CHALLENGING WORDS
amazingautograph
complaint
confused
cuckoo
elevator
exhibit
mustache
thief
valuable
SUMMARY
Someone stole the prize baseball from the hobby show. It was autographed by Babe Ruth. It is up to Cam Jansen and her friendEric to solve the mystery.
--- Conversation Questions---
(1) / Discuss how Cam’s photographic memory was useful in solving the baseball mystery.(Answer) / Any logical answer.
(Follow Up) / Think of a time when you found it useful to have a great memory.
(2) / Predict how Mr. Baker felt when he discovered his baseball was missing.
(Answer) / Any logical answer.
(Follow Up) / Remember when you have lost something valuable.
(3) / Guess why the boy might have stolen the Babe Ruth baseball.
(Answer) / Any logical answer.
(Follow Up) / Name something you have really wanted and could not have.
(4) / Think of a time when someone said you did something, and you didn’t. How did you feel?
(Answer) / Any logical answer.
(Follow Up) / Recall how important an apology is to someone.
(5) / Define “autograph.”
(Answer) / A signature, usually of someone well known.
(Follow Up) / Recall a time when you got a famous autograph.
(6) / List some items displayed at the hobby show.
(Answer) / Cuckoo clocks, circus posters, coins, toys, pillows, baseball cards.
(Follow Up) / Describe your favorite item.
(7) / Name the item missing at the show.
(Answer) / Baseball autographed by Babe Ruth.
(Follow Up) / Recall a time when you found that something was missing.
(8) / Remember who really took the baseball?
(Answer) / Grant, the boy in the green jacket.
(Follow Up) / What place did Cam and Eric follow him?
(9) / Identify Cam Jansen’s real first name.
(Answer) / Jennifer.
(Follow Up) / Recall why she is called Cam.
(10) / Name the reward Cam and Eric received for finding the baseball.
(Answer) / Valuable baseball cards.
(Follow Up) / Suggest some other rewards Cam and Eric might have received.
Activities
1. Make a poster for the missing baseball. Identify what, where, how, and why, and list the reward you will offer.
2. Write a note of apology from the boy to Mr. Baker. Let him know how sorry you are, and suggest why you took the baseball.
3. Conduct a memory test. Ask the students to recall the name or descriptions of every character in the story. Check their list against a complete list you have made.
4. Memory Test #f2. Ask students to recall all locations described in the story. Make a list of all the places Cam and Eric went. Check their list against the book to see if they are “Cam’s” also!
Introduction
1. Bring in 5 pictures. Have them face up as the children come in. Turn them down and see if each student can remember the pictures. This can be done orally or they can write down guesses. Today, we will read about Cam Jansen, a girl with a fantastic memory.2. Show students a baseball. What makes a signed baseball more valuable? Pass the ball around and tell students we will read about a missing baseball and two children who are out to solve the mystery.
3. Show the students a camera. Discuss what a camera does and why it is helpful to have photos. Today, we will read about a girl whose mind takes “pictures” of things that she sees.
Book Title: Cam Jansen Mystery—Babe Ruth Baseball
Author: David Adler
/ Illustrator: Susanna NattiISBN: 0-14-03495-6 / # of Text Pages: 51 AR: 3.8 LEX: 550
Building Oral Vocabulary
4 / exhibit / 10 / amazing / 52 / complaint
Prediction Questions
11 / What do you think will happen to the card?
29 / What will they do now?
53 / Will Cam remember the information on the cards?