a hilarious new tale from the author of the bestselling … Patterson FUNNY a hilarious new tale...

James PattersonI FUNNy

a hilarious new tale from the author of the bestselling mIDDLe sCHooL series

a ct iv it y K it

Coming soon



a ct iv it y K it

Meet Jamie Grimm—a kid who is SERIOUSLY funny. Despite a not-so-funny stepfamily and regular

torment from the school bully, Jamie makes his way through Middle School using his comic chops—

a talent he’s ready to share with the world. When the perfect opportunity arises in the form of a contest

to crown The Planet’s Funniest Kid Comic, Jamie jumps at the chance. But does this young comic

have what it takes to win over the world with his talent?

Just like Jamie, this book is FUNNY. Readers will be treated to (but is not limited to) jokes about

penguins, zombies, Darth Vader, chicken nuggets, American history, Vulcans, nachos, math teachers…

What better way to get in the spirit of this hilarious new adventure from James Patterson then with this

I FUNNY activity kit? Inside this kit you’ll find reproducible activities, discussion questions, and more

to aid in adapting this side-splitting tale for your classroom or reading group.

Happy Reading!

The pranksters at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Dear reader,



a ct iv it y K it

Use these questions to lead a discussion after reading the book!

1. How does Jaime respond to the way other people treat him? What emotions motivate him to action?

2. Jaime tells jokes in every situation, all day long, with everyone to whom he talks. What feelings might he actually be trying to cover up with humor? How does humor help Jaime make friends?

3. On page 28, Jaime comments that, “Friends are the family we choose.” Why do Pierce and Gaynor qualify as family to Jaime? In what ways do they treat him “normal?”

4. How does Jaime handle the “middle school monsters” who bully others? In what way is Jaime traumatized by his “brother,” Stevie Kosgrov? Why would Stevie and his friends throw Jaime into the sand? How does Jaime use humor to deflect Stevie’s negative attention? Why are Jaime’s adoptive parents blind to Stevie’s bullying?

5. In what situations does Jaime show courage and bravery? How do these attributes help him achieve his goal of being the funniest kid?

6. Why would Jaime rather live with his Uncle Frankie than his adoptive family? How is Frankie a lifeline to Jaime? In what ways do the Kosgrov’s make Jaime feel like an unwelcome burden?

7. What helps Jaime adjust and accept his life without his family? What role do others play in helping Jaime adjust to his new life? How does Jaime’s attitude help others feel at ease and enjoy his company?

8. What insight does the Cool Girl give Jaime about himself? How does she help him recognize the goodness in life and acknowledge his handicap?

9. Why does Jaime choose Cool Girl when he finally decides to talk about the night his family dies? How does her response help Jaime feel better?

10. On page 295 Jaime shares the expression, “The world says, ‘Give up,’ hope whispers, ‘Try it one more time.’” How does Jaime’s life prove that he believes this sentiment?

Discussion QUestions



a ct iv it y K it

I Funny is hilarious, but some of the issues Jamie encounters in the book are not so funny. The below thematic connections are found throughout the book, and can be used for your classroom or library to start a discussion about these issues.

Bullying

Unfortunately, bullying is a fact of life for many children and sadly, most people have been bullied at some point, have bullied someone else, or have witnessed bullying in their lifetime.

Ask students to write about a time they had an experience with bullying and then in small groups to share their experiences. Have each group discuss ways bullying can be avoided, ways to respond when bullied, and ways to talk with peers who may be bullying others.

Students should also look at life from the perspective of “the bully.” What happens in a kid’s life that makes him want to be mean to others? Have each group write and present a skit over one of the scenarios they have discussed.

Overcoming Stereotypes

Present several definitions of a stereotype to the class and then ask students to share stereotypes they see evident in their daily environments, for example: Emo, Wannabe, Prep, Jock, and Nerd. In general, what stereotypes surround older people, teenagers, races, and religions?

In small groups, ask students to discuss the ramifications of people choosing to act on stereotypical behavior. How are stereotypes developed and perpetuated in society?

How do these often unfair judgments, or stereotypes, impact lives? How can acting on stereotypes be avoided? What attitudes and beliefs support stereotypes?

Ask each group to write a synopsis of their discussion and the conclusions reached. Have one person from each group share with the class and then post the group responses.

Family Relationships

After Jaime’s parents and sisters died, the nature of his family changed dramatically. Unfortunately, Jaime is not alone in discovering how families often must change and adapt in today’s society. In small groups, ask students to research the types of services available to children who lose family members because of death, crime, and divorce. Each group should prepare an informative brochure that could be used for families in one of the above-mentioned types of crisis.

The brochure should include agencies available for support along with their contact information, a list of steps families can take to help them through the crisis, volunteer organizations which offer free assistance, and other pertinent information students find in their research. The brochures can be placed in the school guidance offices, local hospitals, and court buildings.

I FUnnY —the serious stuff



a ct iv it y K it

Jamie can be an inspiration to your students or reading group, and the below activities demonstrate examples of ways you can use I Funny as a teaching tool.

Following Your Dreams

In I Funny, Jamie embraces his dream of becoming a stand-up comic by researching comedians, their lives, and their routines to learn how to be successful, and his work pays off.

Gather your classroom together to have them brainstorm a list of possible career choices. Ask students to select a career in which they have an interest, then follow Jaime’s example of discovering information that will help them be successful.

Ask each student to find professionals in a career who have been a success if they can, or put together research on what steps they need to take to move forward in that field. Then ask students to prepare a presentation using technology to convey what they have learned.

Create a Comedy Troupe

Ask students to create a comedy show they can perform to help benefit others in their school, nursing homes, and/or children’s wings in hospitals. The following page includes ten tips for writing a successful comedy routine to use in preparing this assignment.

Allow students to choose a partner and then have each team select one of the following assignments that would best suit their talents:

• Locate venues for the performances. Teams can contact hospitals, schools, and nursing homes to set up a time for the comedy troupe to perform.

• Design and print an illustrated program to distribute at each performance. The program should introduce the comedy teams and list the order of the acts.

• Create a documentary of the process and videotape each performance.

• Introduce each act/set and maintain the rhythm of the show.

• Write and perform comedy routines and/or skits. The remaining teams can devote their time to writing and practicing their performance.

Bringing FUnnY Into the Classroom



a ct iv it y K it

1. Start with a Bang! Start your set with a brief, but unique introduction. Every introduction needs to have a hook to motivate the listener to want to keep listening.

2. Follow the Formula. Start by stating the set-up, a fact or opinion, and then follow with a punch line, a funny or unexpected twist. Familiar situations in daily life can also be hysterical. For example; every day, at least twice a day, I brush my teeth. I guess for minty fresh breath I shouldn’t use hemorrhoid cream.

3. The One-liner is Key. The one-liner is a popular format which can restate the obvious. “Is the Pope Catholic?”; use wordplay, A fight doesn’t determine who is right—only who is left; or repeat a set-up. Jeff Foxworthy made this last famous with the line, “You know you’re a Redneck if…”

4. Surprise triggers Laughter. Lead the audience to believe one thing and then surprise them with another. For example, my teacher said, “Please stay seated until the bell rings, but before it rings, talk to your friends as much as you want.”

5. Keep it Simple. When writing jokes, limit the set-up to one or two sentences which contain all the information the audience will need to “get” the punch line.

6. Use that Pen and Paper! Pay attention to conversations, listen for funny words and stories, and watch for embarrassing moments and write them down! Anything that makes you laugh will probably make others laugh.

7. Style is Vital. Slapstick, dead-pan, sarcastic, or angry. Your writing should match the tone of your delivery and the audience for which you plan to perform.

8. Know your Timing. Your comedy routine should be 3 to 5 minutes long with a punch line every 30 to 45 seconds.

9. Rehearse! Practice your set in front of the mirror, so you can see your facial expressions. Better yet, perform your set and record it on video. Then play it back and watch yourself. Gestures and facial expression can make a joke funnier. Practice will help you feel more confident when you are on stage performing.

10. Take Notes! After you perform, keep the jokes that made people laugh and either rewrite or scratch the jokes that bombed. Bottom line, enhance the good and eliminate the bad!

ten tips to Writing a successful Comedy routine

In addition to the websites Jaime lists on the last page of the book I Funny, you might visit the following sites for help on writing jokes for your comedy set.

http://www.netplaces.com/comedy-writing/ http://voices.yahoo.com/how-write-own-jokes-81442.html



a ct iv it y K it

Comedy Camp in the Classroom!

Split your classroom into groups of five, and use the list below as inspiration to form mini stand-up comedy groups. Have each group select one of the topics below to prepare a mini stand-up comedy routine to share within the teams. Then, have the teams choose one leader to get up and perform their comedy bit in front of the class!

Topic Suggestions:

Homework

Big Brothers/Sisters

Little Brothers/Sisters

Parents

Bullies

Teachers

Spring Break

Summer Vacation

School Lunch

Video Games

Zombies

Junk Food

overcoming stage Fright!

In I Funny, Jamie overcomes his nerves and worries about performing in the Planet’s Funniest Kid Comic Contest, and gets his act on stage.

Use the groups from the Comedy Camp in the Classroom activity and have teams brainstorm with each other one thing each of the group members would like to do, but are afraid to do. Then assign one team member to present these fears to the classroom, to brainstorm ways to take on that fear as a group.

This activity might offer a little of Jamie’s courage to your students!

I Funny Fun and Games



a ct iv it y K it

I Funny story!Oh no! There are some key words missing in the story below! Pair up with a friend to complete the story

below, entering in a word that fits the part of speech noted for each blank.

Then read the story aloud!

The (adjective) Day Ever!

This morning, I woke up feeling very (adjective).

It was a school day, which meant I had to (verb) the school bus,

where I would enter my first class, (noun),

with my teacher (name of a famous person).

Today was especially (adjective) outside,

but I (verb, past tense) anyway, and made my way to school.

But once I got there, my best friend (name of famous person)

was there to (verb) me, and walk with me to class.

We (verb, past tense) all the way to class.

By the time I got there, I was feeling (adjective)

about my day, and ready to go.

I Funny In and out of the Classroom

Note: The next few pages contain reproducible activities to incorporate into your classroom or group as takeaway sheets. Enjoy!



a ct iv it y K it

stand-Up Comedy Poster!What if you had the opportunity, like Jamie, to try your hand as a stand-up comic?

Using the space below, create a poster to promote your one-person stand-up comedy act!




a ct iv it y K it

Comedy Word search!All aspiring comics should learn the basics of stand-up comedy.

Start with these famous comedy figures below. Can you find them all in the word search below?


J Q F F G P B Z H r I G r V e C D s a He L L e n D e G e n e r e s o o e B U Ir t X B a r m m H J a e o J B V r W B Ir K F r m B o a K B n B o I Q K Y W Y YY J C Y r a e B e J B D L m t F C U D Is X H Y e F a n I t B L J m U I L n V De W r s t a n a s n Y o r Y s C B H s nI n I U t a m a n C W G t F n I V H a Hn B s L e F X Y r V W I Q a L G K U e XF V r s L r J Y P F r P L L D I L r B oe n o G e F s P H o r o C L a Q G t e KL r C Q V t e U t s e o V o I C P D o eD D K s a Q a r t L s H n n U a s P n VU r P L D F G Z r B Z W L e F a m H C VL r I L G Q Q C Y e I H Y e L m B s n rP D G P U X e r G t L J a t r Y Z r J aI K e X B H P Z H P X L J J V F a X t CH G a I s V B J H F r K r o G V G J V XX G G o H F I s F P t X K r V B X P C mI W B L F a B Y K s e m K J s Q s Z D Q

Words:BILLY CrYstaL

roseanne Barr

JImmY FaLLon

CHrIs roCK

DaVe Letterman

JaY Leno

WILL FerreLL

tIna FeY

amY PoeHLer

eLLen DeGeneres

BILL CosBY

roBIn WILLIams

JerrY seInFeLD

WHooPI GoLDBerG

See the last page for solution.



a ct iv it y K it

Jamie Grimm is on a mission: he wants to become the world’s greatest standup

comedian—even if he doesn’t have a lot to laugh about these days. He’s new in town

and stuck living with his aunt, uncle, and their evil son Stevie, a bully who doesn’t

let Jamie’s wheelchair stop him from messing with Jamie as much as possible.

But Jamie doesn’t let his situation get him down. He practices the craft of stand-up

every day, and when he learns of a contest called The Planet’s Funniest Kid Comic,

Jamie knows he has to enter. But are the judges only rewarding him out of pity

because of his wheelchair? Will Jamie ever share the secret of his troubled past

instead of hiding behind his comedy act?

middle school series: Comedy Word search answer:

I FUNNY HC: 978-0-316-20693-8

$15.99 ($17.50 CAN)

Middle School: My Brother is a Big, Fat Liar

HC: 978-0-316-20754-6 $15.99 ($17.50 CAN)

See more at J a m e s P at t e r s o n K i d s B o o k s . c o m

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

PB: 978-0-316-10169-1 $7.99 ($8.99 CAN)

Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!PB: 978-0-316-10169-1

$7.99 ($8.99 CAN)

about the Book

Coming March 2013!

This kit was co-written by Susan Geyer.

J Q F F G P B Z H R I G R V E C D S A HE L L E N D E G E N E R E S O O E B U IR T X B A R M M H J A E O J B V R W B IR K F R M B O A K B N B O I Q K Y W Y YY J C Y R A E B E J B D L M T F C U D IS X H Y E F A N I T B L J M U I L N V DE W R S T A N A S N Y O R Y S C B H S NI N I U T A M A N C W G T F N I V H A HN B S L E F X Y R V W I Q A L G K U E XF V R S L R J Y P F R P L L D I L R B OE N O G E F S P H O R O C L A Q G T E KL R C Q V T E U T S E O V O I C P D O ED D K S A Q A R T L S H N N U A S P N VU R P L D F G Z R B Z W L E F A M H C VL R I L G Q Q C Y E I H Y E L M B S N RP D G P U X E R G T L J A T R Y Z R J AI K E X B H P Z H P X L J J V F A X T CH G A I S V B J H F R K R O G V G J V XX G G O H F I S F P T X K R V B X P C MI W B L F A B Y K S E M K J S Q S Z D Q

a hilarious new tale from the author of the bestselling … Patterson FUNNY a hilarious new tale...

Documents

Transcript of a hilarious new tale from the author of the bestselling … Patterson FUNNY a hilarious new tale...