As we wrap up the novel “The Phantom Tollbooth” this week, students are to complete a short project using the book’s words of wisdom.  They brought home information about the project last Friday the 15th, but in case they can’t find that, their choices were:  1) creating horoscopes for each sign of the zodiac using a combination of their own predictions and the words of wisdom 2) Creating an advice column where at least three letters are written in asking advice on typical middle school problems and the advice given in response incorporates the words of wisdom from the book (two quotes per advice column), or 3) looking up a recipe for fortune cookies online and making them for the class, putting the words of wisdom from the book inside the cookies as the fortunes.

These projects are due Friday, May 22.  No late fortune cookie projects will be accepted- the plan is that students can share their cookies with the class Friday as we watch the video version of the book.

Samples of words of wisdom from the book include:  “Things which are equally bad are also equally good.  Try to look on the bright side of things.”  “You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and still come out completely dry.”  “There is a lot to see everywhere if you only keep your eyes open.”  “The most important reason for going from one place to another is to see what’s in between.”  “What a dull place the world would be without color.”

Here is a link to a great article about the book we’ve been enjoying:

http://www.bustle.com/articles/29606-23-ways-the-phantom-tollbooth-prepared-us-for-adulthood