THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD

Lynne Reid Banks

Lynne Reid Banks

Chapter 1 Birthday Presents pp1-11

Vocabulary

petrified

quivered

minute

miniscule

miniature

defiant

coherent

ferocious

baffled

bandolier

Character Development Which object is magical, the

cupboard or the key? Does the Indian belong to

Omri? Explain. How would you feel if you were

the Indian? How would you feel if you were Omri? Explain.

Chapter 2 The Door Is Shut pp12-24

Vocabulary

tantalizing

sarcastic

unwarily

appalled

row

coaxed

falteringly

ravenously

scorn

crestfallen

verdict

scowled

Character Development Simile Study How does Omri react when he

discovers the Indian is plastic again? Why does he react his way?

How do you explain that the Indian is plastic one minute and alive the next?

Discuss Indians and stereotyping. What is Omri’s theory about the

cupboard? How will he test it?

Indian Investigations You will care for your own Indian. Figure

out a way to provide all basic needs for your Indian. Will keep a journal.

Create a name. Create an environment. Write a report on your Indian based on

the region of your Indian’s birthplace. Connect to social studies standards on tribe, geographical location, weather, housing, food, clothing, and customs.

Chapter 3 Thirty Scalps pp25-37Vocabular

ydespised

uncompromisingly

transported

lithely

ransacked

Why did the cabinet work on the plastic teepee but not on the metal car? Is it magic? What are the implications of this?

Social Studies Connection: Summarize the difference between the Iroquois and the Algonquin tribes.

Allusion: French and Indian War Gaining Perspective: Place your Indian high

up on something in your house. Describe what he or she sees from his or her perspective. Use imagery and at least one simile.

Simile Study

Chapter 3 Continued

Geography Skills

America

England

Iroquois Nation

Algonquin Nation

How does Omri react to Little Bear’s news of killing and scalping men? What do you think Omri expected? What had Omri bargained for?

Continue discussion on stereotyping. Explore Omri’s understanding of war. Compare it

to your own. Should Omri put Little Bear back in the cupboard

and make him plastic again? Explain. What would you do? Explain.

Character Motives: What does Omri decide to do with Little Bear, and how does he arrive at his decision?

Explore the roles of women in society. How have the roles changed over time?

Chapter 4 The Great Outdoors pp38-42

Vocabulary

escarpment

peril

foreboding

Gaining Perspective: Write a short narrative in which your Indian goes on an outside adventure in your backyard or at a park. Remember to write from the perspective of your Indian. Include imagery and at least one simile.

How will the medic react to Little Bear?

What are the ramifications of Omri’s actions? Explain.

Chapter 5 Tommy pp43-49

Vocabulary

clambered

tourniquet

forlornly

How would you feel if you were one of the plastic toys being plucked from your life on Omri’s whim, used to suit his needs, and then returned to your life again? Explain. How does Omri feel about it?

Share your short story from Chapter 4 Gaining Perspective.

Chapter 6 The Chief Is Dead, Long Live the Chief pp50-61

Vocabulary

peevishly

dire

bewilderment

hectoring

What is happening with Omri’s friendship with Patrick?

How does Omri feel about taking the chief’s bows and arrows?

Character Development: Is Omri changing? Use evidence to support your thinking. What about Little Bear?

Is Omri responsible for the chief’s death?

Chapter 7 Uninvited Brothers pp62-74

Vocabulary

uncanny

galvanized

agog

reverently

imperiously

magnanimously

incredulous

soberly

feeble

shambling

Plotting Events: Create a plot chart of major events in the story thus far.

Character Development Explore the burden of caring for

another human. Write about caring for your own Indian. Make personal connections, if possible.

Will Omri allow Patrick to have his own plastic toy become real? Should he?

Chapter 8 Cowboy! Pp75-85

Vocabulary

reluctant

mulish

aghast

Allusion: David and Goliath Simile Study What have the magic cupboard

and key done to Omri’s and Patrick’s friendship?

Omri is frustrated with Patrick for disobeying him and bringing the cowboy to life, but Omri is still willing to get Little Bear a wife. Why?

Chapter 9 Shooting Match pp86-96

Vocabulary

frenzied

prostrate

dolefully

Character Development Simile Study Do you think it is a wise

decision for Omri to take both Boone and Little Bear to school for the day? Explain.

Chapter 10 Breakfast Truce pp97-103

Vocabulary

retorted

sidled

ornery

savage

nonplused

Why did Omri force Boone and Little Bear to eat breakfast together? Why did he then let them fight?

Chapter 11 School pp104-114Vocabulary

consent

grimacing

fretfully

musingly

apprehension

raucous

skittles

haughtily

Character Development Simile Study Gaining Perspective: Place your

Indian in a special location in the classroom. Write a paragraph description of the location from your Indian’s perspective. Include imagery and at least one simile.

Chapter 12 Trouble with Authority pp115-126

Vocabulary

gesticulating

sulkily

dithered

Character Development Simile Study Why do you think Patrick

showed the headmaster the cowboy and the Indian? What was his motivation?

How does Omri feel about Patrick now? Use evidence to support your thinking.

What do you think will happen next?

Chapter 13 Art and Accusation pp127-140

Vocabulary

flumoxed

enthralled

infinitesimal

microscopic

stupefaction

clamored

vouch

staunchly

Simile Study Character Development Why did Omri decide to invite

Patrick over to spend the night, especially after he had shown Boone and Little Bear to the headmaster at school?

Chapter 14 The Missing Key pp141-153

Vocabulary

loftily

awry

sheepish

myriad

rapture

transfixed

restive

sullenly

Character Development How would you feel if you were Boone

or Little Bear and you just realized that the magic was gone and you could never return to your real life?

What prompted Little Bear to shoot Boone? How did he feel after he shot him?

Why is Omri more worried about Boone dying than he was about the Indian chief dying?

Chapter 15 Underfloor Adventure pp154-168

Vocabulary

bedraggled

transfusion

Simile Study Plotting Events: Describe the

rising climax of the story. Which part is the most suspenseful? Why?

With all that has happened, why does Omri still agree to bring to life a wife for Little Bear? What is his motivation? What would you do? Explain.

Chapter 16 Brothers pp169-181Vocabular

y

bemused

huskily

Character Development: How has Omri changed as a result of knowing and having to care for Little Bear and Boone? Use evidence from the story to support your thinking.

Why does Omri decide to send Little Bear and Boone back to where they came from? What is his motivation?

How do you feel about the resolution to the story? Would you have done the same thing if you were Omri?

Novel Projects Response to Literature: Theme

Magic Friendship Growing up/Maturing

Persuasive Composition: Write a persuasive letter to Omri asking for the magic cupboard and key to bring your own plastic toy to life. Use a minimum of two persuasive reasons for your request.

Narrative: Create your own narrative where a different type of plastic toy

comes to life. Include imagery and similes as part of your narrative. Write a narrative about what happens to either Little Bear and Bright

Stars when they return home to their Iroquois village or what happens to Boone when he returns to his town. Include imagery and similes as part of your narrative.