Fantasy- Flat Stanley

Title-  Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures – The Mount Rushmore Calamity

Creator- Jeff Brown  

Author- Sara Pennypacker

Illustrator-  Macky Pamintuan

Publisher-  Scholastic

Copyright date- 2009

Number of pages- 76

Awards- none

Reading Level- Ages 6-10

Genre- Fantasy

Summary

In this adventures Stanley Lambchop and his family head to South Dakota to visit Mount Rushmore.  While visiting the national monument Flat Stanley’s brother steps out onto one of the president’s heads.   Unfortunately, the head cracks and Flat Stanley once again steps in as the hero saving both the monument and his brother.  The brother’s meet a young lady named, Calamity Jasper, and head out to mine gold in the black hills. With no room on the horse Calamity rolls Flat Stanley up like a blanket and ties him on her horse.  Along the way they encounter more adventures and have to work together to solve problems.  To find out how this adventure ends you will have to read the book. 

Teaching Idea

** Spoiler Alert** - My lesson discusses the end of the book.  If you don’t want to know what happens then don’t read anymore.

At the end of the book Stanley and his family don’t have enough room in their vehicle, so they put Stanley in the mail and send him home via the United States Postal Service.  Flat Stanley gets home safe.  However, I would have the students imagine that he does not get home safe, he gets sent to______________!  They would select a location and then write a story about what happens to Flat Stanley when he arrives in __________ instead of safely at home.  

Here are some additional links:

The Flat Stanley Project

Flat Stanley Adventure Kit

Rating

Element of Literature	Excellent	Average	Inadequate	Not Addressed	Rating
Plot	The plot is engaging; the reader is invested in the outcome.  Contains conflict, a climax and a resolution.    The reader buys into the story line; it is believable to the reader.	The plot is average it contains some of the essential elements such as conflict, climax and resolution.  One element is either missing or poorly developed.  The reader may or may not buy into the storyline, it is just not that believable.	Multiple essential elements, conflict, climax and/or resolution are missing or poorly developed.  It is not believable and overall a bad plot.		The reader is fully engaged.  In fact, they want to go with Stanley wherever he goes.  There is a clear conflict, climax and resolution.  The reader is invested in the outcome and buys into the story.
Characters	Characters are unique and believable.  The characters come to life when the reader is engaged in the story.  When the book is done, the reader still connects with the characters of the book.  Characters have personalities, flaws, and feelings. There is a protagonist, possibly an antagonist and some supporting characters.	Characters are similar to other books, have little to no uniqueness.  When the reader is done with the book, they are also done with the characters, there is no lasting connection.  Characters display little in terms of personality.  There are no supporting characters, or no clear protagonist.	Characters are dull and lifeless, there is no connection to the characters.  There is no clear protagonist and no supporting characters.  The characters are too farfetched.		The characters are unique, Stanley is the clear protagonist.  The antagonist is not as clear, however the supporting characters are well developed and display emotions and character traits.  The reader wants to know what happens to Stanley when the book is done.
Illustrations	The illustrations share in the story telling. The pictures help to develop the characters, establish the mood, and setting.  They contain some of the following elements, hidden details, facial expressions, different viewpoints, interesting asides, action depiction, or supporting details.  The pictures themselves may be created out of different mediums in order to support the plot.  Visual elements are used effectively (line, shape, color, texture and composition).	The illustrations support the story telling.  The pictures help with some but not all of the following, establish mood and setting, and developing characters.  They contain few if any of the following elements, hidden details, facial expressions, different viewpoints, interesting asides, action depiction, or supporting details.  The pictures are basic and do not use visual elements effectively.	The illustrations are in conflict with the story.  The pictures do not develop or establish anything in relation to the book.  There are no additional elements in the illustrations.  Visual elements detract from the plot.		The illustrations support the story telling, they establish mood, setting and help with character development.  They also contain facial expressions, action depiction and supporting details.  The pictures themselves are basic but effective.
Word Choice	There are a more than two of the following elements used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.	There are one or two of the following elements used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.	There are none of the following elements or they are not used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.		The word choice is good, but not great.  There is figurative language, and dialogue.