Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly

Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space Primary Gifted Mrs. Locke

Journal Prediction Monday, January 26, 2004 • Look at the cover. What do you think this book is about? Write your answer in your journal. • Remember to start your sentence: • I think this book will be about…

What’s it about? • A glowing spaceship has landed on the roof of Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. • Three evil alien spacemen plan to take over the Earth using schoolchildren as their zombie nerd henchmen.

• Dave Pilkey never ate cafeteria food. • He went to a small parochial school, which didn’t have school lunch programs. • He brought a brown bag to lunch every day. • As an author, he has visited schools and eaten in the cafeteria. • He finds that they all taste ok or nasty. However, they always smelled the same (hamburger grease, diapers, and musty beach towels).

• Mistakes – 24 ½ chapters in back but there actually 25 ½ – Page 97 does not have words on top • Xleqxisfp Trees are over 700 feet tall and smell like raisin bread • Three cafeteria ladies will be back for revenge (don’t feel bad about them looking their jobs).

Dav Pilkey • AD/HD Kid – labeled “severely hyperactive” • Reading problems and impulsive behavior • Teachers hated that he always drew • Life story on the following pages

Games • www. pilkey. com http: //www. scholastic. com/captainunderpants/comic. htm • http: //www. scholastic. com/captainunderpants/home. htm • http: //www. scholastic. com/captainunderpants/namechanger. htm

My Soccer Adventure By Caitlin Mc. Rae My friends and I sat in my room, bored. Swimming? No. Baseball? No. So we told stories. Stories about soccer. We loved soccer. We had been playing since age five. But we had no coach. "We don't need a coach, " said Cody. "We need teamwork. " "I agree, " said Jessica. "OK, let's play, " said Cody. We went to the park, set up goals, made teams, and were about to start when… "Where's the ball? " "I have one, " I said. "Who'll come with me? " "Me. " said Kristen and I ran to my house. We searched the messy garage, and finally found the ball, but it was flat. While I looked for a pump, Kristen said, "Let's use that ball, " pointing to the trophy case. "No. Cobi Jones autographed it. " "We'll be careful. " "Oh, OK. " I took the ball from the case. When we returned to the park, everyone cheered. After we started to play, Danielle booted it into my head, "Ouch!" and over the fence. "Oh no!" we cried. "Let's get my ball, " suggested Celeste. "You don't understand, " I said. "That ball is priceless! We must get it back. " Danielle asked, "Why can't we just get it? " "Don't you know who lives there? " asked Candyce. "Who? "

"THE THING!" we said. "Could someone explain, " pleaded Danielle. Jessica explained, "There's a geezer who lives there with a pet lion. " "Really? " asked Danielle. "Yup. If you go in there, he'll make it eat you. " "Yeah, right, " said Danielle. Just then, we heard a ferocious growl! Oh no, this is my fault, " said Danielle. Cody said, "We need a plan. " "Have you seen the movie 'The Sandlot'? " asked Camille. "Quiet, Camille, " said Cody. "I'm thinking of a plan. " Camille said, "Anyway, in that movie, kids try to get their ball back by lowering someone in a sling into the yard. " "So that's your plan? ", asked Cody. "It's a good plan, " we said. Since no one wanted to do it, we played Odd Man. I lost. I began to panic. I thought strange thoughts: If I'm eaten, I won't be able to make my bed before my mom sees it. "It's ready", Cody said. Startled, I said "What's ready? " "The sling. " "Oh, the sling. " They lowered me into the yard. I was terrified. I spotted the ball. As I was about to reach it, the lion charged me. I screamed. "You OK? " asked Danielle. "I didn't mean to––" • "The lion is after me!" "What are you talking about? " asked Danielle. "That ball hit you pretty hard. " I realized I'd been dreaming. I felt embarrassed. My head hurt. "Where's the ball? " I asked. My friends surrounded me. "It bounced into that yard", Celeste said. Kristen said, "I'll get it. " She climbed the fence. "Wait!" I said. "The lion will eat you!" Kristen said, "You dreamt the lion. " "Don't you know who lives there? " I asked. "Who? " sighed Kristen. "A geezer and a lion!" "Yeah, right. " Kristen hopped the fence. Just then, we heard a ferocious growl!

Adventure Pages Why it’s an adventure The lion could Page 2 – be considered Getting the dangerous and ball back the kids are still when there is going to go a lion in the through with it. yard. Word, Page, &, Meaning What I did geezer (pg 2) – Dictionary An old person, especially an eccentric old man Eccentric (dictionary) – outside of the norm Dictionary

Vocabulary • Context Clues – The meaning is hidden in the rest of the sentence. “The elated children jumped up and down as Dad brought their new puppy to the car. ” • Dictionary • Asking a Person

Adventure? 1. An undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature. 1. 2. An undertaking of a questionable nature, especially one involving intervention in another state's affairs. An unusual or exciting experience: an adventure in dining. 2. Participation in hazardous or exciting experiences: the love of adventure. 3. To take a risk; dare

Activities • What adventures are in this assignment? • Why are they adventures? • What new vocabulary did I find in this assignment? • What strategies did I use to gain meaning of the words?

Web Activities • E-mail activities – Interview – Book descriptions – Treasure Hunt

Banned!!!!!? ? ? Maple Hill School in Naugatuck • “These Captain Underpants books are clearly inappropriate for an elementary school library. All of their humor comes from the bathroom and bodily functions. ” Other banned books • Harry Potter – a boy finds out he is has magical powers • I Know why the Caged Bird Sings – life in West Africa • The Color Purple – a slavery woman’s story • Catcher in the Rye – boy who has a nervous breakdown

Why read it? • Kids enjoy it • Encourages children to read • Teaches syllables • Connection to kids who may not feel they fit in

The End