"Okay For Now" Packet

Okay for Now Packet:

Chapter One: “The Arctic Tern”

Character List:
In the space provided below write the characters introduced and/or interacted with in this chapter along with the character details provided by the text.  Be sure to sure to include details of the character interaction in the text and the page number.











Short Response Questions:

1) How does Doug portray his relationship with his father, brother and  mother?  How does he portray the relationship between his parents?  Give 3 examples for each;  include the page numbers.

2) What is important about the Joe Pepitone hat?  Why does Doug repeatedly reference it?

3) What symbolism or meaning can be extracted from the picture of the bird in the Library?

4) What is implied by Mrs. Swieteck’s reaction to Mr. Swieteck walking in on her and Doug’s water-fight in the kitchen?

5) What sort of relationship have Doug and Lil established with one another?  In other words, what is their interaction with one another like? How do you think it will evolve in the future?  What evidence do you have to support this?


Creative Project:

1) Draw your own adaptation of the Arctic Tern.  Pictures must be a page in size and detailed.

Chapter Two: “The Red-Throated Diver”

Character List:
In the space provided below write the characters introduced and/or interacted with in this chapter along with the character details provided by the text.  Be sure to sure to include details of the character interaction in the text and the page number.










Short Response Questions:

1) Trace the development of the relationship between each of the customer’s Doug interacts with on his grocery-delivery route?  How did each begin and end in the chapter?  Be sure to include specific examples from the text and the page number.

2) What is implied by Doug’s initial interpretation of the painting of The Red-Throated Diver?

3) How does Mr. Swieteck portray Mr. “Big Bucks” Ballard?  Do you think the father is reliable in his opinion of Mr. Ballard?

4) How does Mrs. Windermere description of the painting alter Doug’s initial interpretation of The Red-Throated Diver?  How does this “new light” affect Doug’s character growth?  What evidence is there to support this in the text?

5) Is The Red-Throated Diver foreshadowing future events in the text?  What evidence is there in the text to support your opinion?


Creative Projects:

1) Draw two of the characters mentioned in the text thus far.  Pictures must be detailed and thoughtful.  Pictures must each be a page in size.

2) Look up via internet an Audubon painting that is not highlighted as the title of a chapter in the text.  Then, in a Doug-like fashion, interpret the meaning of the painting.  You can either apply your own interpretation or imagine that you are Doug Swieteck describing the painting.

Chapter Three: “The Large-Billed Puffin”

Character List:
In the space provided below write the characters introduced and/or interacted with in this chapter along with the character details provided by the text.  Be sure to sure to include details of the character interaction in the text and the page number.








Short Response Questions:

1) Why is drawing important to Doug? (You can look on page 77 and 96 for clues.)

2) How does Doug’s “Back to School Night” go?  What sort of impression does he leave with the school staff?  Use specific examples from the text to explain how you have come to that conclusion.

3) Describe Principle Peattie; what makes his speech unusual?

4) What is so special about Doug and his mother’s ice-cream date?  Why?

5) How does Doug feel about the new Audubon painting displayed in the Library? Trace his opinion of the painting from the beginning of the chapter to the end.

6) How Does Christopher’s behavior affect Doug?

7) What relationships develop between Doug and his teachers?  How do each of the teachers’ respond to Doug?

8) What connection does Doug make between himself and the focal painting in this chapter?


Creative Project:

1) Make a poster highlighting your favorite scene in the story thus far.  Be sure to use color.  Include a brief description of the scene somewhere on your poster

Chapter 4: "The Black-Backed Gull"

Character List:
In the space provided below write the characters introduced and/or interacted with in this chapter along with the character details provided by the text.  Be sure to sure to include details of the character interaction in the text and the page number.







Short Response Questions:

1) What does the “dying gull” on page 123 refer to?  What does it mean?

2) What does Mr. Ferris figure out that “no teacher had ever figured out before?” (see page 126).

3) How does the relationship between Lil and Doug begin to change in this chapter?

4) How does Doug connect the painting of the Black-Backed Gull to his life throughout this chapter?

5) How have the relationships between Doug and his teachers changed (or perhaps remained the same) in this chapter?  What is each relationship like? Be sure to include page numbers.

Creative Project:

1) Draw your favorite scene in the chapter. Be sure that the picture is a page in size, detailed and has color.

2) Write a scene in this chapter from the perspective of another character.  For example, you could choose Mr. Ferris in listening to Doug’s retelling of the night of his twelfth birthday.  The scene re-telling must be a minimum of one page in length.