The Missing Gator of Gumbo Limbo

 

The Missing 'Gator of Gumbo Limbo’

 Missing Gator Vocabulary Dictionary   

Make a Vocabulary 'dictionary' of new words from the book and share them with your group.                           

Some of the vocabulary words you will find in the book are:

 

Unobtrusively   Aggressively    intrusion       wither            vicious

ferocious      perplexed     frugally          thriftily          animated

Regulates      futilely     materialized        relishing        entwined

 

 Questions for Discussion

  Keep answers for each chapter together in either a composition book (reading or vocabulary) or a folder/file, for grading purposes.

 

These questions are the foundations for your discussions in Book Clubs the following day.  Make sure that you cite text evidence to support your viewpoint.(Page, paragraph so you can easily find it in Book Clubs)

Make a note of any unknown words in your Dictionary.  You can also discuss these in your book club.

 

Chapter 1:

1. Why do you think Jean Craighead calls the book 'An Ecological Mystery"?

2. Why do you think Liza K. refers to Dajun as 'swampland royalty"?

3. What might happen if Travis learns that Liza K. lives in the woods?

4. Why isn't Liza K. eager to move into a house?

5. Do you think Liza's mother made a wise choice by moving to the woods? Why or why not?

6. In what way does Dajun protect the woods people?

Chapter 2:

 

1. Why does James James called 'The Niche' his University?

2. Why do you think that James James decided never to work again when he returned from the Vietnam war?

3. Why does James James feel the water in the solution pit is pure?

4. What are your impressions of the woods people?  Would you like to have them as neighbors?  Why or why not?

Chapter 3:

1. Do you think Liza K. and James James will find Dajun before Travis does?

2. Would you enjoy living in the woods?  What would be the advantages and disadvantages of living in such a place?

3. Why do you think Liza K. has mixed emotions about her mother getting the new job?

4. What does the presence of blue-green algae in the Gumbo Limbo hole suggest to Liza K.?

Chapter 4:

1. What traits does Liza K. exhibit as she tries to figure out the whereabouts of the alligator?

2. Why do you think that the water in the solution pit is not salty ?

3. What are some of the ecological problems that exist in your own community? Is the public concerned?  How are the problems being addressed, if at all?

4. Why is LIza K. sure Dajun is scared and in hiding?

 

Chapter 5:

 

 

• 1.      Why is Ms. Dade excited when Liza K. points out Gumbo Limbo Hammock on the map?  Why is Liza K. sorry she mentioned it?

• 2.      Why does Liza K. end her search for Dajun in the swamp"?

• 3.      DO any recycling programs exist in your community? Are they sufficient?

• 4.      Do you think Liza K. is justified lying to Ms. Dade?

• 5.      Why is it becoming increasingly important to return Dajun to Gumbo Limbo Hole?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 6:

 

 

• 1.      Why do you think it is often difficult to determine the source of an ecological problem?

• 2.      Why would Liza K. still care for her father after the way he treated her?  Do you think she can ever have a relationship with him?

• 3.      Why is it always necessary to consider alternatives to chemical pesticides?

• 4.      From what you have read so far, do you think Dajun is in the borrow pit?  Why or why not?

• 5.      Why do you think that there are only blank pages in Priscilla’s notebook?  Why would she lie about writing poetry?

 

Chapter 7:

 

 

1. 1.      Why do you think James James had to reconsider his impression of Prescilla?

2. 2.      What might James James know about Caruso that Liza K. does not?

3. 3.      From the clues in this chapter, where do you think Dajun is hiding?

 

 

 

 

Chapter 8:

 

 

1. 1.      How do you think James James feels about Mrs. Poole?

2. 2.      Do you think that Priscella ever wrote any poems?

3. 3.      Do you think that Priscella can be helped to overcome her fear?  How might this change her?

4. 4.      How do you think Liza K.’s life will change once she leaves the hammock?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 9:

 

 

1. 1.      Why does James James warn Liza K. not to go to Caruso’s concert?

2. 2.      Discuss what you think is meant by the following line: “We love things we love for what they are.”  What are some things that you love for what they are?

3. 3.      Do you like the ending of the novel? Is it realistic?  Would you have ended the book in another way?