Author: Gordon Korman
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Copyright: 2007
Age Level: 9 - 12 years
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.7
Lexile: 740L
Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud
Words to describe this book: funny, full of heart, told in multiple perspectives, fun, adventurous
Summary: The story of an eighth grade boy named Capricorn Anderson, also known as Cap. Cap has never watched television, attended school, or made friends with anyone except his grandmother, Rain. However, when Rain gets hurt, Cap is forced to leave his farm life and move in with a more modern family. The biggest change in Caps life is that he has to attend public school! Cap is unfamiliar with the norms of society, especially when it comes to understanding his peers. Will Cap be able to adjust to his new school setting?
Key Vocabulary:
- Hippie - a usually young person who rejects established social customs (such as by dressing in an unusual way or living in a commune) and who opposes violence and war; especially : a young person of this kind in the 1960s and 1970s
- Anonymous - not named or identified
- Manipulator - a person who controls or moves things
- Delusional - a belief that is no true, a false idea
- Intimidate - to make someone afraid
- Interference - involvement in the activities and concerns of other people when your involvement is not wanted
Before Reading Activity:
- Read the first paragraph of the story out loud to students (it discusses Cap's arrest for driving his grandmothers car and him not understanding why). Ask students to write down why they think Cap doesn't understand the problem with driving without a license. What could have happened to make him take his grandmother's car? After they jot down a few ideas, have them pair and share it with their partner.
During Reading Activity:
- Since this story is told from many different perspectives, have students create a character map. Write a description of the character, their feelings, behaviors, and traits.
- A template for this can be found at http://osc-vector.com/tag/character-map-template
After Reading Activity:
- Schooled is written in multiple different perspectives. What is the purpose of Korman's idea to provide different points of views? How did they affect the narration? Did you enjoy the story being told by different people? Why or why not?
Electronic Resources:
http://gordonkorman.com/
The official website of Gordon Korman. It includes a list of books he's written, as well as Korman's blog. Also, there is an option for a reader's forum, where students can write to Korman and see posts from others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gVC14-hcw4
A short one minute clip of a librarian discussing Schooled. She provides a brief introduction of what the book will be about. At the beginning, she asks students to close their eyes and imagine they are on a farm land. She helps students visualize to help relate with Cap.
Writing Activity:
- Students become familiar with Cap's world with no television, no phones, and no video games. His ideal world consists of having peace, with lots of farmland, and his grandmother by his side. Have students write about their utopia. What would they ideal world be like? What would it include? What would it not include?