Hoot, the Movie
And Classroom Activities Too

Subjects

Arts & Humanities
--Language Arts
--Literature
Science
--Life Sciences
----Animals
--Physical Science
----Environmental
Social Studies
--Civics

Grade

Brief Description

Integrate these teaching activities provided by the producers of the movie Hoot.

Objectives

Students

learn background information that will deepen their understanding of the movie/book.
research additional behind-the-story information.
reflect on the best ways to bring about change in the world.
reflect on elements of a story that engage readers and make it powerful, important, and memorable.

Keywords

Hoot, Carl Hiaasen

Materials Needed

Hoot, the book by Carl Hiaasen
prepared teaching materials from Walden Media (link provided)

Lesson Plan

If you teach the upper elementary grades or middle school, chances are your students will enjoy the movie Hoot. The movie offers a perfect opportunity to make a class project of reading -- or reading aloud -- the award-winning (Newbery Honor Book, ALA Notable Children's Book, ALA Best Book for Young Adults) book written by Carl Hiaasen.

Hoot

A Synopsis

Roy Eberhardt is the new kid -- again. This time around it's Trace Middle School in humid Coconut Grove, Florida. But it's still the same old routine: table by himself at lunch, no real friends, and thick-headed bullies like Dana Matherson pushing him around. But if it wasn't for Dana Matherson mashing his face against the school bus window that one day, he might never have seen the tow-headed running boy. And if he had never seen the running boy, he might never have met tall, tough, bully-beating Beatrice. And if he had never met Beatrice, he might never have discovered the burrowing owls living in the lot on the corner of East Oriole Avenue. And if he had never discovered the owls, he probably would have missed out on the adventure of a lifetime. Apparently, bullies do serve a greater purpose in the scope of the universe. Because if it wasn't for Dana Matherson...

In his first novel for a younger audience, Carl Hiaasen plunges readers right into the middle of an ecological mystery, made up of endangered miniature owls, the Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House scheduled to be built over their burrows, and the owls' unlikely allies -- three middle school kids determined to beat the screwed-up adult system.
--- from Amazon.com (Jennifer Hubert)

Walden Media, producers of the movie Hoot, are well known for the teaching materials they create to accompany their movies, which include The Chronicles of Narnia, Holes, Charlotte's Web, and Because of Winn-Dixie. On Walden's Web site to accompany Hoot you'll find many useful resources:

For grades 4-6
A special learning poster includes an interview with a burrowing owl (they're the stars of the movie), tips for getting outside to observe wildlife in your school's neighborhood, and ideas for creating habitats.

For grades 6-8
An interdisciplinary teachers' guide includes an activity in which students draw parallels between the lives of Henry David Thoreau and Mullet Fingers (a main character in the book); another activity in which they do some behind-the-story research; and many more.

The Web site also connects students and teachers with

a special opportunity to participate in a live online chat with Hoot's author, Carl Hiaasen, on April 18.
information about the "Give a Hoot About Animals" writing contest, which is sponsored by Reading Is Fundamental and open to kids ages 5 to 15. (Note: Entries must be mailed by March 31, 2006.)

Assessment

Your assessment will vary depending on the activities you use. Ideas are included in the teaching materials produced by Walden Media.

Lesson Plan Source

EducationWorld.com

Submitted By

Gary Hopkins

National Standards

FINE ARTS: Theatre
GRADES 5 - 8
NA-T.5-8.6 Comparing and Connecting Art Forms By Describing Theatre, Dramatic Media (Such As Film, Television, and Electronic Media), and Other Art Forms
NA-T.5-8.8 Understanding Context by Recognizing the Role of Theatre, Film, Television, and Electronic Media in Daily Life

LANGUAGE ARTS: English
GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.1 Reading for Perspective
NL-ENG.K-12.2 Reading for Understanding
NL-ENG.K-12.3 Evaluation Strategies
NL-ENG.K-12.6 Applying Knowledge
NL-ENG.K-12.8 Developing Research Skills
NL-ENG.K-12.11 Participating in Society
NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills