FreakQuest!
Freak the Mighty, Rodman Philbrick
Complete the following quests. The number of quests completed will determine your grade. 4=C, 6=B, 8=A. For extra credit, do more. If you’re typing your responses, be sure to Save As and title the document by your name — Pennichuck: Grades: 7th: Yellow Team: Freak the Mighty.
1. Write a perfect paragraph describing three interesting facts you learn about the author, Rodman Philbrick. Begin by reading some biographical information.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/film/mighty.html
http://www.seacoastnh.com/artists/philbrick/index.html
http://www.rodmanphilbrick.com/info.html
2. Which of Rodman Philbrick’s other books do you think you may like to read? Why? Write a paragraph describing the book and explaining why it interests you.
http://www.rodmanphilbrick.com/books.html
3. Kevin says that he is going to be the first bionically enhanced human. Read how scientists are cloning pigs to use their organs in human transplants. Also read about the possible shortcomings of this technology. After reading and thinking, write a persuasive paragraph. Should pig organs be transplanted into humans?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/01/0103_020103TVclonedpig.html
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20000316thursday.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/02/0211_020211_tvclonedmice.html
4. Kevin and Max must learn to deal with Tony D., their bully. Read this article on this site to find out more about bullying. Then make a small poster about bullies. Be sure to include what kids should do about bullies. Also include a section about victims, why bullies bully, and a picture.
http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/bullies.html
5. Despite their differences, Kevin and Max are becoming close friends. This is the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul book browser page. Click on three different READ THE EXCERPT links. Read three stories. Choose one to report on. Write down the title, a brief summary and the lesson the person learned from his or her life experience.
http://www.bookbrowse.com/dyn_/browse/browseBy/category/categoryID/35.htm
6. Tough Stuff--Here’s how one teen deals with her mom’s death. Max never shares how he dealt with his mom’s death. After you read, share one of the most difficult moments of your life. Or describe your relationship with your Mom or Dad or most important adult.
http://www.chickensoup.com/BookPromo/Teen_ToughStuff/Teen_ToughStuff_Preview.html
7. Kevin’s ornithopter proves that he likes science experiments. Which one of these possible science tricks would you like to try? Why does it interest you? Write a paragraph explaining your opinion.
http://pbskids.org/zoom/phenom/
8. According to the author, Rodman Philbrick, Kevin has a genetic abnormality called Morquio Syndrome. Read this page of medical information and make a list of any symptoms or signs or complications that Freak exhibited.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001206.htm
9. Do you consider yourself a freak? Try this little quiz to see how your need to be unique and different stacks up! Record your scores. Then in a perfect paragraph, explain what makes you unique and special. Or describe why you like being an individual.
http://www.outofservice.com/freak/
10. Max has a learning disability and difficulty reading. Look at this list of ways to help children become better readers. Did any of these tips work for you as a child? Are there any here that you think would have helped you, or another child, or Max? Explain how these tips helped you or how they could help Max.
http://www.dccc.edu/homepages/departments/reading/webpag13.htm
11. Kevin is an avid reader of tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Read about him and summarize three of the legends of King Arthur.
http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/kids/arthur_life.html
12. Learn about The Mighty, the movie based on Freak the Mighty. Then create an advertisement for the movie featuring a picture, a list of the stars, praise for the movie, and rating.
http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/movies/mcgurk/mighty.html
http://www.rodmanphilbrick.com/mighty.html
13. Peruse this information on the science, history, and future of ornithopters. Write a perfect paragraph listing five new and interesting things you learned.
http://www.ornithopter.org/flapflight/home.html
14. Freak knows all about insects--hymenopteran insects, to be exact! And none of them are in his pants, he says. If you are interested in entomology, like Kevin is, you might want to check out this site on butterflies! As you read find the four stages of a butterfly's life cycle. Make a small poster explaining each of these stages. If you’d like, print out the coloring pages for your poster.
http://www.mesc.usgs.gov/resources/education/butterfly/bfly_start.asp
15. True, Freak knows a lot about ants, but does he know anything about lice? Do you? They're not cooties! Read this article and its links to get the truth about lice. Make a small poster about lice and make suggestions for dealing with lice.
http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/lice_p2.html
16. Even though they came together as Freak the Mighty, Kevin and Max had two very different points of view. Kevin loved a quest; Max preferred to drool on his comics in the Down Under. Your quest: Examine these optical illusions. See how many you can master. Then write a paragraph explaining how you were challenged or not challenged by these tricks. Be sure to describe each illusion you discuss.
http://members.aol.com/Ryanbut/illusion1.html
17. Max has a learning disability. This really affects the way he views himself. Read this article about learning disabilities. Create a small poster about some signs that you might have a learning disability and what you could do about getting help.
http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/learning_disabilities.html
18. Max and Kevin become best friends. What kind of friend are you? Try this quiz and rate your friendability. Report your score. Then write a perfect paragraph listing the top five qualities you value in a friend.
http://www.teenhealthcentre.com/teens/relationships/friends/friendship_quiz_01.htm
19. Kevin loves dinosaurs. Check out the web site about these giant reptiles. Then show what you know by taking the interactive quiz. Keep taking the quiz until you score at least 4,000 points. Then print out the screen showing your score. The first link will help you learn about dinos. The second link is to the quiz. Write a paragraph about dinosaurs to show what you know.
info http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/
quiz http://www.prongo.com/dinoquiz/game.html
20. "Identify yourself, earthling!" Freak ordered. If he had been offered a chance to live in space, think he would have accepted? With glee! Research how these sixteen countries are working together to create an International Space Station. Then write a paragraph explaining what you think would be the best things about living in space.
http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/spacestation/
21. Kevin's heart gets too big for his body. Check out this site for cool views of the human heart! Learn all about how it works and how to keep it healthy. If you have a weak stomach, steer clear of these graphic, real photos of actual preserved hearts. After perusing, write a perfect paragraph explaining three ways to keep your heart healthy.
http://sln.fi.edu/biosci/heart.html
