Flint Recovery Packet Student Flint Recovery Packet
Chapters 1–6: The Weird Watsons
Name:
Date:
Activity 1: Frozen Words
20 Minutes
Read the sentence. Choose the meaning AND draw a quick sketch of the word.
1. The weather was hostile because it was so cold the pipes froze.
Very friendly
Unfriendly or harsh
Very hot
Sketch "Hostile"
2. It was vital that they stayed together to keep warm.
Not important
Very funny
Very important
Sketch "Vital"
3. Byron's lips were numb after touching the cold glass.
Can't feel anything
Hurting a lot
Very wet
Sketch "Numb"
Activity 1: Frozen Words (Continued)
4. Larry Dunn was a bully who stole Kenny's gloves.
A good friend
Mean to others
A fast runner
Sketch "Bully"
5. Mama was ashamed of Byron when he stole matches.
Feeling embarrassed
Feeling excited
Very sleepy
Sketch "Ashamed"
6. The "Brown Bomber" was an ancient car that was very old.
Brand new
Very, very old
Bright green
Sketch "Ancient"
Activity 2: Understanding the Story
20 Minutes
Circle the best answer. Then, check the box to show where you learned it.
1. Why did the Watsons go out to the "Brown Bomber" in Chapter 1?
To go on vacation
To scrape ice off the windows
To look for a toy
Found in: Chapter 1 Chapter 2
2. How does Kenny feel about Byron at the start?
He thinks Byron is mean
He thinks Byron is a hero
He doesn't know him
Found in: Chapter 1 Chapter 3
3. What did Byron do with the matches?
Cooked dinner
Played with them in the house
Gave them to Kenny
Found in: Chapter 4 Chapter 5
Activity 2: Understanding (Continued)
4. Why was Kenny happy to meet Rufus?
He finally had a real friend
Rufus was a fast runner
Rufus gave him money
Found in: Chapter 2 Chapter 3
5. What happened to the mourning dove?
It flew away safely
Kenny took it home as a pet
Byron hit it with a cookie
Found in: Chapter 5 Chapter 6
6. Why are the Watsons going to Birmingham?
To buy a new car
So Byron can stay with Grandma Sands
To visit a theme park
Found in: Chapter 6
Activity 3: Byron vs. Kenny
20 Minutes
Sort the traits AND draw a character portrait.
Quiet Rebellious Kind Tough Loves reading Disobedient Smart Mean Funny Protective
BYRON
KENNY
Draw Byron
Byron is .
Draw Kenny
Kenny is .
Activity 4: Cause and Effect
20 Minutes
Draw lines to match CAUSE to EFFECT.
Byron kisses the cold mirror.
He makes a new friend.
Kenny shares lunch with Rufus.
Mama gets very angry.
Byron plays with matches.
His lips get stuck to it.
Byron keeps causing trouble.
Larry steals them.
Kenny shows off his gloves.
He has to go to Birmingham.
Sketch the most important cause and effect:
What happened FIRST
What happened NEXT
Because , this happened: .
Activity 5: Comparing Feelings
20 Minutes
Byron kills a mourning dove. Use the stems and the "Feeling Meter."
How Kenny feels:
Kenny feels because .
Feeling Meter:
😢 😠 😵
How Byron feels:
Byron feels because .
Feeling Meter:
😭 🙄 🤐
How would YOU feel?
If I were there, I would feel .
Draw the memorial Byron made for the bird:
Flint Recovery Answer Key Answer Key
Recovery Packet (Chapters 1–6)
Teacher Resource
Activity 1: Frozen Words
Hostile: Unfriendly or harsh
Bully: Mean to others
Vital: Very important
Ashamed: Feeling embarrassed
Numb: Can't feel anything
Ancient: Very, very old
Activity 2: Understanding
Scrape ice off windows
He finally had a real friend
He thinks Byron is mean
Byron hit it with a cookie
Played with matches in the house
Byron can stay with Grandma Sands
Activity 3: Byron vs. Kenny
BYRON Traits:
Rebellious, Tough, Disobedient, Mean, Protective
KENNY Traits:
Quiet, Kind, Loves reading, Smart, Funny
Activity 4: Cause and Effect
Byron kisses cold mirror -> His lips get stuck to it.
Kenny shares lunch with Rufus -> He makes a new friend.
Byron plays with matches -> Mama gets very angry.
Byron keeps causing trouble -> He has to go to Birmingham.
Kenny shows off his gloves -> Larry Dunn steals them.
Activity 5: Comparing Feelings
Kenny Sample: feels confused or upset because killing a bird for no reason is wrong and mean.
Byron Sample: feels guilty or sad because he didn't really want the bird to die; he gives it a burial.
Memorial Note: Students should draw a grave with a cross (made of sticks) or a small dirt mound.
Day Zero Packet Student Day Zero Packet
Chapters 1–6: Evidence & Analysis
Name:
Activity 1: Vocabulary Evidence
20 min
Prompt: "The weather in Flint was so hostile that it felt like the cold was attacking us. The wind bit our faces and the ice was thick and mean."
1. What does hostile mean?
Unfriendly, harsh, or like an enemy
Very friendly and warm
Extremely exciting and fun
Show Thinking:
I chose this because the prompt says the cold was .
Prompt: "It was vital that we stayed together. If we left the heater, we would freeze. Staying close was the only way to be safe."
2. What does vital mean?
Very important or necessary
Something that is not important
Something very funny
Show Thinking:
Staying close is vital because the only way to stay safe is .
Prompt: "Byron's lips were completely numb. He couldn't feel a thing. His face felt like a cold block of wood."
3. What does numb mean?
Unable to feel anything
Feeling very hot or burned
Making a very loud noise
Show Thinking:
He was numb because the prompt says his face felt like .
Activity 2: Comprehension Analysis
20 min
Reading Prompt: "Byron is often called a 'juvenile delinquent' because he breaks rules and acts tough. Kenny is the middle child who loves to read. Rufus and Cody are new kids from the South who become Kenny's friends."
1. Why is Byron called a "juvenile delinquent"?
Because he breaks rules and acts tough
Because he is the smartest kid in school
Because he is always helping his family
Analysis:
One example of Byron acting like a delinquent is when he .
2. Why does Kenny call Rufus and Cody his "personal savers"?
He thinks the bullies will pick on them instead of him
They shared their lunch money with him
They helped him study for a big math test
Analysis:
Kenny calls them "savers" because .
Activity 3: Character Trait Sorting
20 min
Sort the traits into the boxes. Then, provide evidence from the text.
Rebellious Intellectual Protective Compassionate
Byron
Kenny
Evidence for Byron:
Byron is because in the story he .
Hint: Think about his hair conk or how he handled Larry Dunn.
Day Zero Answer Key Answer Key
Day Zero Packet (Chapters 1–6)
Teacher Resource
Activity 1: Vocabulary Evidence
1. Hostile: Unfriendly, harsh, or like an enemy
2. Vital: Something very important or necessary
3. Numb: Unable to feel anything
Note: Scholars must complete the "Show Your Thinking" stems using evidence from the provided reading prompts.
Activity 2: Comprehension Analysis
1. Byron called a delinquent: Because he breaks rules and acts tough
2. Kenny/Rufus/Cody: He thinks they are his "personal savers" from bullies
Activity 3: Character Trait Sorting
BYRON Traits:
KENNY Traits:
Intellectual
Compassionate
Evidence Sample: Byron is rebellious because he got a "conk" hairstyle without permission. This proves he is willing to break rules to look cool.
Evidence Sample: Kenny is intellectual because he is a highly skilled reader who is asked to read to older students.
Activity 4: Connection Matching
1. Matches -> Mama threatens to burn his finger as a lesson.
2. Gloves -> Byron beats up Larry and returns them to Kenny.
3. Conk -> Dad shaves Byron's head completely bald.
Thinking Sample (Matches): Mama is angry because her house burned down in Alabama when she was a girl, leaving her with a lifelong fear of fire.
Thinking Sample (Gloves): This shows Byron cares for Kenny; despite being a "delinquent," he protects his family from outside bullies.
Activity 5: Deep Feelings
1. Byron's true feelings: He felt deeply guilty and sad for the bird.
Compare Analysis:
Kenny is disgusted because he doesn't like senseless violence. Byron acts tough to hide his sensitivity, but his private tears show his regret.
Burial Analysis:
The burial proves Byron has a sensitive/caring side. He hides his crying because he wants to maintain his "tough guy" reputation in front of his younger brother.
