Vocabulary Warm-Up (15-20 minutes)

One day, you wake up to find everything in your life feels just a little bit off. The world around you seems askew, like something isn’t quite right. As the day goes on, you start noticing strange things happening—people are acting oddly, and things seem to be transpiring in a way that you can't explain. As you try to figure out what's going on, you come across a cryptic message that no one can quite understand. Your friends throw out theories, and one of them cracks a quip to lighten the mood, though it doesn’t quite fit the seriousness of the situation. As you continue your day, everything seems to get a little more confusing. You start to flounder in your attempts to make sense of it, and you can’t help but feel a little frustrated. At some point, you see someone who is absolutely livid, but you don’t know why. Is there something superfluous happening that everyone’s missing? Write a story about what happens next and how you handle the strange events of the day. Please ensure to include the vocabulary words from our last session!

Vocabulary Warm-Up (15-20 minutes)

To warn or reprimand someone firmly

Silly or high-spirited behavior; mischief

Unable to be upset or disturbed; extremely calm

Made up of many and various kinds of things

Shenanigan

Imperturbable

Multifarious

Admonish

Match the Word with the Definition

To make greater by adding to something

A person or thing that is essential in an organization or operation

Over-the-top showing off or flaunting

Extremely difficult; Requiring great strength

Kingpin

Vaunt

Herculean

Augment

Match the Word with the Definition

Leo was the kingpin of pranks at Crestwood Middle School. Everyone knew that if something strange or funny happened, Leo was behind it. But today, Leo wasn’t planning just any prank—he was about to augment his reputation by pulling off the most multifarious prank the school had ever seen. It all started when Leo overheard Tom bragging in the hallway about his perfect science project. "This project is going to blow everyone away," Tom said, vaunting his work in front of anyone who would listen. Leo couldn’t stand it. He decided to pull a prank that would teach Tom a lesson in humility. Leo quickly got his best friend Max to help with the plan. They created a fake certificate that read: “Best Science Project… for Causing the Most Chaos.” Then they made up a series of clues, leading Tom on a wild chase around the school. They knew Tom would take the bait. The next day, as the science fair was about to start, Leo and Max put their plan into action. They left the certificate on Tom’s desk, and as soon as he saw it, he got excited and started reading the riddle. He quickly jumped up, thinking there was a special prize hidden for him. Tom started running around the school, trying to figure out the clues. He went from room to room, opening lockers, and even checking behind the gym bleachers. Meanwhile, Leo stayed calm and imperturbable, not giving away any hint that he was involved in the prank. Max tried to hide his laughter, but Leo shot him a warning look.

The Great School Heist

However, it wasn’t long before Mrs. Green, the principal, noticed what was happening. She saw Tom searching the janitor’s closet and asked, "Tom, what’s going on here?" Leo casually walked over and said, "It’s just a little scavenger hunt we set up for Tom, Mrs. Green. Nothing too crazy." But Tom was frustrated. He had been running around for so long and hadn’t found anything. "This is just a shenanigan, Leo!" he shouted, realizing he’d been tricked. Leo smiled, knowing it was a success. "You shouldn’t vaunt about your project so much, Tom. Maybe next time, keep it a bit more humble," he teased. Mrs. Green chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, I’m going to admonish you for causing such a scene, Leo. But I have to admit, it was clever." In the end, Tom learned to be a little more modest, and Leo earned a reputation as the kingpin of pranks who could pull off a herculean scheme with ease.

1. What is Leo known for at his school? 2. What does Tom brag about in the hallway, and how does that lead to Leo wanting to prank him? 3. How does Leo plan to prank Tom? Explain the steps he takes to create the prank. 4. What does Leo do after placing the fake certificate on Tom's desk? 5. How does Tom react when he finds this on his desk?

Reading Comprehension

6. Describe Max's role in helping Leo with the prank. 7. Why is Leo described as being "imperturbable" during the prank? What does this mean in the context of the story? 8. What is Tom's reaction when he realizes he's been pranked? 9. How does Leo respond to Tom's frustration? What lesson does he try to teach Tom? 10. How does Mrs. Green, the principal, react to the prank?

11. What does Mrs. Green mean when she says she will "admonish" Leo? How does Leo respond to her comment? 12. What is the significance of Leo being called the "kingpin" of pranks? Why is this important to the story? 13. What is the significance of Leo being called the "kingpin" of pranks? Why is this important to the story? 14. In the story, Tom’s bragging leads to him being pranked. Do you think Leo was justified in playing this prank? Why or why not? 15. What does the word "multifarious" mean, and how does it describe the prank Leo pulls off?

16. What lesson can be learned from Leo’s prank and Tom’s reaction? How might the situation have turned out differently if Tom hadn’t been so boastful? 17. How does the setting of the school impact the events of the story? Would the prank have worked as well in a different setting? 18. How does the prank impact the relationship between Leo and Tom? Do you think their friendship changes by the end of the story? 19. How does Leo’s ability to stay calm (imperturbable) help him carry out his plan successfully? 20. If you were in Tom’s shoes, how would you have reacted to the prank? Would you have learned the same lesson as he did? Why or why not?

Do you think the method of teaching the lesson and theme of humility was appropriate or effective? Why or why not? Consider how Tom may have felt during and after the prank when creating your response. Also consider what this may or may not teach readers of this short story. What are some alternative ways that this lesson could have been carried out? How would this have altered the short story?

Short Answer/Critical Thinking