Lesson Plan: Facing Forever

Essential Questions

• What does it mean to live a good life?
• How do we deal with grief?

Literature Connection

• Novel: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt 
• Novel: The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott 

Build Background Knowledge (5 minutes)

Before reading, view our slideshow “The Fountain of Youth” as a class. This slideshow provides background information that is important for understanding and appreciating the story. After viewing the slideshow, ask students, “Do you think it’s possible that a fountain of youth really exists somewhere? If it did, would you want to drink from it? Which parts of getting older do you look forward to? Which parts might you prefer to avoid?”

Preview Text Features (10 minutes)

Guide students to locate the story. Then preview text features with the following prompts:

• Based on the title, subtitle, and cover image of the story, what kind of mood do you think this story will have? Answers will vary. Students might guess that the mood of the story will be spooky and mysterious. They might point out words like “ghostly” and “magical” as well as the depiction of the dog and dark trees in the image.
• Briefly look through the story. In the upper left-hand corners of some panels (the blocks that contain the images), you’ll find captions in yellow boxes. What kind of information do the captions contain? The captions tell you when and where the action is taking place. They say things like “The next day . . .” and “Back at the campsite . . .”.

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

• Play the Vocabulary Slideshow, which introduces terms typically used to discuss graphic stories. Briefly talk about the terms (graphic, panel, border, speech bubble, and thought bubble) and their definitions.

Make a Plan for Reading

• Before students start to read, set a purpose for reading by telling them that they will make inferences about “The Perfects.” Explain that making an inference means figuring out something that isn’t directly stated by using clues from the text. (You may also consider showing our “Skills in Action: What Is an Inference?” video.)

Read the article. (Higher- and lower-Lexile versions are available on the Story page at Action Online. Click Presentation View to access an audio read-aloud.) Then discuss the following close-reading and critical-thinking questions.

Close-Reading Questions (25 minutes)

• How does Nate most likely feel in the panel at the bottom right of page 10? How do you know? What can you infer about why he feels this way? (inference) Nate most likely feels grief-stricken and sad because his sister’s words in the previous panel remind him that his grandfather has died. In the picture, Nate is covering his face and running away. His sister is apologizing to him, and his dad says Nate needs some time alone.
• What surprising thing does the vet say about Boo on page 12? Why is it surprising? (key details) The vet says that Boo’s dog tag is from 1947. This is surprising because it would make Boo more than 70 years old, and dogs don’t live that long.
• What does Nate realize in the panel at the bottom of page 12? (inference) Nate realizes that the water he and Boo were playing in has healing powers. It healed his cut and cured Boo’s limp. It has helped Boo stay alive for much longer than dogs typically live.
• Why does Nate yell at Boo on page 13? (inference) Nate yells at Boo to leave because he loves Boo and does not want him to die. He knows that if Boo leaves his home near the magical springs, there will be nothing keeping him young and alive anymore.
• How does Nate’s memory of Grandpa Lou on page 14 change his mind about Boo? (cause and effect) Nate’s memory of Grandpa Lou helps him realize that death is part of life and that living a life filled with love can make death more acceptable when it comes. Nate decides to adopt Boo and give him a happy life, even if it won’t last forever.

Critical-Thinking Questions (10 minutes)

• In your opinion, does Nate make the right choice for Boo in the end? Why or why not? (critical thinking) Answers will vary. Sample answer: Yes, Nate makes the right choice. By inviting Boo to join his family, Nate is giving the dog something very valuable: love.
• Compare and contrast how Maggie and Nate react to the death of Grandpa Lou and the idea of leaving Boo. What point is the author most likely trying to make through these contrasting characters? (theme) Answers will vary. Sample answer: Maggie and Nate react differently to the death of Grandpa Lou and the idea of leaving Boo. For example, Maggie names the dog they find after Grandpa Lou, while Nate runs off to be alone when he thinks of Grandpa Lou. Maggie gets sad and cries at the thought of leaving Boo. Nate yells at Boo to go away because he would rather be without Boo than let Boo die. The author is most likely trying to make the point that people deal with grief and other feelings in different ways.

• Have students work in pairs to complete the Spotlight Skill Workout: Inference activity at the end of the play.
• Assign students to work independently on our Elements of Fiction Skill Builder. (Click here to see all your Skill Builders for this feature.)
• Writing prompt: Imagine you’re Nate at the end of the story. Write a letter to your family explaining what you’ve realized about Boo and why you eventually decided to keep him.