In Lisa Fipps’ novel And Then, Boom!, readers follow the journey of Joseph Oak, a young boy navigating tough family situations. The story touches on themes like homelessness and the importance of community support. This is an excellent book for upper elementary students.
Joseph lives with his grandmother and mother, who often leaves due to a condition called “The Itch.” Because of financial difficulties, Joseph experiences several life-changing events. After losing their home, Joseph and his grandmother sleep with friends until their welcome runs out. They then live in the family car until they learn of an affordable mobile home park. Happy times are short-lived when Joseph loses his grandmother. Luckily, Joseph learns to confront his struggles through the support of friends, teachers, and a foster family and ultimately discovers hope.
Read And Then, Boom! to discover how Joseph’s journey unfolds and the remarkable strength he finds within himself.
Before reading further, please download the handout for this post. It includes novel study samples, detailed instructions for the activities, and everything you will need to play the “Survival Quest” game.
And Then, Boom! Teaching Activities
Activity #1 – Book Unit Samples
Would you like to see how the novel study for And Then, Boom! is organized? The download includes samples of the novel study, including vocabulary exercises, comprehension questions, and a constructed response prompt for the first reading selection.
This sample includes
- Vocabulary Practice
- Comprehension Questions
- Constructed Response Sample Question
Activity #2 – “Survival Quest” – A Fun Educational Board Game
“Survival Quest” is an educational board game designed to help students better understand the novel And Then, Boom!
Players collect tokens by answering recall questions and completing activity tasks that help them reflect on the protagonist’s experiences. The goal is to reach the trail’s end with the most tokens.
The game includes special instruction spaces that add unexpected twists and chances to earn extra tokens. The game also features “Challenge Duel” cards, where players compete in activities highlighting their knowledge and creativity.
Download the printable gameboard, detailed instructions, and playing cards to start your “Survival Quest” today!
Activity #3 – DIY Story Symbols Collage or Sketch the Symbols
Often, students become so wrapped up in a story that they don’t look for the messages that authors want readers to uncover. Challenge your students to think about the symbols, such as the quilt, oak tree, and tornado, that author Lisa Fipps purposely included in the novel And Then, Boom!
After students create a list of the symbols, have them turn them into a craft project. Whether they prefer cutting and pasting images from magazines to form a collage or sketching interpretations, this activity helps students better understand the themes and emotions found in the story.
Detailed instructions and a comprehensive list of suggested symbols are included in our handout, making it easy for everyone to participate and create meaningful artwork.
Activity #4 – Character Mood Playlist
Add music to your lessons if you want students to become active participants. First, have students list the moods and emotions of the novel’s characters. For example, Joseph must find inner strength to survive after Grandmum dies and Mom gets “The Itch.” Next, have students create a playlist of songs that reflect each emotion. For inner strength, Joseph might listen to “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child, “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten, or “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson.
Students will connect more deeply with the story and its emotions by selecting music that aligns with key moments and character developments, from songs that symbolize inner strength and hope to those that reflect sorrow. This activity will help students connect with themes in the novel through music.
Check out our handout for detailed instructions and a list of suggested songs.
Activity #5 – Reflective Journaling
Encourage students to journal to help sort through their thoughts and feelings about the novel. Students can even write journal entries from the perspective of different characters in the story. This activity helps students deepen their understanding of the characters and the themes while practicing empathy and creative writing.
Writing prompts can be found in the handout, making journaling easy to implement in your lessons.
These activities not only enhance comprehension and engagement with the novel And Then, Boom! but also provide creative outlets for expressing and exploring its themes. Be sure to download the handout for detailed instructions and suggestions to make the most of these enriching projects.
Happy reading!
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Discover the Ultimate Novel Study Unit!
Transform your classroom with our comprehensive novel study unit. Packed with engaging activities, vocabulary practice, comprehension questions, and much more, this resource is designed to enhance your students’ reading experience.
Plus, exclusive digital versions of the blog post activities are included in the paid unit for added convenience. Check out the full unit on TPT.
