Scholastic Writing Awards
First Part Last Projects
How do you think your life would change as a teenager if you suddenly had the responsibility of an infant? Make a schedule of your life as it is now (look at your day planner) and then make a new one based on a life with baby.
Knowledge:
1. Describe how Bobby and Nia’s parents react to the news of her pregnancy. How would yours?
2. Find a quote that most reveals who Bobby is as a person. Explain why you picked it.
Comprehension:
1. Find three examples that show what kind of father Bobby is to Feather.
2. What do you think is the most difficult thing for Bobby? Why? (Answer this question after a few chapters, answer it again at the end of the novel and see if the answer changes)
Application:
1. Predict what happens to this family ten years into the future. Explain why.
2. Write ten questions you would ask Bobby, Mary, and Nia if you could.
Analyze:
1. On page 35 Bobby says, “ … which pisses her off and makes her scream, and then I look around my room and miss me.” Explain what he means.
2. Angela Johnson tells the story in a non-linear fashion. Why, do you think, she chose this literary device to reveal the story?
Synthesize
1. How would you cope under the extraordinary circumstances that Bobby finds himself?
2. Would you make the same choices?
Evaluation:
1. If Bobby had Nia’s help raising Feather would he be a different father? What makes you think so?
2. Do you agree with Mary and Fred’s approach to grandparenthood? Why or why not?
Multiple Intelligence Projects for
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Verbal/ Linguistic
Write at least five letters to Nia explaining what is happening with both Bobby and Feather. Be specific!
or
Study the spare, lyrical writing of Angela Johnson and try to write one scene of a story with a similar quality and the same economy of words.
Logical/ Mathematical:
Find the most recent statistics that you can about teen pregnancy in America. Create at least one graph explaining the results you discovered.
Visual/ Spatial:
Create a piece of art that you feel represents Bobby’s emotions throughout the novel. Think about form, color and line as you create your work. Explain your art in a brief, but illuminating paragraph.
Body/Kinesthetic
In small groups, act out scenes from the novel.
Or-
Write the dialogue and act out the scenes that are left off camera (like what Nia says when she meets Bobby with a balloon on his birthday).
Musical/ Rhythmic
Either create an original piece of music yourself to accompany the story or, find at least three songs that you think belong on the soundtrack of the movie version of this book. Explain why you chose these songs (and include a copy of the lyrics) in a brief journal.
Interpersonal:
Cooperative Learning Project:
In groups of no more than three explore and research one aspect of teen pregnancy (or choose one of your own):
How sex education affects pregnancy rates
Social implications of teen pregnancy on communities
Long-term effects for the mother (and/or father) for future success
Long term success for the infant in health and education
The availability of birth control and other services on pregnancy rates
Which children are most at risk for teen pregnancy
Adoption
Foster care system
Teen shelters
Outstanding programs for young mothers and fathers
Abstinence programs
Then, create a website (or pamphlet) sharing your compilation of facts with the public. Invite the public +/or other teens in a discussion via a message board about it.
Intrapersonal:
Write a letter to yourself about where you want to be in ten years. Reflect on how your goals would be compromised if you were forced to turn your attention to another human being. Assume that your responsibilities would be maximized similar to Bobby’s and that adults would let you assume the brunt of your own mistake.
Refer to the letter as needed.
CREATE a movie trailer for the book using Movie Maker utilizing music and images
Madison A. Sutherland Part 1.
ReplyDelete1. Bobby’s parents reacted by being quiet and his dad started crying and his mom wanted to slap him but didn't and so she bit her lip so hard it bled instead. Nia’s parents just question them a lot. I think my mom would start questioning after she finished crying and I think my dad would be really disappointed in me.
2. “I went to his funeral at Zion AME, then walked home and held Feather for the rest of the night, wondering if I would be a man, a good man.” (Page 8) I picked this quote because it shows how Bobby really cares about how he will do in the future and how he knows that every decision and action he does affects Feather.
3. “As long as my mouth is moving, she’s happy. As long as sound is coming out of it, the whole world is just fine for my caramel, sweet-faced, big-eyed baby; who’s killing me, and keeping me so tired I can't keep my eyes open.” (page 43)
“Afterward I always kiss her, my baby, I look into her clear eyes that know everything about me, and want to be her daddy anyway.” (Page 82)
“Feather will be there Monday, and I'll be one of the scared, happy, mad, yelling, smiling parents who sit on the benches and watch. Just watch it all happen.” (page 96)
4. I think the most difficult thing for Bobby is knowing that because Nia got pregnant, she is in a coma now. This means that because of a little mistake, she will never experience life like she did before. This would be emotionally hard on the whole family but especially Bobby because he is why she is in a coma.
5. I think Bobby and feather will move to Heaven and she will go to school there and grow up there. Bobby might go to college or just get a job. I think Nia will remain in the coma but Bobby and feather would still visit her. Bobby's parents would still talk to Bobby and Feather but less since they wouldn't be living with them.
6. Bobby and Nia: Was it worth it? If you could would you go back and erase all of it?
Mary: Was there ever a point where you wanted to help Bobby? If so, when and why didn't you or did you?
Nia: What was like to be pregnant in your school?
Bobby: What was it like to be known as the one who got Nia pregnant?
Mary: How hard was it to watch your son struggle?
Bobby and Mary: Did it change your relationship in any way?
Nia: What were your reasonings behind wanting to put the baby up for adoption?
Bobby: If Nia hadn’t gone into a coma, would you have stayed with her?
Mary: If you had a chance to change the whole scene would you?
Mary: Do you think that Bobby should’ve kept the baby?
Madison A. Sutherland Part 2.
ReplyDelete7. He means that he misses his old self, before he had Feather. Bobby's room is still decorated like it was before he had Feather so it reminds him of what his life would have been if he hadn’t had Feather.
8. I think that Angela Johnson decided to tell the story in a nonlinear fashion because it revealed the backstory and reasons to why Bobby made the decisions he did. It also showed how Bobby kept on going no matter what.
9. I think I would cope by really focusing on making the most out of my opportunities, and I would constantly document my life with photography. It really is what I like to do when I don’t want to think about any school work or anything, same with running. Although, I think that running would be harder to do with a baby, instead of going on walks with it while taking pictures.
10. I don’t think that I would make the same choices that Bobby does. I think I would either get an abortion or put it up for adoption. I don’t think I would want to raise a child in highschool, and definitely not while I’m trying to get into colleges and do something with my life.
11. If Bobby had Nia’s help raising Feather, he would be a different father, because the responsibility would be shared between the two of them. Bobby would have less weight on his shoulders which might end up in a different and possibly less careful relationship between them.
12. I agree partly with Mary and Fred’s approach to grandparenthood because I agree that Bobby should have to deal with most of the problems that Feather brings up. But, I think that I would help if I had free time though, unlike Mary and Fred did.
1. Bobby's parents are surprised and disappointed. Instead of lecturing him or expressing disappointment in him they just cry. Nia’s parents scolded and instructed Bobby and Nia, I think that for them, taking action is easier than being scared and disappointed. If I had to tell my parents this, my Dad would be shocked and emotional, whereas my Mom would become distant and take a very practical approach, as if I was one of the teens she worked with for Planned Parenthood.
ReplyDelete2. “But I love her, and even though I am not set up for her, she’s mine. And I’m hers.” This quote shows how even though Bobby is not always responsible and is a flawed father, he cares about feather and is willing to try and change for her.
3. “You are going to pay when she starts walking and won’t let you out of her sight.” “I know what she does when she just needs me.” “She screamed...So I talked to her. Told her about what was going on.”
4. I think the hardest thing for Bobby is knowing that Feather relies on him. He has never really had responsibility and now he is responsible for a human life. Thats a lot of pressure.
5. This is not his life. This is not him. He missus when his room was just his and he was care free.
6. I think that she uses the non linear fashion to really emphasize the changes that being a father bring. It makes the cause and effect really strong.
7. I Think that I would rely on my Mom. If I was placed in this situation I would cope by confiding and trusting her to help me.
8. I Honestly think that I would give feather up for adoption. I think that I have more goals for my future than Bobby and I wouldn’t trust myself to be a good parent at his age. It would be hard but I could justify it by knowing that she would have better care.
9. I think that he would feel less pressure if Nia helped him raise Feather. He wouldn’t hold all the responsibility and wouldn’t feel like he was all she has. I think he might not step up as much.
10. Mary and Fred decide to let Bobby struggle and take responsibility for his actions. This approach is not necessarily what I would have done but I think in the end it forces Bobby to assume the position of a father and not pass of the job.
In your journal, respond to the following discussion questions:
ReplyDeleteDiscussion Questions
Parts I & II
Who are the main characters?
Nia / J.L / K. Boy/ Bobby
Who is the Narrator?
Feathers mother Nia and father Bobby
What is this book about?
Bobby being a classic urban teen just had a baby with Nia and they have to decide what they’ll do from there
When and Where does this story take place?
In New York City,story jumps from past to present
What do you think about the author's use of language?
Is the language realistic for Bobby?
Discuss the writing style of this book (non-linear): Now/Then.
The story focuses on Nia from past to present and vice versa
Do you like it?
No,Not at all,this just isn't my style or type of book,I did not enjoy this genre,although age of miracles wasn't bad
Does it make it harder to read?
A tad bit, you have to keep up with two stories
Why do you think the author decided to write it this way?
To give you her backstory and how it has it has dramatically changed due to the birth of feather
How does Bobby feel about his baby?
Although feather was a setback and could have easily put her up for adoption,he takes care of her like a true father
How does Bobby feel about Nia?
Where do you think Nia is? Why isn't she taking care of her baby?
Talk about parents' and friends' reactions to news of the pregnancy?
The parents were stone faced and ready to cry
Do you think Bobby is a good kid?
Definitely he is still young but he is mature enough to be a father
What do you think about this book so far?First Part/Last
I forgot to add the Application part. Here it is.
ReplyDelete1. I think that in ten years, Bobby is still raising Feather in Heaven. He is probably more responsible now and is tackling each new problem at a time with the help of his brother. I think that he is happy with the way hos life turned out and the man Feather made him become.
2. How were you planning on supporting Feather financially?
Did Nia's parents ever talk to her about teen pregnancy?
Does feather ask about Nia?
Does Bobby miss Nia?
Does Mary resent Nia?
Did Mary ever think that this might happen?
Where did Bobby learn how to paint?
Would he ever pursue his painting?
Was Nia relieved or scared to tell Bobby?
Did Mary secretly want Bobby to give Feather up?