Danitra Brown, Class Clown

By Nikki Grimes

Illustrated by E. B. Lewis

 

 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe Dantira. How is she like Zuri? How is she different?
  2. How does Danitra save Zuri from embarrassment?
  3. Why do Danitra and Zuri get split up in class? Has this ever happened to you?
  4. Does Danitra care what others think about what she eats or wears? How do you know? What is Zuri’s special talent? What is yours?
  5. Do you think Miss Volchek is a good teacher? Why or why not? What makes a good teacher?
  6. What subject does Zuri struggle with at school? How does Danitra help?
  7. What makes Zuri and Danitra such good friends?
  8. How does Zuri’s feelings about Miss Volchek change throughout the book?
  9. What do you think Danitra and Zuri’s next year will be like?
  10.  Which poem is your favorite? Why? Which illustration?

 

Multiple Intelligence Projects:

 

Verbal/Linguistic:

 

Write a poem about you and your own best friend. Although it does not have to rhyme, it does have to be about a particular time or incident between you. It should reveal something about each of you and your friendship, just as Nikki Grime does in the Danitra Brown series.

 

Logical/Mathematical:

 

Create a timeline of Danitra and Zuri’s friendship using each of the three books in the series so far. Then, you can expand the timeline into the future and include events and accomplishments you think both of them will have.

 

Visual/Spatial

 

Create a memory book or scrapbook page about you and your best friend(s). You can include photocopies of your favorite pictures, tickets to movies or other events you’ve done together or anything that reminds you of him or her. Include a copy of the final draft of the poem you wrote about your friend.

 

Body/Kinesthetic

 

Make a to-do list of activities you’d like to try with your friend. Then, try to do several of them together. For example:

 

go horseback riding

canoe

rollerblade

build a fort

camp out

build a town out of boxes

create a new recipe

 

Musical/Rhythmic

 

Zuri has a solo with the glee club. Practice a song with your friend that you’d like to do as a solo or duet- maybe even tryout for the talent show.

 

-or-

 

Identify the rhyme scheme for your favorite poem in the collection.  Discuss how poetry and music are similar. How are they different?

 

or

 

Find a piece of music that you think your friend will love. Share the music and discuss your choices.

 

Interpersonal:

 

Create a thank-you note for your friend. Tell them the things that make you most thankful that they are yours. Add art and share with that special friend in your life.

 

 

Just for fun:

 

Create a report card for friendship. What qualities should be included? How would someone be “graded?”

 


 

www.TracieVaughnZimmer.com
You support this site when you buy Tracie's latest book! Thank you!