had poison in it.  The shivery feeling going back down his back, I believe, is Gaylen’s conscious speaking wondering if something might happen soon.
 
 

Page 14; paragraph 1

First 2 words: “It was”

Last 2 words: “Christmas pudding”

This passage is a descriptive passage because it describes the problem that the Prime Minister is trying to solve which is finding a definition for delicious that everyone agrees on.  It also describes what the king, general, and queen believed to be the definition of delicious.

How is the problem of finding a definition for delicious going to be solved? What do you believe is the best definition for delicious?

The argument that was occurring within the passage is the base of the story.  This argument begins the long search for delicious and sets up the plot.  As the reader you begin making your guess on what will be chosen as the definition for delicious.
 
 

Page 21; paragraph 4

First 2 words:  Hemlock smiled

Last 2 words:  and confusion.

This passage is a descriptive passage because it informs the reader who Hemlock is, what he looks like, and the type of disposition he has.

What type of person do you think Hemlock is?  Do you think the author is providing the reader with some predictions and foreshadowing?

I believe the author put this passage in the story to introduce and inform the reader who Hemlock is and what type of person he is and maybe to lead the reader into predicting that something might happen and Hemlock will be responsible for the problem.
 

Page 5; paragraph 1
 
First 2 words: There was

Last 2 words:  the air.

This passage is a fantasy passage because it describes the setting in a world where there are mountain dwarfs, woldwellers that live in the forests, and mermaids that live in the lakes, which is all imaginary.

Why do you think this paragraph might be important to the story?  Do you believe this might be the author’s way of foreshadowing to an event in the book?

This passage adds a more traditional fairy tale to the story by beginning with “There was once…” This passage also adds some mystery to the story and what might really happen in the book.  It let’s the reader start to think and wonder about what the story is going to be about and what is going to happen in the story.
 
 

Page 26; paragraph 2

First 2 words:  You’re off

Last 2 words:  fine, indeed

This passage is an exciting passage because the entire kingdom cheered when Gaylen and Marrow started off the adventure of seeking delicious.  Everyone was so happy and joyous it was like a holiday.

Do you think Gaylen will find the definition to delicious or will he find trouble along the way?  Explain.

I believe the author put this passage in the story to point out to the reader that the kingdom was so excited that Gaylen was going to search for the definition of delicious so everyone would stop fighting and arguing and there could be peace again within the kingdom.  This passage could also be placed there for the exact opposite reason, this could be the last time that the entire kingdom is happy and joyous and optimistic without any arguing.
 
 

Scuffle: page 30; paragraph 1

Gaylen had barely registered three names when a scuffle broke out somewhere in the middle of the line.

Part of Speech:  Noun

What is your definition of scuffle:   a fight, argument or a dispute

Scuffle:  to fight or struggle confusedly at close quarters

The word scuffle creates a more vivid picture of what is going on.  It brings more tension to the plot.  The word brings excitement to the reader and lets them wonder how big the argument is and what is going to happen next in the kingdom.
 
 

 
 
 

SCUFFLE

SCUFFLE Scuffle:  to fight or struggle confusedly at close quarters.

 

Trodden: page 13, paragraph 2

Little flowers will push up, only to be trodden down, and birds will sing unheeded.

Part of Speech:  Verb

What is your definition of trodden:  to run over; to get smashed

Trodden:  step heavily; trample, set the feet on; walk on or through; crush

The word trodden creates a more descriptive picture of what will actually happen if a war breaks out.  This word brings more meaning to the content and allows the reader to know that this could be a crucial part of the book.
 
 
 

Page 13 paragraph 2
 
 

TRODDEN

Trodden:   Step heavily; trample; set the feet on; walk on or through; crush Page 13 paragraph 2

 

Serene:  page 18, paragraph 2

And if Gaylen came to believe that the world was a bright and flawless garden where no weeds grew, a garden in the center of which the castle tower rose high and watchful and serene, it was not to be wondered at.

Part of Speech:  Adjective

What is your definition of serene:  peaceful and calm

Serene:  unaffected by disturbance; calm and unruffled.

The word serene gives the reader a more clear perception on how Gaylen was raised and how tender the Prime Minister cared for Gaylen.
 
 

Trudged:  page 31, paragraph 5

The soldier trudged off and the Mayor took Gaylen into his office.

Part of Speech:  Verb

What is your definition of trudged:  to stomp or walk heavily

Trudged:  to walk in a laborious, heavy-footed way; plod

The word trudged created an image for the reader that the soldier did not just leave, but stomped out as if he were mad, or ready to take control over the scuffle.
 
 

Prime Minister Decree

Caring: Page 18; para. 2
Gaylen was cared for very tenderly with every wish granted by the Prime Minister and was loved like he was the Prime Minister’s real son.

Polite: Page 20; para. 4
The Prime Minister rose and bowed to the Queen and stated how excellent the dinner was and tried to be as generous as he knew how to be.

Fair: Page: 22; para. 3
He does not want to make a decision without everyone’s vote so he decided that after polling everyone in the kingdom, the item that gets the most votes for delicious would be the thing he uses in the dictionary.

Confident:  Page: 25 para. 1
The Prime Minister is very confident and has the most trust in his son, Gaylen.  He is completely confident that Gaylen will be honest and get the job done right.

Character’s Goal:  The Prime Minister’s goal is to find a definition for “Delicious” and to
 make everyone in the kingdom satisfied and happy.

Problem:  The kingdom is arguing over what the definition for “Delicious” should be and
the Prime Minister does not want to leave any words out in order to complete the dictionary.

Possible Solution:  Gaylen goes around the kingdom to gather votes on what the
definition for delicious should be and hopefully they will add the votes up and when the majority votes win then the arguing and fighting will stop in the kingdom over what delicious means and the Prime Minister can successfully complete his dictionary for the king.
 

Page: 19; Paragraph 1

I drew a picture to illustrate the king and queen mad at each other and avoiding each one another because they disagree on the meaning of delicious.  The Queen believes delicious should be represented with Christmas pudding whereas the King believes apples should represent delicious.  The citizens will vote on what the kingdom, as a whole believes delicious means.  I chose this section to draw because this is where the conflict started.  The king and queen were the first to have a dispute about what the definition of delicious should be.  The question remains is whether the king and queen will be satisfied with the decision that the rest of the kingdom makes and will they be able to give over this tension they have between one another.