How to Eat Fried Worms
Thomas Rockwell
Chapters 1-7 Questions for Discussion
Vocabulary: Chapter 1- witnesses, furtively, gnawing, savings account, fricasseed Chapter 2- anxious, devious, schemer, measly Chapter 3- coaxed, obsequiously, piccalilli, horseradish, Worcestershire, maraschino cherries Chapter 4- fink, menacingly, flourished, souvenir, scrutinized Chapter 5- troglodycrosis, bleat Chapter 6- daub, wearily, chaff Chapter 7- gaggles, draggling, topples, rev, brackety Questions: Who are the four main characters in this story? As the story opens, Alan and Billy tell Tom he missed something the night before. What did he miss? How do the boys get started talking about eating worms? What are the details of the bet? If you were Billy, would you have accepted the bet? Why or why not?
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What is a python? Why does Tom use the word to describe the worm Alan and Joe have just dug up? What kinds of things does Billy do to prepare himself for the worm? What arguments does Tom use to convince Billy that he has to go through with the bet after he sees the first worm? When Billy starts hopping around the barn flapping his arms like a big bird, what do the other boys think? How do you know Alan is worried? Can you give any reason for Joe's lack of concern? Why isn't he worried? What is the thing that bothers Billy the most about eating the worms? What suggestion does Tom have? The author makes Billy's fantasy about taking the mini-bike into church and school seem so real by using interesting descriptive words. List as many of these words as you can find from pgs. 28-29.
Chapters 1-7 Multiple Intelligence Activities
Choose one or two that interest you and your family the most
Interpersonal Tom tried to convince Alan and Joe not to pick a nightcrawler from the manure pile. However, Tom eventually agrees with their choice. Reread chapter 2. If you were Tom what would you have said to convince Alan and Joe they weren’t being fair with their choice? Write down a few ideas. Intrapersonal Tom cheers Billy up in chapter 7. Then Billy lets his imagination “run wild” describing a day on his new bike. Reread chapter 7 to see what Billy imagines. If you couldn’t get in trouble with your parents, what would you do? Where would you go? Let your imagination go crazy as you write down your perfect afternoon on a new bike!
Naturalistic
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The boys set out to find the perfect worm for Billy to eat. Reread their discussion in chapter 2 as they pick the first worm. Then go out into your backyard and see if you can find any worms. Take a sketch pad or camera with you on your worm-walk. Record the differences in size, shape, and color of each of the worms. If you are really brave make a habitat for a worm and keep it as a pet! :) Existential A conversation about Tom eating his dinner turned into Billy taking a bet to eat 15 worms! Reread chapter 1 to see how the bet happened. Pretend that you took Alan up on his $50 bet. Write a diary entry describing your feelings, doubts, or excitement for things you could buy with the money. Verbal-linguistic Tom wants Billy to complete his goal of eating 15 worms. Reread chapter 7 to find the poem Tom tells Billy. If you were Billy’s friend, what would you say to persuade him to eat the remaining 13 worms? Write a short rhyming poem that would encourage Billy to keep up his icky-tasting bet. Logical-mathematical Billy was angry when he was presented with the first worm. He argued that an nightcrawler was different from a regular worm. Billy checked in a dictionary to settle the argument. Reread chapter 4 then do your own research on worms using a dictionary, encyclopedia, or online reference. Write down the 5 most fascinating facts you discover. Spatial Billy was angry when he was presented with the first worm. He argued that an nightcrawler was different from a regular worm. Billy checked in a dictionary to settle the argument. Reread chapter 4 then do your own research on worms using a dictionary, encyclopedia, or online reference. Make a diagram of a worm using paints, crayons, or play doh (sky is the limit-be creative!) Musical In chapter 7 Tom tries to convince Billy the next worm will taste like fish. Reread Chapter 7. Take the poem from page 28 and sing it the tune of your favorite song. (ie. “Mary Had a Little Lamb” or “Row Row Row your Boat”) Bodily kinesthetic Billy has an interesting reaction after he eats his first worm. Reread chapter 4 and act out Billy’s actions after the last bit was swallowed. Why do you think he acts like this?
Chapters 8-14
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Questions for Discussion
Vocabulary: Chapter 8- sizzling, New Orleans, Peru Chapter 9- doped Chapter 10- keel, grimace, deracinated Chapter 11- hayloft, indignant, pelting, trough Chapter 12- sensible Chapter 13- cringing, hoarse Chapter 14- din, haunches, gurged, jostled, antidote, lugging
Questions: Does it seem like Billy has any trouble eating the third worm? Why? What are Joe and Alan up to as they watch Billy eat the fourth worm? What story do they tell Billy? What does Tom think of Joe's story? Do you think Billy believes it? Why or why not? Where do you think the boys live? What time of year is it? Why did Billy want Tom to eat a worm? How do you know that Tom really doesn't like the idea? Besides losing the fifty dollars, what was Alan afraid of? What did Joe mean when he said to Alan over the phone that he had nothing to worry about because Billy was "cracking"? How do you know that Billy is beginning to worry about what Joe had said about eating worms? What does antidote mean? Why was Billy looking for an antidote? Have you ever had a scary nightmare? What was it about?
Chapters 8-14 Multiple Intelligence Activities
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Choose one or two that interest you and your family the most
Interpersonal The author uses many vivid words to describe Billy’s dream. Reread chapter 14, “The pain and the blood and the gore.” Choose 10 vivid words and create a word search titled “The Nightmare!” Intrapersonal Billy begins to feel very ill after his nightmare. Reread chapter 14 to see his physical symptoms. Do you think Billy will continue his bet? Do you think he should tell his parents what he has been up to? Naturalistic At this point you may have a worm as a pet (sorry parents)! Do some research to find out how to care for your worm. What should you include in the terrarium? What do worms eat? Take care of your slithery friend! Existential Alan and Joe try to come up with a plan to get Billy to stop eating worms. Is Alan being fair? Reread chapter 9. Why do you think people bet each other to do things? Have a discussion with your family. Verbal-linguistic Billy doesn’t seem to mind eating the fried worm. Reread his reaction in chapter 8, then write a recipe for a worm that you would not mind eating. Look at a real recipe as an example. Don’t forget to include instructions as well as a list of ingredients.
Logical-mathematical Billy has an awful nightmare in chapter 14. He dreams of huge worms grabbing his ankles and arms. Reread the chapter for the vivid details and descriptions. Do some research on the computer to see if those huge worms really exist outside of Billy’s nightmare. Once you find the largest worm measurement use a ruler to draw the worm to scale! Yikes!!!
Spatial Tom fries the third worm. He wants to make it look like fish so Billy won’t remember he is really eating a worm. Reread chapter 8. Draw a worm that looks as icky as you can imagine. Then, draw a worm with a “disguise.” How does your decorated worm compare with the original? Which would you rather keep as a pet? Why?
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Musical Each worm that Billy eats makes Alan more nervous. Reread chapter 13 and try to imagine how Alan is feeling. Sing your favorite song, now try to change the words of that song to reflect Alan’s feelings of worry. Make sure you write the song down so your family can sing it each time Billy eats another worm!
Bodily kinesthetic Tom makes up a story to try to scare Billy from eating the fourth worm. However, as he is talking, Alan begins to have a “sneezing fit.” Alan is not really sneezing, but trying to cover up his laughter. Why do Alan and Tom think this story is so funny? Reread chapter 10. Try to disguise laugher with a sneeze. Is anyone is your family convinced?
Chapters 15-21 Questions for Discussion
Vocabulary: Chapter 15- discernible, tupenny, treacle, serene, glowered Chapter 16/17- tentatively, sullenly, airily Chapter 19- slouching Chapter 20- virtuous, nonchalantly, yukked Chapter 21- Saran Wrap, yug, midst, sauté, Alsation, bravo Questions: Who sounds more worried about Billy's gurgling stomach, his mom or his dad? How do you know? If you woke your mom up at 3:15 am with a rumbling, gurgling stomach, and you said you had eaten five worms, what would she say? Billy actually had nightmares after eating the fifth worm. Why is it that he doesn't seem to mind eating the sixth, seventh, and eighth worms? What things does Billy do as he eats these worms that show you he is no longer afraid of what might happen to him? Are Joe and Alan getting more worried? How do you know? Billy asks Alan, "Where's Joe?", as he eats the eighth worm. What was Joe up to? Why did Billy suspect something as he looked at the ninth worm?
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When the author writes that Billy had forgotten to dip the piece of worm in horseradish sauce, what had happened? Why do Joe and Alan come to see Mrs. Forrester? Do you think they trust Billy? What has happened to the friendship between Alan, Joe, and Billy? What does Mr. Forrester think about the fact that the bet is still on?
Chapters 15-21 Multiple Intelligence Activities
Choose one or two that interest you and your family the most
Interpersonal Billy ate the sixth worm “triumphantly.” Reread chapter 16 and create a mental picture of the events. Then, look up the word “triumphant” in the dictionary. Think of something that you have done triumphantly. Try to act out the scene; make a “triumphant-face” as your family cheers you on! Intrapersonal In chapter 20 Alan and Joe tell Mrs. Forrester (Billy’s mom) what Billy has been up to. They name her the referee of worms ten and eleven. What does a referee do? Brainstorm some games with a referee. If possible watch a referee in action. Are referees necessary is all games? Why or why not? Naturalistic Hope you are still taking care of your pet worm! Start a daily journal of your worms behaviors. What does it eat? Does it seem to have a favorite place to hang out in its new habitat? Include sketches in your journal. Existential The worms in this story have a tough life! Imagine you are a worm in this story. You are being chased by Alan and Joe. If you are caught you will be gulped down by Billy. Write yourself an escape story. Remember you are a worm, so you can’t move too fast. You will have to come up with a creative escape! Good luck! Verbal-linguistic Billy is no longer worried about eating worms. Reread chapter 17 to see Billy’s reaction. He gulps down the worm and grabs his comic book. Create a comic strip with the adventures of a worm as the main character.
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Logical-mathematical Alan tried to trick Billy into eating a two worms glued together. Reread chapter 19 to see how long the glued together worms measured. Measure out the length of the worm with a piece of string. Then, find the half-way point on the string. That is the length of just one of the worms! Wow! How many inches is half of 2 feet? Spatial Alan and Joe try to trick Billy into eating two worms glued together. Reread chapter 19 for all the details. Then, imagine eating your favorite food. Now picture it double in size! Draw your super sized food or create it with materials from around the house. Musical The sixth and seventh worm are eaten with no problem. Then, Mrs. Forrester creates a tasty worm speciality for worm number ten. Create a unique drum roll that Tom could perform as Billy eats the remaining worms. Bodily kinesthetic In chapter 19 the boys have to chase an escaped pig. Reread the chapter to see how the pig got loose. Now go outside with your family and play tag. You’re it!
Chapters 22-29 Questions for Discussion
Vocabulary: Chapter 22- whizbang, protruding, envious Chapter 23- bloated Chapter 24- relieved Chapter 26- mealybugs, heave, dopily, scuttled, clambered Chapter 27- finkiness, writhed Chapter 28- lunging, fringe Chapter 29- tousled, wrenched, bleary Questions: What new way of serving up worms does Mrs. Forrester come up with? Describe it. You are asked to prepare a "worm dish" for Billy. How would you serve your worm? Why is Emily, Billy's sister, a bit envious?
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Joe comes up with another idea to trick Billy. How do they plan on making Billy lose the bet? Why don't Billy, Tom, and Pete have to "dig up" a worm when Billy realizes he has been tricked? Explain why Billy has to eat the worm raw. Why do they wake up half the neighborhood before Billy eats his thirteenth worm? When did Mr. Phelps realize that he had been used as a way to trick Billy into losing the bet? Was he very happy about that when he found out?
Chapters 22-29 Multiple Intelligence Activities
Choose one or two that interest you and your family the most
Interpersonal Alan and Billy confront each other about the baseball game trick. Reread chapter 27. On page 92 Joe says, “We can lick you with our hands tied behind our backs and paper bags over our heads.” Now try to draw a picture with your hands behind your back. The literal meaning of that saying is harder than it sounds! Intrapersonal Tom and Billy wake up the entire neighborhood for the eating of the thirteenth worm. Reread chapter 28 to see how Alan’s parents react to the news of their cheating. What would you say to Alan and Joe if you were their parents? Naturalistic Keep taking care of pet wormy!
Existential Chapters 23, 24, and 26 are titled after actual events in history. Have a family member tell you a bit about those events, or do some research on the computer. Now compare the events of Pearl Harbor and Guadalcanal with events from the story. Why do you think the author chose these as chapter titles? Is there a connection?
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Verbal-linguistic Billy and Alan get into a fight in chapter 29. Look at the way the author spaced the words on page 93. It actually looks like the boys rolling around in the fight! This is called a concrete poem. See if you can write a poem that take the shape of the object you are writing about. Logical-mathematical Billy has just eaten his thirteenth worm in chapter 27! The word “thirteenth” is called an ordinal number. It shows the order of numbers. We use ordinal numbers for days of the week, months of the year, or worms that we eat. Write the ordinal numbers for the numbers 1-15. I’ll start you out...first, second, third, fourth... Spatial Billy and Alan get into a fight in chapter 29. Look at the way the author spaced the words on page 93. It actually looks like the boys rolling around in the fight! This is called a concrete poem. See if you can write a poem that take the shape of the object you are writing about. Musical The eating of the thirteenth worm definitely deserves a drum roll. Reread chapter 27. Then act out the chapter with your family as you perform your special worm-eating drum roll! Bodily kinesthetic Reread chapter 29 to catch the details of the fight between the boys. The fight ends with Billy getting hit with a rock! Not good! Instead of recreating that scene, go outside with your family and play “Hot Potato.”
Chapters 30-39 Questions for Discussion
Vocabulary: Chapter 30- accusing Chapter 31- fulmar, lassitude, secrete, malignant, paralysis, autopsy Chapter 32- feebly, lussitude Chapter 33- defrauding Chapter 34- concede, stagnant Chapter 35- craning, butcher, cistern Chapter 36- chaffy, mussed, cistern Chapter 37- babble Chapter 39- dejectedly, gleefully, cavoring, slunk
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Questions: Why are the last three letters in the title of chapter 30 upside-down? Why does Billy suspect that Joe and Alan will try something? In chapter 31, Billy reads a letter addressed to his mom. Who is this letter from supposedly? Who do you think really wrote it? What is it about the letter that makes it seem very unlikely that a real doctor would've sent it? Explain your answer in detail. What is an autopsy? When are autopsies performed? Why would this scare Billy? How did Mr. Forrester know something was the matter with Billy? Tom isn't around to watch Billy eat the fifteenth worm. Where is he? Who tells you this? Is this person a reliable source of information? Why? Could there be another explanation as to Tom's whereabouts? Do they try to trick Billy again? How? Why would Mr. Forrester be so upset about the boys playing around in the cistern? Why did Pete say, "Hurry! Tom's talking to your mother!" What did he mean? Did Billy collect on the bet? How do you know? Why is Alan "at the store"? Why don't the other guys want to trade lunches with Billy? Did you enjoy this book? What was the part you liked best?
Chapters 30-41 Multiple Intelligence Activities
Choose one or two that interest
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you and your family the most
Interpersonal The bet is over. However, Billy is still eating worms! Create a worm-food. (ie. Worm-O’s instead of Spagetti-O’s or worm-dogs instead of hot dogs) Then, create a commercial to market your food. Remember, you want to convince people to eat this new worm-food. If you would like, create props and have your family tape the commercial! Intrapersonal Billy receives a letter in chapter 31. Reread the chapter to see why Billy is suddenly so scared. The fake letter is filled with large words and percentages. Pretend you are a doctor, write your own “official” letter convincing Billy that eating worms is dangerous. Naturalistic Write a final journal entry about your pet worm. Now say “goodbye” and set wormy free. Existential In chapter 30, Mr. O’Hara has to step in and break up the fight. Then in chapter 40, Mr. Forrester sends Billy to his room without time to finish the last worm. Reread both chapters. Then, decide if you agree with Mr. O’Hara’s or Mr. Forrester’s actions. Verbal-linguistic The bet is over. However, Billy is still eating worms! Create a worm-food. (ie. Worm-O’s instead of Spagetti-O’s or worm-dogs instead of hot dogs) Then, create a commercial to market your food. Remember, you want to convince people to eat this new worm-food. If you would like, create props and have your family tape the commercial! Logical-mathematical Reread chapter 41. Billy has his new bike. Alan paid him the $50. Experiment with money. How many different ways can you make $50? (Remember, there are $1, $5, $10, $20, and $50 bills) Spatial Chapter 40 is filled with action! Reread page 115. Illustrate the page with a picture. You may need several pictures to capture all of the details!
Musical Reread chapter 40 to catch all of the excitement that went into eating the fifteenth worm. Create an “I won” song and dance. Perform it for your family. Bodily kinesthetic
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Pete saves the day in chapter 40. Reread the chapter for all the details. Think of another way Pete could have gotten the worm up to Billy’s window. Create a list of ideas. Go outside with your family and see if any of these ideas would work. I think a worm riding a kite would work. Can you try it out for me?
Concluding Activities Rent the movie!
Prepare one of the tasty worm recipes from the back of the book. Eat and watch the movie with your family. Compare the events in the movie and the book. Are the the same? Different? Is the general idea of the book captured in the movie?
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