Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Introduction
This week we are going to read a chapter book titled Surviving Brick Johnson by Laurie
Myers
Read the back of the book and then we will discuss
Look at the cover
o The main character is Alex, he is the boy on the cover. The shadow behind him
is the head of Brick Johnson. What does the cover and title make you think?
o Alex is a fifth grader and has only been in school for two weeks when he
accidentally insults Brick. How do you think that would make Brick feel?
Alexs friend Susan Green says that Brick plans to maim Alex. You will read a few
different definitions of the word maim
Read
Read chapters 1-3 with students
Discuss why Alex may want to become a sleek fighting machine
Discussion
Turn to your partner and share what you remember about the reading from yesterday.
What are your thoughts?
Can someone share something you and your partner talked about?
Do you think the story had an interesting beginning? Why?
Where was the tension between Brick and Alex? How did it add to the story?
Discuss personal experiences
Reading
Today we are going to read chapters 4 and 5 As you read you will notice more about
Alex as a character.
Look for evidence that might prove he has too much imagination.
Read chapters 4 and 5 together
Discussion
What was the most important thing Alex learned in karate class? Why?
What do we know about the two main characters in this story?
What evidence do you have that shows Alex has a lot of imagination?
Turn to your neighbor and make a prediction about what you think will happen next.
Vocabulary
On page 39 you will see the word flinched. What does flinched mean?
Read Chapter 6
What does Alex learn about Brick in this chapter?
Read Chapter 7
At this point in the story is Alex trying to avoid or follow Brick?
Read Chapter 8
Silently
Discussion
Who can summarize what happened in yesterdays reading?
What was so significant about the umpires card?
Intro Chapter 9 and 10
What would you do if you felt intimidated by someone?
Chapter 10 is a very significant chapter
It is titled The Flying Karate Boy
What do you predict will happen in this scene?
You are going to read chapters 9 and 10 with a partner
Activity
When you finish each partner is going to choose a chapter
You will illustrate the most important part of that chapter
We will share when everyone is finished

Day 5

Day 6

Discussion
Alex keeps seeing himself as a 100 year old man, can anyone tell me where this came
from?
Chapter 11 is titled Daffy Duck Karate. What could this mean?
Daffy Duck is a cartoon character. He often gets flattened by another character, Bugs
Bunny. Now do you have any ideas?
We will hear the term black belt, does anyone know what this mean in relation to
karate?
What does it mean to have conflicting thoughts? This is how Alex is starting to feel
about Brick. Why do you think that is?
We are going to read both chapters 11 and 12
Read chapters 11 and 12 out loud
Discuss where you see fit
Discussion
Who can retell what happened in our story yesterday?
How is Alex starting to feel about the time he imitated Brick?
Alex really likes Walt. How do you think he feels when Brick gets so much approval
from Walt?
On page 60, Alex thinks, Respect was harder than fighting. What does the writer
mean by that?
Look at the pictures on page 62, what was the authors message here?
Bob is not a major character, but what does he do that is important in the story?
Reading
Today we are going to read the last two chapters of Surviving Brick Johnson
As we read think about everything you have learned about Alex and Brick. Is their
relationship about to change?
Read chapters 13 and 14

Discussion
Did the ending of this book surprise you?
Take a moment to look at pages 66-69. What did the author do to bring Brick and Alex
closer together?
The writer gives the reader a surprise. What did the characters happen to have in
common?
What do you predict will happen in the future for Alex and Brick?
Vocabulary
Respect
Discuss the importance of the word in this story
Theme
What was the important message in this book?
Writing
Today, you are going to write a three paragraph letter to me in your writing section of
your notebook. I will write back to you after. (write guidelines on the board)
P1- share what you think about Alexs first judgment of Brick
P2- tell how Alexs feelings about Brick changed
P3- Write your opinion about what Alex should have done
Readers Theater- think about how the characters would talk
Day 8- Comprehension packet

Day 7