ANNEXE SEQUENCE MISS LITTLE SUNSHINE - DOCUMENTS

Marie-Noëlle FEPPON – Collège La Mandallaz – SILLINGY (74) – Académie de Grenoble

DOCUMENT 1

Plot Summary

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the housewife Sheryl

Hoover brings her suicidal brother Frank into her

family. Frank is homosexual and expert in Proust, and

tried to commit suicide when he was rejected by his

boyfriend and when his great rival became famous and

recognized as expert number one on Proust. Sheryl's

husband Richard is unsuccessfully trying to sell his

book about “nine steps to reach success”, but he is

actually a complete loser.

Her son Dwayne has taken a vow of silence as a follower of Nietzsche and wants to be a jet pilot.

Dwayne's grandfather Edwin was evicted from his retirement home for being a drug addict.

Her seven years old daughter Olive has a chance to compete in the "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty

contest and wants to go to the competition in Redondo beach, California, so the whole family travels

together in their old Volkswagen Type 2 (Kombi) for the two-day journey.

Along the way, the van becomes unreliable, soon requiring the family to push-start it whenever they

set off. When they stop off at a motel, Grandpa snorts some drugs, and cannot be woken up in the

morning. He is rushed into hospital but is soon pronounced dead. However, the clock is ticking: Olive

must get to the competition by 3pm if she wants to participate. The family decide they should do

their best to get her there. Grandpa’s body is bundled into the van and they race off in pursuit of

Olive’s dream.

1. Who?

What’s the surname of the family? ……………………….

Highlight the first names of the different characters and their family relations (mother…)

Then guess who they are:

…………………... ………..…….. …………….. ………….….. Frank …………..……..

Complete the family tree with the characters’ names / recap

ANNEXE SEQUENCE MISS LITTLE SUNSHINE - DOCUMENTS

Marie-Noëlle FEPPON – Collège La Mandallaz – SILLINGY (74) – Académie de Grenoble

The men of the family are all very strange and special. Underline their characteristics. Recap

2. Where?

What are the 2 cities and states referred to in the summary?

__________/________ and ____________/__________________

Look at the map and draw the route of the Hoover family

3. What?

Find the English word in the text for:

Demarrer: ………………………. Concourir: ……………………………. Concours: ………………………/…………….... Voyage:

……………………………

Read the 3 paragraphs again and number the titles:

………Olive’s dream ………….The problems during the journey ………A strange family

The story is based on the little girl’s wish. Underline it in red

Recap: Olive wants to …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………, so the family

decide …………………………………………………………………………….

They face problems during the journey:

First problem:

Find the sentence illustrating that problem, and complete:

The van becomes ……………………………….,so the family have to ……………………….………………… it .

Second problem: At a motel, Grandpa takes ……………, so he falls ……………….., and he must be taken to ……………………. However, he

……………., so the family put the body in the ……., and they set off again to be on time at the ……………………., at ………

in the afternoon.

Finally, the family manage to go to the beauty contest.

Look at the picture and circle Olive

Think of adjectives to describe Olive:

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Think of adjectives to describe the other contestants:

……………………………………………….………………………………………………………………

In your opinion, is she going to win the contest? Why?

(utilise le comparatif)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

In your opinion, the film is: □ a comedy □ a tragedy □ a love story

ANNEXE SEQUENCE MISS LITTLE SUNSHINE - DOCUMENTS

Marie-Noëlle FEPPON – Collège La Mandallaz – SILLINGY (74) – Académie de Grenoble

DOCUMENT 2 / Vocabulary worksheet : the family Self assessment :

grandfather / grandmother / wife / father / mother / sister / brother / uncle / aunt /

cousin / grandchildren / husband / sister in law / mother in law / son / daughter

Elizabeth is Harry's……………………….. Mark is Zara's………………………..

Charlie is Peter's……………………….. Diana is Bill's………………………..

Zara is Mark and Anne's……………………….. Bill is Diana and Charlie’ s………………………..

Peter is Harry's……………………….. Anne is Eddy's………………………..

Philip is Bill's……………………….. Eddy is Andy's………………………..

Anne is Harry's……………………….. Diana is Charlie's………………………..

Philip is Elizabeth's……………………….. Bill and Harry are Elizabeth and Philip's………………………..

Sarah is Eddy's……………………….. Elizabeth is Diana's ………………………..

Across

4. fille

7. fils

8. père

9. grand père

11. mari

14. sœur

15. mère

16. épouse

Down

1. petits enfants 2. 2. beau-père

3. cousin

5. oncle

6. frère

10. tante

12. beau-frère

13. grand-mère

ANNEXE SEQUENCE MISS LITTLE SUNSHINE - DOCUMENTS

Marie-Noëlle FEPPON – Collège La Mandallaz – SILLINGY (74) – Académie de Grenoble

DOCUMENT 3

Who is she to PHILIP ?

Who is he to HARRY ?

Who is he to ANNE?

Who is he to ELIZABETH ?

Who is he to ZARA ?

Who is he to MARK ?

Who is she to PHILIP ?

Who is he to ANNE ?

Who is she to CHARLIE ?

Who is she to CHARLIE?

Who is he to EDDIE?

Who is he to BILL ?

ANNEXE SEQUENCE MISS LITTLE SUNSHINE - DOCUMENTS

Marie-Noëlle FEPPON – Collège La Mandallaz – SILLINGY (74) – Académie de Grenoble

DOCUMENT 4 :

ANNEXE SEQUENCE MISS LITTLE SUNSHINE - DOCUMENTS

Marie-Noëlle FEPPON – Collège La Mandallaz – SILLINGY (74) – Académie de Grenoble

DOCUMENT 5 :

Extract 1: Dinner time/Study of the characters DWAYNE and EDWIN

1. Dwayne’s communication system:

2. Sheryl’s explanation why he doesn’t speak:

“He’s gonna join the _____ ___________ academy and become a ______ ___________ and he’s taken a ____________ of ________________until he reaches that _____________”

3. The food and drinks: _____________________________________________________________

4. Edwin’s reaction: pick out 2 expressions he uses:

“Holy_____________________________________” “ the____________________________________________” 5. In groups: think of adjectives to describe his feelings=

_______________________________________________________________________________________

____________

Think of verbs to describe his reaction=

_____________________________________________________________

6. Orally in groups –Recap about Edwin with the help of questions 4 and 5. Use link words. Edwin ………

7. How long has Dwayne stopped speaking?______________________

8. Richard’s opinion about Dwayne:

“Dwayne has a ___________, he ____________________________. It may not be __________________ it may not be _________________, but he’s pursuing it with ____________ ____________________ and _______________________ (…)”

9. In groups: think of adjectives to describe Richard’s and Franck’s feelings :

10. Orally in groups -Recap everything about Dwayne’s decision and the adults’ opinion about it (questions 1 – 2

– 7 – 8 – 9). Use link words. Dwayne…

FRANCK and OLIVE 1. Olive’s question to Uncle Franck: “How__________________________________________________? Your ______________?”

2. Sheryl’s explanation: “He_______________________________________________________________________”

3. Richard’s reaction: “I don’t think this is ___ ________________________ __________________________”

4. In groups: think of adjectives or expressions to describe Richard’s feelings

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________ 5. Orally in groups : In your opinion, why has he got this reaction? Use because / although / shouldn’t

6. Listen to Franck’s explanation and give at least two reasons why he tried to commit suicide:

a. ___________________________________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________________________________

c. ___________________________________________________________________

d. ___________________________________________________________________

7. Olive’s reaction: ______? It was a _______ ? You _________ ___ ______ with ___ _______?

8. Orally in groups – recap about Frank and Olive. Use link words

ANNEXE SEQUENCE MISS LITTLE SUNSHINE - DOCUMENTS

Marie-Noëlle FEPPON – Collège La Mandallaz – SILLINGY (74) – Académie de Grenoble

DOCUMENT 6 :

DOCUMENT 8 :

CE “the meal”: Vocabulary worksheet

Look up into Franck’s words :

Trainer avec =

Ca va alors / très bien… =

Sans blague! =

Look up into Sheryl’s words :

Au moins =

Look up into Richard’s words :

Un numéro / une chorégraphie=

Immense/énorme =

Look up into Olive’s words :

C’est à grand-père de voir / cela dépend de grand père =

Look up into grandpa’s words :

Bon sang de bon soir =

Dieu tout puissant ! =

Find the complete sentence for these abbreviations :

Olive : « I dunno » =

Sheryl: “I’m gonna run get Sprite for everyone” =

Richard : “Are you gonna let us see it?” =

ANNEXE SEQUENCE MISS LITTLE SUNSHINE - DOCUMENTS

Marie-Noëlle FEPPON – Collège La Mandallaz – SILLINGY (74) – Académie de Grenoble

DOCUMENT 7 : Script

ANNEXE SEQUENCE MISS LITTLE SUNSHINE - DOCUMENTS

Marie-Noëlle FEPPON – Collège La Mandallaz – SILLINGY (74) – Académie de Grenoble

DOCUMENT 9 :

Give up = abandon

Realise = understand

Test someone’s vision

Colourblind

Be able to = can

Have to = must

If Dwayne…, he…

DOCUMENT 10 :

ANNEXE SEQUENCE MISS LITTLE SUNSHINE - DOCUMENTS

Marie-Noëlle FEPPON – Collège La Mandallaz – SILLINGY (74) – Académie de Grenoble

DOCUMENT 11 :

Group work

First part:

Imagine and write the dialogue between Richard, Franck, Dwayne and Sheryl.

You will start with Richard’s comment:

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

You will finish the dialogue with Sheryl’s words:

“Let Olive be Olive”

.

Use stage directions to express the ways of speaking, their feelings.

Take the script of the dinner as a model.

Ex: Dwayne (he shouts)…/ Sheryl (upset)…

You will have to learn your part and play it in front of the camcorder.

Second part:

Think of an end to the film and write the narrative:

Olive chooses to go on stage anyway. And she walks on stage. Use:

The comparative

Link words expressing contrast / although

The preterit tense

Want + S.O. + to + BV

Any other expression seen in class

Think of the problems of communication between the characters and find a

positive/ negative conclusion to the story.

Last part:

Computer room: Create a “didapage” document with your video on one page and

the narrative on the next page.

ANNEXE SEQUENCE MISS LITTLE SUNSHINE - DOCUMENTS

Marie-Noëlle FEPPON – Collège La Mandallaz – SILLINGY (74) – Académie de Grenoble

DOCUMENT 12