Jumanji
by Chris Van Allsburg
Jumanji is an action packed fantasy about two children, Peter and Judy who are bored and decide to find something entertaining to do while their parents are gone. They find a thin box that they discover is the game Jumanji. The game takes them on an unbelievable journey with larger than life animals who just happen to be real animals!
Jumanji is categorized as a fantasy book because the game comes to life with animals in way that could not really happen.
The illustrations enhance the story's characterization and events with great grey scale sketches throughout the book.
Motivational Activities
Recreate the Jumanji game board with instructions and rules.
- Using a large piece of cardboard, construction paper, scissors, glue sticks and a picture of the game board (google search)
- Cut construction paper into small rectangles. Be sure to use more than one color.
- Place the rectangles into a large s-shape using glue to adhere the rectangles to the cardboard. This will be the game board.
- Write instructions and rules on two standard white pieces of paper. Each student will get to contribute to the rules and the instruction.
Rewrite the ending of the book
- Each student will rewrite the end of the story in a way that is consistent with the author's original ending.
- Students will be asked to make the ending creative and eventful.
Reader Response Questions
- If you could change the ending of this book, what would you do? Why?
- What makes you wonder about this book?
In addition to Jumanji the book, Jumanji was made into a film in 1996. This film features actors such as Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, David Allen Grier, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Hyde and Bebe Neuwirth.
I believe Jumanji is a wonderful read for children and adults alike. This book encompasses the fantasy world with great text and pictures that guide the reader into a unknown world which just turns out to be an amazing jungle.
References
Allsburg, C., & Williams, R. (2011). Jumanji (30th anniversary ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Galda, L., & Cullinan, B. (2010). Literature and the child (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
Jumanji. (2014, March 10). Retrieved October 1, 2014.
After reading the book of Jumanji, the students can watch the movie. On Friday, the students can each bring a board game to play with friends during the day. As Jumanji was acted out, the board games can be played in the same manner with the whole entire class. A life size game of CandyLand can be played with everyone and at the end when the winner reaches the chocolate monster, everyone gets a chocolate bar.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this is not an activity involving academics, the students can have fun and engage with each other after their week of reading Jumanji and doing assignments relating to the book.