Book 1 Teaching Guide

By Jeff Kinney

Teaching guide
Encourage self-expression, inspire student writing, spark
critical thinking, explore writing in nontraditional formats,
and much more.
based on the
first book in the
#1 bestselling

diary of a wimpy kid

series by jeff kinney
Includes:
Assessments
Teaching rationale
Student reproducible
Discussion questions
Writing prompts
Correlation to national and
state standards
Aligned with the Common Core State Standards and the NCTE/IRA English Language Arts Standards.
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, WIMPY KID, and the Greg Heffley design are trademarks of Wimpy Kid, Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Book

This book is a journalNOT a diarybelonging
to Greg Heffley, a middle school student
struggling to navigate among the morons, girls,
and gorillas that fill his school. Greg figures hes
around the 52nd or 53rd most popular kid this
year and soon to move up in the ranks.
Though this middle school weakling works hard
to figure out the angle that will always make
things come out best for him, Gregs schemes
to gain popularity and status rarely seem to pay
off. Especially when it comes to dealings
with his best friend Rowley, who has Greg to thank for a broken hand and getting blamed for terrorizing a group of
kindergartners.
Throughout his journal, Greg shares all the misadventures of his middle school experience and his family life. From
wrestling in gym with a weird classmate who shouts Juice! when he has to go to the bathroom to being chased by
teenagers on Halloween (and losing all his candy when his father douses him with a trash can full of water) to the daily
emptying of his little brothers plastic potty, Greg acerbically chronicles his year, from the first awkward day of school
to the last.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the first book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. First published in 2007, the book has gone
on to achieve the status of becoming a #1 international bestseller and has been credited with helping reluctant readers
around the world fall in love with reading. The full Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, which includes nine titles as well as The
Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book and The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, has more than 150 million books in print worldwide,
and has been translated into 45 languages.
About the Author

Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney was born in 1971 in Maryland and attended the University of Maryland in the
early 1990s. It was there that Jeff ran a comic strip called Igdoof in the campus newspaper, and knew he wanted to be a
cartoonist.
However, Jeff was not successful in getting his comic strip syndicated after college, and in 1998 he started writing
down ideas for Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which he hoped to turn into a book. Jeff worked on the book for six years before
publishing it online on Funbrain.com in daily installments.
In 2006, Jeff signed a multi-book deal with publisher Harry N. Abrams, Inc. to turn Diary of a Wimpy Kid into a print
series. Diary of a Wimpy Kid was released in April 2007 and quickly became a New York Times bestseller a few months
later. In 2009, Jeff was named one of Time magazines 100 Most Influential People in the world.
In 2007, Jeff also created Poptropica.com, where he continues to work full time as the creative and editorial director.
Jeff lives in southern Massachusetts, where he is opening a bookstore.
Table of Contents
Why Use This Book in Your Classroom
Reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Your Classroom
Discussion Questions
Activities
Reproducible Handouts
11
Standards Alignments
15
Differentiated Instructions
16
Further Resources
16
Why Use this Book in Your Classroom

Millions of kids are readers because of this book! Even the most reluctant readers cant put it down. Finishing Diary of
a Wimpy Kid gives struggling readers a great sense of accomplishment.
It is a fun, accessible read that helps you promote reflection and self-expression to students reading at all levels.
Kids talk about this book. Reading it gives them a book in common with kids in their class, community, and around the
world. It sparks conversations about books and reading.
It gives you a springboard to connect students to other titles in the series, in the genre and beyond.
Kids see themselves in the book and discuss issues that affect their daily lives.
It helps you initiate critical conversations where students critique text and images and question the status quo.
Kids love to laugh! And while theyre reading carefully so they dont miss a single joke, theyll also be thinking about
how language, writing, and images communicate ideas.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid in your classroom is a great way to meet standards and laugh with your students at the same
time.
There are tons of resources to help you! In addition to this Diary of a Wimpy Kid teaching guide, you can also find a
teaching guide for the entire series, a teaching guide for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies and The Wimpy Kid Movie
Diary, as well as activity packets, party kits, and event guides. All these resources and more can be downloaded from
wimpykid.com/wimpykidmonth.
Reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Your Classroom

Given the popularity of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, its likely many of your students are already familiar with the book and/
or the films. To accommodate first-time readers and those acquainted with the book, consider these approaches for
reading in the classroom. If these are new approaches for your students, introduce and explain the approach in detail
before getting started.
Read Aloud/Think Aloud
Whether students have read it or not, having you read Diary of a Wimpy Kid aloud will give them a new experience!
Having you think aloud will give students insights into how to stop, think, and listen to their own thoughts as they
read.
First, read the book yourself and plan your think aloud. Experiment with how and where to demonstrate your
reading thought processes and comprehension strategies when you read aloud to students. Then, preview the book
with your students. Set a purpose for reading and talk about why you chose to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
And finally, with lots of expression, read! Read the first few entries for September aloud to your students. If you
have a camera in your classroom, use it to share the illustrations with your listeners as you read.
As you read aloud, stop and think aloud, modeling some

general reading strategies that will help all your students
engage with the book. Share with students the kinds of
questions you ask yourself that help you get meaning from
both the text and from the images. In passages students
might find confusing, model how you use context clues to
understand unfamiliar words, re-read unusual expressions,
etc. Also think aloud at passages and pictures that cause
you to laugh, pause and question or reflect.
If students continue reading the book independently,
encourage students to use the strategies you just modeled (or
any others you feel your students most need) to help them
monitor their understanding and make connections. Along
with their questions and conclusions, you might have them
note any strategies they use in a Response Journal.
If you choose to read the entire book aloud, you can
continue to think aloud when you feel it is appropriate.
Most important, model reading flow and really engage your
listeners!
buddy reading
Reading pairs could include sets of independent readers who read along together or student partners who take turns
reading aloud to each other. Pairs can have the same reading ability or you can couple a more fluent reader with a
less fluent reader.
Reading buddies should each have their own copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, sticky notes, or a Response Journal.
Before reading begins, have student pairs meet to preview the book and note their thoughts about what they think
the book is about and whether theyve read it before. Independent reading pairs should decide how many pages
they plan to read before meeting again. You should help read-aloud pairs decide if they should each read aloud the
same page of the book, alternate reading aloud passages or pages, read aloud together simultaneously or vary the
approach at each meeting.
As pairs meet, they should discuss and question
each other about:
Whats going on in Gregs life and why they
agree or disagree with how he deals with
the situations he finds himself in.
Any similar experiences theyve had.
What other things they think might happen
to Greg and other characters.
Graphic elements of the book they feel are
critical to the story.
Their own and their buddys reading
process.
After finishing the book, buddies can pick one
of the Activities to complete together or develop their own reading project to share their common
reading experience.
Book Club
A book club approach to reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid is perfect for independent readers ready to have authentic
conversations about books without assigned literature discussion roles. This means that students need to know how
to come up with open-ended questions to share with their group and already have some experience discussing books
in a less structured but engaging and meaningful way.
Before forming groups of four or five students, teach or review strategies for active listening and contributing
to discussions with the entire class. Brainstorm ideas about what kinds of things to talk about in a discussion of
literature and what individuals should do to prepare to participate.
At the initial meeting, students should to get to know their book club members, preview the book, negotiate what
pages they need to read by the time the group meets next and determine what preparation is expected for the first
discussion.
Encourage students to bring their own experiences and perspectives. They should see book club as an opportunity
to share their personal responses to the book and the issues addressed in it, like friendship, popularity, bullying, and
self-identity.
Because book clubs are reader response centered, having students keep a Response Journal will help support
student responsibility and ownership of the book club. Students can use their journal notes, drawings, observations,
and questions as a jumping-off point for discussions.
Give students the chance to steer their own discussions, but if they need prompting, Discussion Questions in this
guide can help foster and support discussion. After finishing the book, have students compile the best of their own
discussion questions and organize them as a discussion guide to share with future book clubs.
Response Journal
Discuss diary and journal writing with the class. Have students offer
their ideas about what distinguishes journals, diaries, and blogs.
Ask them to share works theyve read or know of in this genre. Ask
students to offer reasons why they or others write down their private
thoughts, how this exercise can benefit the writer and how it can
affect readers.
Tell students they will be keeping a response journal while reading
Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Students will use their journals for asking and
answering questions, noting passages or phrases of interest, making
predictions and analysis, and for reflecting and relating what they
have read to their own lives. Students should plan to draw from their
journals during book discussions.
Students may take a cue from Greg and keep their response journal in the same format as his diary. And hopefully
theyll also be as descriptive and direct! But remind them that theres no single right way to respond to a book, so
encourage equally varied methods of response, including writing, drawing, mapping, and charting. Work with your
students to generate prompts to ensure their responses allow them to make a personal connection to the book and
take ownership of what theyve read.
Discussion Questions
The questions below can be used for class or small group discussion or offered to students as reflective writing
prompts. For meaningful discussion, as students read they should note ideas they find interesting or that make them
wonder, passages they dont understand, phrases or passages that they like, and things they question, predict, and
conclude. Students can also use their notes to develop their own questions for discussion.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is subtitled a novel in cartoons. How do the cartoons affect the story? Besides the cartoons, in
what ways do you think the book is different from other novels you have read?
With the title Diary of a Wimpy Kid, what do you think the author is trying to tell you about Greg Heffley? How would
you define wimpy?
What characteristics and behaviors do you associate with Greg? What characteristics and behaviors do you want
people to associate with you? Why?
Greg writes Ill be famous one day, but for now Im stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons. Describe what
you imagine Greg thinks hes going to be famous for.
Do you agree or disagree with Gregs opinions about what makes someone popular? Why or why not? How can
popularity affect someones behavior?
What are the characteristics of a good friend? How do you think Rowley feels about his friendship with Greg? If
Rowley kept a journal how would he describe his interactions with Greg?
Describe Gregs relationship with his family. How is your relationship with your parents or your siblings similar or
different?
Gregs brother, Manny, calls Greg Bubby. Describe how Greg feels about this nickname. Does someone in your
family have a nickname for you? What is it and how did the name come about? How do you feel when you are called
by this name?
Do you think this book is funny? Why or why not? Discuss a part of the book that made you laugh and explain why
you thought it was funny. If something similar happened in your own life or to a friend what would your reaction be?
Why do you think the Cheese Touch got started? If you got the Cheese Touch, how would you react?
How would you describe bullying? Are all kinds of bullying the same? Why or why not? Who gets bullied in the book?
Who does the bullying? Why?
What form does bullying take in other books you have read? Discuss how a fictional character from a different book
deals with bullying. Compare the response of that character with a character in Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
The Wimpy Kid series has more than 150 million books in print and has been translated into 45 languages. What about
these books makes them so popular internationally across cultures? What do you think kids in other countries love
about the books that you love too?
Activities
Get to know Greg. Hes a character!
Understanding characterization helps students explore the feelings, thoughts,
and motivations of characters. Diary of a Wimpy Kid provides a unique way to
discuss and study characterization and point of view.
With your readers, discuss the authors choice of point of view. What does this
technique offer the reader? Discuss the ways an author develop a character,
including the use of direct and indirect characterization. How does the point of
view affect your responses to the characters? Discuss the impact the authors
use of first person point of view has on the readers understanding of and
reaction to Greg.
Get students focused on how the author brings Greg to life. Have them
generate a list of things about Greg that provide a sense of who he is,
including phrases, passages, and images that describe his physical appearance,
personality traits, and behaviors. Then have them try one of the following
activities to show just how well they know Greg. As needed, provide students
with examples and resources from the ReadWriteThink links included below.
Classroom Instructions
Gregs Fictional Character Profile (sample)
Imagine that you are the author and write a profile for Greg if Greg were a blogger or on social media. Using
supporting evidence from the book, write three paragraphs about Greg titled About Me, make a list that describes
Gregs family and relationships, and create a list of Gregs interests and favorites (hobbies, sports, music, television,
books, games). Be sure to also include a picture of Greg!
For a sample Fictional Character Profile, please refer to page 18.
How to Write a BioPoem (template and sample)
Biopoem: Writing as Greg, and using supporting evidence from the book, create a Biopoem that includes his first and
last name, three or four traits, an important relationship, things he loves, feelings he has, things hes afraid of, some of
his accomplishments, things he wants to do or see, and where he lives. A Bio poem usually follows a standard format,
but you can also include other items such as big moments, interests, and pet peeves.
For a sample Biopoem, please refer to page 19.
Characterization Bookmark (template)
Have students further demonstrate how well they understand
Gregs character. Ask them: How would Greg write about you,
your teacher, your family, or your friends? As Greg, write a profile,
poem or list about yourself or someone else in your life.
For a sample Characterization Bookmark, please refer to page 20.
Greg the Writer

Greg is clear that hes not going to write down his feelings in his journal. But he
does share a number of different types of writing, demonstrating that hes quite wellrounded when it comes to putting pen to paper!
With your readers, identify and discuss the types of writing found in the book
narrative, opinion, journal, letter, lists, comics, ads, etc. Discuss the characteristics of
genre forms. How do they differ? Whats the purpose or what questions do the various
writing types help answer?
Now, put your discussion into action. Provide prompts from the book as a springboard
for students own opinion pieces, informative/explanatory texts, or narratives. Allow
students to choose the appropriate writing type for their task and audience.
Classroom Instructions:
Let me just say for the record that I think middle school is the dumbest idea ever invented. (page 3). Give an opinion
of your own about middle school and offer strong support for it in writing.
Me and Rowley spent most of the day coming up with an awesome plan for our haunted house. (page 53). Use text
and illustrations to develop a concept for your own haunted house or other small business.
I thought I could just crank out my thank-you cards in a half hour, but when it came to actually writing them, my mind
went blank. (page 138). What are the most important elements of a thank-you note? Use your imagination to write a
thank-you note for three different situations.
Whats Your Point, Greg?

Analyzing a story to come up with its themes takes higher-order thinking and good
comprehension. With your readers, identify and discuss how characters are important in
determining themes. Then talk specifically about the characters in Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
How do characters react to situations and problems? How do characters solve problems?
How do characters change emotionally over time? How are characters treated by other
characters?
Following this review of the characters, the actions they take and the settings they are in,
discuss with readers what big ideas or messages they think the author conveys. Then have
students get creative with expressing one of those themes. Ask them to identify a theme
from the book and get its point across using a different type of writing.
What messages did you take away after finishing Diary of a Wimpy Kid? In finding those messages, or theme, you
worked hard to discover the big ideas the author wanted to share in his book. Deliver his message in another way. Take
a theme from Diary of a Wimpy Kid and, writing as Greg, express it in:
A comic strip
Lyrics to Lded Diper/heavy metal song
A campaign poster
A letter to a friend or family member
After you have developed a product using Gregs voice and tone, use your own voice to create the same product.
Display or have students present or perform both works without sharing which is Gregs and which is their own. Can
students distinguish Gregs voice from that of their classmates?
Greg the Cartoonist

In addition to drawing laughs from readers, Gregs graphics help students to draw inferences. Make time with your
readers to study the illustrations in Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Students need to know that the images arent just funny,
but are an important way of conveying meaning. Discuss with students how to infer or make inferences and why it is
important to do so. What clues do readers get from pictures that help them understand the story or the characters?
Choose an image and walk through an example from the book.
Graphic information can also help students infer the meaning of idiomatic expressions.
Check students familiarity with the expression take one for the team and share examples of how idioms work in daily
life and culture. Discuss what other kinds of information can help readers infer the meaning of idiomatic expressions.
Look together for additional examples in the book including take him under my wing (page 19), mopping the floor
with him (page 26), caught red handed (page 30), take matters into my own hands (page 89), had this one in the
bag (page 93), and get out of hand (page 193). Then give them a chance to show what meaning they draw from your
discussions on inference and idioms.
Draw your own conclusion
When reading comics, you often have to infer the authors intentions by examining the illustrations. Keep this in mind
as you create the first two panels of a comic. Without discussing your work, exchange comics with another student.
Infer what is happening in the comic and try to finish the final panel as the original author intended. Then get your
original comic back and discuss the final panel with the student who finished it. Does it make sense? Is it what you
expected or was it a surprise? Share it with the class to see if others get it or have different ideas about what the final
panel should be.
Back to the drawing board

Idioms are expressions that have meanings beyond the actual words used in the phrase, such as caught red handed.
Literally interpret some of your favorite idioms used in Diary of a Wimpy Kid and illustrate them in a Wimpy Kid-style.
Also, put each idiom and drawing on a separate page along with its figurative definition. All pages will be collected to
create an illustrated book of idioms.
Greg the Actor

Luckily for Greg, everyone who tries out for the school
play gets a part.
Have your readers take center stage with retelling
stories from Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Retelling stories
helps students order and summarize information,
make inferences, better understand plot and
characterization, and evaluate the story.
Use images from the book to prompt student retellings
and help them share what they know about various
scenes in the book, such as Halloween, wrestling, the
winter play, etc. Let students know that this is rehearsal
for some additional classroom drama! As needed,
further prepare students for Readers Theater and role
playing with additional exercises included in the links
below.
Diary Drama
Working in small groups, choose a scene from the book
to dramatize and create a Readers Theater script. Plan
to perform your scene for the class or record your
performance to share with other classes.
You can also write and illustrate a poster announcing your
performance or create a theater program.
Readers Theatre
Talk Show: Working in a small group, plan and put on a
talk show. Each student portrays a different character,
with one student serving as the host. Everyone in the
group should be involved in developing questionsbut
not answersfor the characters.
The host will need to come up with a short biography to
introduce each character. The characters need to come
prepared to answer factual questions based on text
evidence as well as questions that express their thoughts,
feelings, personality, and values.
Get to Know the Author

In addition to having a good laugh, readers of Diary
of a Wimpy Kid often have a personal, fulfilling
experience identifying with the main character.
Your readers are sure to be curious about the
person responsible for this.
Start them off with the information About the
Author in this guide. Then brainstorm together
good resources for finding credible information
about Jeff Kinney. They can use the list of sources
the class generates for these activities.
Interview the Author
Imagine that you are writing an article for the
school newspaper. Develop questions youd really
like to ask Jeff Kinney. Well compile a complete
list of questions and then work in small groups to
research answers. Groups will present answers to
the class so we can compare answers and discuss
answer sources.
Author Luncheon
Imagine Jeff Kinney is coming to our school for lunch! We want the table to look nice so you are going to design
a place mat to honor our guest. It should feature information and illustrations that describe the author and the
characters hes created. Look to the book for ideas for styles and materials the author and/or his characters would
appreciate. Well pick a day to set the table for lunch and invite everyone to come dressed as their favorite Diary of a
Wimpy Kid character. Everyone has to stay in character while we munch!
Using the Reproducible HandouTs

Sign My Yearbook Greg!
Use this open-ended activity on page 18 to extend the classroom discussion on characterization.
Have students exchange yearbooks and defend the comments they made as Greg using evidence from the book and
their own analysis of his character.
Caption the Comic
In coming up with captions for images, look at students work to see

if they were able to make sense of each picture. Do their captions
demonstrate a careful and critical look at the intentions of the illustrator?
Review as a class what information and ideas students found contained
in each image. This activity on pages 12 and 13 can also be used to discuss
the elements of comics and the different ways the author uses them in
Diary of a Wimpy Kid to express ideas.
Solutions for Tough Situations
Reviewing student answers will give you the opportunity to check comprehension and see how students have
connected with the book. Give students the opportunity to talk in small groups to compare their solutions and share
any additional problems they found they had in common with Greg. You can also use this handout in conjunction with
the Whats Your Point Greg? activity on page 14, launching discussion of how an understanding characters problems
and solutions are important in determining themes.
10
Name
date
Sign My Yearbook Greg!
Under each picture, add information you learned about Greg and his classmates from reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
That might include a nickname, activities, clubs, or sports they participated in, and class awards such as class clown.
Then, imagining that you are Greg, add comments you think Greg might make in his classmates yearbooks.
11
Name
date
Caption the ComiC
Whats going on here? You read the book, so you should know!
A caption is text that helps you understand the message of a picture. For each picture below, add a caption that
explains the picture. You can also add thought bubbles to explain what you think the characters are thinking about in
these situations.
12
Caption the Comic, continued
13
Name
date
Solutions for Tough Situations
Greg has to deal with a lot of problems. Even when he causes some of them himself, he still has to fix things . . . though
sometimes that just results in more problems! If you had Gregs problems, how would you solve them?
For each problem on the chart, write Gregs solution and a solution of your own.
Gregs problem
his solution
your solution
Protecting himself
from the cheese
touch
making sure no one
knows his nickname
bubby
wanting to gain
weight and get
totally bulked up
having to audition
and perform in the
school play
forgetting to get a
christmas gift for
rowley
getting dismissed
from the safety
patrols
defending himself
from the teenage
bullies
14
Standards Alignment
This guide is based on the IRA/NCTE Standards for the English Language Arts and is also aligned to the Common Core
State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts. Focus for instruction centers on Grade 5. To scaffold and support
instruction to fit your needs, please reference appropriate gradelevel Common Core State Standards. The pertinent
Grade 5 standards that are explicitly built into the content follow.
Reading: Literature
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1
Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama
respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.
Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the
text (e.g., how characters interact).
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as
metaphors and similes.
Describe how a narrators or speakers point of view influences how events are described.
Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel,
multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).
Writing
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and
clear event xsequences.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and
audience.
Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize
or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Speaking & Listening
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners
on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant,
descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to
enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
15
Language
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and
content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Differentiated Instruction
This guide describes a number of approaches to reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid that can help support students who
have difficulty with comprehension or lack appropriate vocabulary, background knowledge, or English language skills.
These approaches can also provide good modeling for interpretive reading and critical listening practice for learners at
all levels.
To further differentiate instruction for reading:
Focus on visual scaffolding of the graphic images to facilitate reading and comprehension for below-level students
and English language learners.
Give English language learners explicit explanations of unknown words and idiomatic expressions using real objects,
pictures, gestures, or demonstrations.
Plan discussion around cultural differences and culturally based assumptions to build background knowledge and
support comprehension for English language learners.
Watch and discuss the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie after reading the book to support comprehension and provide
students with higher levels of mastery with opportunities to evaluate and analyze the book-to-film transformation.
The activities in this guide give students options for expressing what they learn about characterization, types of writing,
theme, inference, sequencing, and idioms, and provide a variety of different product options to choose from. The
activities are also designed for students to work alone or in small groups on their products and encourage students to
choose their own product assignments.
Further Resources
If your students loved the lessons you planned based on Diary of a Wimpy Kid, check out these other Teaching Guides,
activity packets, and event guides available at www.wimpykid.com/wimpykidmonth for more reading and learning fun.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series Teaching Guide
Kids can keep up with Greg as he continues to chronicle his adventures with friends, foes and family. A free series-wide
Teaching Guide and series Activity Kit are available and have great ideas for classroom games, projects, and activities.
The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary Teaching Guide
Students will learn the story of how Greg Heffley went Hollywood and, with the help of the free Teaching Guide, get
schooled in media literacy and film/media production.
The Wimpy Kid series Event Guide
If your students are clamoring for more Wimpy Kid after including these lessons in your curriculum, consider having
a Wimpy Kid-themed day or party in your classroom or school! For decoration, food, costume, trivia, and game
suggestions, check out the Wimpy Kid series Event Guide, incorporating elements from all nine books.
The Wimpy Kid Movie Event Guide
If youd prefer to teach to The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, this guide will help you host a party or event focusing on the
book to movie transition. This guide is the perfect tool to encourage your students to express themselves through
improv and other interactive games and activities.
16
The Wimpy Kid series Activity Packet

If you need more reproducible Wimpy Kid activities, look no further than the Wimpy Kid series Activity Packet.
Including space to draw, write, create, and play, these reproducible pages will keep your students entertained in the
classroom during free time, recess, or at home.
The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book
Kids will find laughs as well as plenty of writing and drawing opportunities in this interactive book. Its a great
supplement to the series and to the activities in this guide.
Rachael Walker (www.belleofthebook.com) created this guide. She consults on a wide variety of educational programs
and multimedia projects with a special focus on childrens literacy and develops educational materials and reading
resources for children, parents, and teachers.
17
18
How to Write a Biopoem

(Line 1) First name
(Line 2) Three or four adjectives that describe the person
(Line 3) Important relationship (daughter of . . . , mother of . . . , etc)
(Line 4) Two or three things, people, or ideas that the person loved
(Line 5) Three feelings the person experienced
(Line 6) Three fears the person experienced
(Line 7) Accomplishments (who composed . . . , who discovered . . . , etc.)
(Line 8) Two or three things the person wanted to see happen or wanted to experience
(Line 9) His or her residence
(Line 10) Last name
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Abromitis, B.S. (1994, June/July). Bringing lives to life. Biographies in reading and the content areas. Reading Today,
11, 26. Reprinted with permission of the publisher and author.
Biopoem Sample
Rosa
Determined, brave, strong, loving
Wife of Raymond Parks, mother of all children
Who loved equality, freedom, and the benefits of a good education
Who hated discrimination, loved to stand up for her beliefs, and loved to help others
Who feared that racism would continue, feared losing the opportunity to make a difference, and
feared that young people might lose opportunities to develop strength and courage
Who changed history as she accomplished great strides for equality and encouraged excellence for all
Who wanted to see love triumph and see an end to all bias and discrimination in a world in which
respect is freely given to all
Born in Alabama and living in Detroit
Parks
Copyright 2004 IRA/NCTE. All rights reserved.

ReadWriteThink materials may be reproduced for educational purposes.
19
20
Characterization Bookmark
Text Title: _____________________
Text Title: _____________________

As you read your text, look for items that
can be added to a list of ten about a
character. Remember to look for how the
character looks, how the character acts,
and how other characters in the story
react to this character.
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________

p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
Name: ________________________
Name: ________________________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________
Text Passage ___________________
p. ____________

Text Title: _____________________
Name: ________________________

Book 1 Teaching Guide

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Book 1 Teaching Guide

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By Jeff Kinney

diary of a wimpy kid

About the Book

About the Author

Reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Your Classroom

Why Use this Book in Your Classroom

Reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Your Classroom

As you read aloud, stop and think aloud, modeling some

Greg the Writer

Whats Your Point, Greg?

Greg the Cartoonist

Back to the drawing board

Greg the Actor

Get to Know the Author

Using the Reproducible HandouTs

Caption the Comic

In coming up with captions for images, look at students work to see

Solutions for Tough Situations

Sign My Yearbook Greg!

Caption the ComiC

Caption the Comic, continued

Solutions for Tough Situations

The Wimpy Kid series Activity Packet

How to Write a Biopoem

Copyright 2004 IRA/NCTE. All rights reserved.

Text Title: _____________________

Text Title: _____________________

As you read your text, look for items that

Text Passage ___________________

Text Passage ___________________

Text Passage ___________________

Text Passage ___________________

Text Passage ___________________

Text Passage ___________________

Text Passage ___________________

Text Passage ___________________

Text Passage ___________________

Text Passage ___________________

As you read your text, look for items that

Text Title: _____________________

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