Week 44, class 1: Halloween story time

• Eng
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 1,2

Week 43, class 1: Halloween story time

The Corn Maze, by Kris Bitar

This class, we are going to read a Halloween short story together. Listen to your teacher reading the story carefully, and read with them. 

• Write down any words you don't know that prevent you from understanding the story fully.

Why is the boy excited? (par. 2)

1. He gets to stay up late on his Ipad
2. He gets to share a room with his younger brother.
3. Max is going to stay home with their dad tomorrow.
4. He is going to the pumpkin patch with two friends.

Why does the boy show videos to Max? (par. 11)

1. To make him scared of the pumpkin patch.
2. To help him see that pumpkins are funny.
3. To get him excited to pick pumpkins.
4. To teach him about pumpkins.

The boy does not like... (par. 15)

1. that Brian and Brody want to bring flashlights.
2. that they have to go to the pumpkin patch.
3. that Max gets treated differently by mom.
4. that Max gets to wear red boots.

After the boy leaves the corn maze... (par. 23)

1. he wants to try it again.
2. he cannot stop laughing.
3. he does not want to go back.
4. he wants to find his brother.

What happens at the end of the story? (par. 30)

1. The boy is afraid of the cat.
2. The boy wants to dress up as a mummy.
3. The boy wonders if something is outside.
4. The boy decides to watch videos on the internet.

What happens in the story?

• The main character shares a room with his little brother Max. 
• He tries to scare him, showing him a scary video, but he gets scared himself instead.
• The next day, he goes to a pumpkin patch with his family and friends Brian and Brody. There is also a corn maze there. Max is very scared, but pretends it's all okay.
• When he gets home, he realizes that it's okay not to like scary things much. 

What is the lesson of "the Corn Maze"?

1. Treat your parents with respect.
2. It's okay to take your time growing up.
3. Being brave is the easiest part about growing up.
4. True friends know how to make each other laugh.

What does the following sentence say about how the narrator feels:
"I am kind of glad that Max came along, otherwise we would've come here in the evening when it gets dark earlier."

1. The boy is bothered by Max.
2. The boy is tired and ready for bed.
3. The boy is worried about the corn maze.
4. The boy is happy to spend more time with Max.

Which sentence shows that the boy tries to hide his true feelings?

1. "Once I hear her leave the room, I message Brian and Brody from the Ipad."
2. "My heart is pounding and the picture of those punpkins is stuck in my head."
3. "'This corn maze is for babies,' I say."
4. "But as I drift off to sleep, I hear something at the window."

The boy feels like his brother, Max, gets treated differently than he was treated at the same age. If you have siblings, do you think your family treats you and your siblings differently? If you do not have siblings, do you think that the narrator's feelings are fair? Why or why not?

Thinking about this story, what does it mean to be "grown up"? Do you think the boy acts "grown up"? Why or why not?