Informational Resources:

Author Information:

Niki Lenz website:

https://www.nikilenz.com/

Niki Lenz biography:

https://www.nikilenz.com/bio

Activities & Resources:

Activities:

Stunt Doubles:

Learn more about the type of training it takes to become a stunt double from a kid stunt double: (2:10)

https://safeshare.tv/x/cmQTI1FFJRM#

Trick Riding:

Basic horse tricks: (2:14)

https://youtu.be/y-WxE47Xh4k

Watch a family of trick riders perform amazing tricks while riding horses: (0:37 - 2:32)

https://youtu.be/dVmut7AowK4

Learn:

Bernice and Imogen are competing to win the school’s citizenship award. Learn about how kids are creating change in their own town:

https://parade.com/553699/lharris-2/kids-helping-kids-inspiring-stories-from-young-people-who-are-giving-back/

Bernice becomes a reformed bully, but bullying is still a problem. Learn what you can do to help stop bullying.

https://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/what-you-can-do/index.html

Sister Angela-Clarence speaks in children’s story quotes. Pull children’s books quoted by Sister Angela-Clarence and have a book tasting or book browse. Books mentioned: Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, Anne of Green Gables, Black Beauty, Peter Rabbit, Little Women, Where the Wild Things Are, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Treasure Island

Create:

Bernice and her friends have a talent show to help raise money for the Convent. Organize and host your own talent show and donate the proceeds to the charity of your choice.

Learn how Bernice’s favorite snack, the cheese puff, is made (5:16):

https://safeshare.tv/x/ss5e275663c09e6#

Learn to make Bernice’s mom’s recipe for white bread hand pies.

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/baked-apple-pie-roll-ups/

Learn how to make a peach pie:

https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/peach-pie/51016eca-6e6a-4a4f-a8ec-a22e89223bb6

MakerSpace Activities:

Use Bernice’s favorite snack, cheese puffs, to teach kids about pollination:

https://aroundthekampfire.com/2019/03/cheese-powder-pollination-activity-2nd-3rd-grade-science.html

Bernice and her brothers love their trampoline. Create a trampoline using objects in the MakerSpace:

https://stemactivitiesforkids.com/2015/10/21/stem-challenge-trampolines/

Using a Sphero and a block based code create a story conflict map. Students will draw a map of Halfway, Missouri and code the Sphero to stop at places in the story where major conflicts occurred:

https://edu.sphero.com/cwists/preview/18043-your-communityx

Using a design app, create a digital flyer that can be used to promote your class talent show.

Discussion Questions:

What was your first impression of Bernice Buttman? What did the kids in her old school think of her?

Why did Bernice want Oliver to be her friend?

Why was it hard for Bernice to make friends?

Why did Bernice enjoy going to the library?

How does Bernice feel about Ms. Knightly?

Why did Bernice feel the only way to earn money for the Hollywood stunt camp was to lie about her fundraiser for sick dogs?

Why does Bernice wonder if she truly fits in with her family? How is she different from her mother and brothers?

How does Bernice feel when she finds out that her mom and Lloyd are using the stolen money to go to Los Angeles without her?

Why does Ms. Knightly think moving to live with her aunt would be a good thing for Bernice?

Although Bernice’s brothers pretend like they aren’t bothered by Bernice leaving, how do we know that they love Bernice and will miss her?

What was Bernice’s first impression of the convent?

How did Bernice react when she saw that the nuns had set up a computer for her? Why did that mean so much to her?

Why did Bernice have trouble reinventing herself on the first day at her new school?

Bernice isn’t sure if she should go to Imogen’s party. How does Ms. Knightly convince her she should go?

What did the Sisters of St. Drogo do to try to cheer up Bernice? What do we learn about the Sisters and their relationship with Bernice?

Why did Bernice want to win the citizenship award? Why was this so out of character for Bernice?

Why did Bernice have second thoughts about her pie?

Why was helping at the retirement community a good fit for Bernice?

Why did Bernice’s mom come to Halfway, Missouri? How did Bernice feel when she saw her mom?

Bernice’s trick riding performance was a success. How did she feel when all of her loved ones surrounded her after the talent show? How do you feel when you accomplish something big?

Book Talk Teasers:

Play the book trailer for Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen, found on the Texas Bluebonnet Award YouTube channel.

Present the readers theater for Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen.

Read Alikes:

The Reformed Bully:

Blevins, Wiley. Trevor Lee and the Big Uh-Oh! Kids struggle to overcome personal issues at school in these funny and thoughtful realistic books. Spunky Beatrice is experiencing poverty, which causes her to lash out at classmates, and sympathetic Trevor is having trouble learning to read. (NoveList Plus)

Choldenko, Gennifer. Notes from a Liar and Her Dog. Antonia lies compulsively and is trying to turn over a new leaf. (NoveList Plus)

Korman, Gordan. Restart. Chase, the school bully, develops amnesia and forgets his bullying ways. He tries to turn away from his past life as a bully. (NoveList Plus)

Lennon, M.T. (Maria T.). Confessions of a So-Called Middle Child. Reformed bullies try to live different lives in these funny character-driven reads. (NoveList Plus)

Friendship and Family:

Cabot, Meg. Moving Day. Nine-year-old Allie Finkle has rules for everything and is even writing her own rule book, but her world is turned upside-down when she learns that her family is moving across town, which will mean a new house, school, best friend, and plenty of new rules. (Novelist Plus)

DiCamillo, Kate. Louisiana’s Way Home. Louisiana Elefante's granny wakes her up in the middle of the night and tells her they need to leave home immediately, and this time Granny intends for them never to return. (Novelist Plus)

Daredevils:

Cummins, Julie. Women Daredevils: Thrills, Chills, and Frills. Profiles daredevil women who broke with convention and the social norms of the late 1800s and early 1900s to perform their death-defying stunts and earn their due respect as equals to men in their risky professions. (Novelist Plus)

Goldsworthy, Steve. A Daredevil’s Guide to Stunts. Describes the activities of stunt men and women, their various stunts in and out of the movies, safety precautions, and famous stunt people. (Novelist Plus)

Lester, Alison. The Circus Horse. In Currawong Creek, Australia, best friends Bonnie and Sam, who share a mutual love of horses, enhance their trick-riding skills when a traveling circus comes to town. (Novelist Plus)

Life in a Convent:

Hull, Robert. Nun. Traces the life of a typical nun in medieval times from birth to death, including childhood, training, and vows taken by nuns. Includes primary source quotes. (Novelist Plus)

Shofner, Corabel. Almost Paradise. When twelve-year-old Ruby's mother goes to jail, Ruby finds her Aunt Eleanor, an ornery nun with some dark secrets, who Ruby hopes will help free her mother. (Novelist Plus)