Book Bag Activities for
The
Sweetest Fig
By: Stephanie Thomas
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1993). The Sweetest Fig. Houghton
Mifflin:Boston
Rationale:
- This book is a good one for parents and students to share together.
It addresses selfishness, which is a subject that will hit a heart-string with
just about everyone. It also plays with the idea of dreams coming true, which
could be interesting for a child to explore.
Author:
- Chris Van Allsburg grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a place that
was un-fenced and open with room to explore. He loved drawing as a child, but
felt pressure to do other things instead. As a freshman at Michigan State he
rediscovered his love for art when he was enrolled in a drawing class. The went
on from there to earn an advanced degree in sculpture.
- His sculptures always had a strong sense of story embedded in them.
While doing full-time sculpting, he started drawing in the evenings at home.
His wife believed that his drawings held a great potential to be picture-book
worthy, she invited an author and artist, David Macaulay to look at her
husbands work, and he introduced Van Allsburg to his editor, who later
published Van Allsburgs first book, and has continued to publish a book of Van
Allsburgs about every year since that first one. Van Allsburg has
received two Caldecott medals for his illustrations, and continues to bring
quality childrens literature to an eager audience.
Questions to use with the story:
- Knowledge: How many figs did the woman give Bibot?
- Comprehension: Why was Bibot walking around the city in his
underwear?
- Application: If you were Marcel, how would you treat Bibot?
- Analysis: Why was Bibot so mean to the old woman?
- Synthesis: Imagine that your pets dreams could come true. What
do you think they would dream of?
- Evaluation: Do you believe that your dreams can become reality?
Activities to use with the story:
- Keep a dream log-Each morning before breakfast keep a log of what
happened in your dreams (if you can remember them). Also take note of the
dreams your family members have.
- Find Fig Facts-Look on the Internet to find fun FIG facts. There are
lots of different sites, find out what makes a fig different than other
fruit.
- Find figs at the grocery store-What different kinds can you
find.
- Try out a fig recipe. Help your parents by measuring the
ingredients!
- Write a story about a time when you learned something important from
someone older than you.
- Draw a picture of what you would want to come true if you ate one of
the sweetest figs.
- Write a poem about A day in the life of My Pet.Pretend
you are your pet, tell how you spend your day
what you eat, drink, smell,
hear, touch, and feel.
- Interview a Veterinarian. Find out about the proper treatment of
pets.
- Together, with your siblings or neighbors, find a way to help an
elderly person in your neighborhood who cannot get around very well. Examples:
Mow a lawn, rake leaves, water flowers, wash windows, take out the trash, walk
pets
- Dentist. Go sit in the waiting room of a dentist office and observe
characteristics of people before and after their appointments. Compare your
dentist to Bibot, What is the same? What is different?
Props:
- Figs
- Fig Recipe Cards
- A dog leash.
- A dream recording notebook.
- A stuffed tooth.
- Toothbrush
Bibliography of other related books:
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1979). The garden of Abdul Gasazi.
Houghton Mifflin: Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1981). Jumanji. Houghton Mifflin:
Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1982). Bens Dream. Houghton
Mifflin: Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1983). The wreck of Zephyr. Houghton
Mifflin: Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1984). The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.
Houghton Mifflin: Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1985). The Polar Express. Houghton
Mifflin: Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1986). The Stranger. Houghton Mifflin:
Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1987). The alphabet theater proudly presents
the Z was Zapped: a play in 26 acts. Houghton Mifflin: Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1988). Two Bad Ants. Houghton Mifflin:
Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1990). Just a dream. Houghton Mifflin:
Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1991). The wretched stone. Houghton
Mifflin: Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1992). The widows broom. Houghton
Mifflin: Boston.
- Van Allsburg, Chris (1995). Bad Day at Riverbend. Houghton
Mifflin: Boston.
Assessment Plan:
- Each student will bring an artifact that shows that they completed at
least four of the activities included in the bag.