Friendship Launch Slides Novel Launch • Chapters 1–3
Paula Danziger Study
Third Grade Novel Study
Amber Brown
Is Not a Crayon
Meet Amber: spunky, honest, and fiercely loyal. But what happens when your best friend’s world is about to move away?
Amber's Voice
Funny, witty & real
Justin Daniels
Best friend & partner
The Big Crisis
A house with a sign
1
The Ultimate Third-Grade Team
Chapter 1 Focus
Amber Brown Protagonist
Full of energy, bold opinions, and funny puns about her name.
Her parents are divorced; Justin is her rock and everyday anchor.
Despises being teased or called a color in a box.
Quote: “You can't pick your name, but you can pick your friends.”
Justin Daniels Best Friend
Quietly brilliant, shares Amber's sense of humor and wild games.
Co-owner of the world's most prized chewed-gum ball!
Keeps big feelings locked inside until they overflow.
Shared Ritual: Adding a new piece of gum to their prized ball every day.
Class Discussion Question: What makes a friend truly feel like your "other half"?
2
Mr. Cohen's Flying Classroom
Chapter 2 Focus
Desks as Airplanes
Mr. Cohen turns the classroom desks into a passenger plane traveling all the way to China!
Third Grade Flight 3B
In-Flight Snacks
Students eat Oreos and pretend they are on a world expedition across continents and cultures.
Amber & Justin sit together
Unspoken Words
Beneath all the laughter and imaginary passports, Justin is unusually quiet and distant.
Something feels different
Reader's Clue: Notice how humor often hides sadness when a big life change is looming.
3
The "For Sale" Sign Shocker
Chapter 3 Climax
“There is a sign on the front lawn. It says FOR SALE.”
Justin’s dad got a new job in Alabama. The secret is out, and Amber’s heart is shattered.
Stage 1: Denial (“Maybe nobody will buy it!”)
Stage 2: Anger (“Why didn't you tell me first?”)
Turn & Talk
Why did Justin wait so long to tell Amber the truth? Was he being mean, or was he terrified too?
Prediction Challenge: What will happen to their friendship before Justin leaves?
Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon • Chapters 1–3 Next Activity: Best Friend Passport Graphic Organizer
Friendship Passport Activity Sheet Friendship Passport Activity Sheet
Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon • Chapters 1–3
Name:
Date:
Part 1
Flight 3B Classroom Passport (Chapters 1 & 2)
Destination:
China (imaginary desk flight)
Amber's Co-Pilot:
Justin Daniels
Travel Snack / Ritual:
Oreo cookies & chewed gum
Part 2
Two Halves of a Team: Amber & Justin
Think about how Amber and Justin balance each other out. Write two character traits or actions for each person.
Amber Brown Loud & Expressive
1. How does she act or speak?
2. What is one thing she cares deeply about?
Justin Daniels Quiet & Steady
1. How does he react to big feelings?
2. What special hobby does he share with Amber?
Part 3
The "FOR SALE" Sign Crisis (Chapter 3)
1. What does Amber think and do when she first spots the "For Sale" sign on Justin's front yard?
2. Justin did not tell Amber right away. Why do you think it was so hard for him to say the words?
Key Takeaway: Best friends don't always say what they feel right away, especially when a big change is scary.
Chapters 1–3
Chewed Gum Conflict Worksheet Chewed Gum Conflict Worksheet
Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon • Chapters 4–6
Name:
Date:
Part 1
The Power of the Chewed-Gum Ball
To an outsider, their giant ball of chewed gum seems gross. But to Amber and Justin, it was a treasure.
What did the gum ball represent to Amber?
Why did Justin want to throw it away before moving?
Part 2
Two Sides to the Big Blowup (Chapter 5)
Amber's Perspective Felt Abandoned
Why did Amber feel so hurt when Justin acted excited about moving to Alabama?
Justin's Perspective Felt Overwhelmed
Why was Justin acting grumpy and trying to pretend he didn't care about the move?
Part 3
Behind the Anger (Chapter 6)
When Amber talks to her mom in Chapter 6, she realizes anger is often just sadness wearing a mask. How can fighting sometimes be a way people protect themselves when they are hurting?
Part 4
Dear Friends: Advice for Amber & Justin
If you could give Amber and Justin one piece of advice before Justin moves away, what would you tell them to do about their fight?
Discussion Prompt: Have you ever felt angry at someone because you were actually sad?
Chapters 4–6
Classroom Chat Discussion Guide Classroom Chat Discussion Guide
Teacher Facilitation • Chapters 4–6 • Conflict & Empathy
Target Skills Point of View • RL.3.3 • RL.3.6
Instructional Focus Reading Pacing: 25–35 min
These chapters depict the emotional peak of the book: Justin withdraws to cope with moving anxiety, while Amber acts out because she feels abandoned. Guide students to see that anger is often sadness in disguise .
Section 1
Chapter-by-Chapter Close Reading Prompts
Chapter 4: The Changing Classroom Inferring Feelings
Question: Amber notices Justin doesn't want to play their favorite desk games anymore. Why is he retreating?
Teacher Prompt: Point out how Justin might feel that playing normally makes the upcoming goodbye too painful to bear.
Chapter 5: The Chewed Gum War Analyzing Symbols
Question: Why does throwing away the gum ball cause such an intense explosion between them?
Teacher Prompt: Help students recognize that the gum ball is a tangible record of their shared memories. Tossing it feels like tossing their friendship away.
Chapter 6: Mother's Wisdom Theme Connection
Question: How does Amber's mom help her reframe the situation? What realization occurs?
Teacher Prompt: Amber's mom explains that Justin is scared about starting over in Alabama. Amber learns that she is not the only one hurting.
Section 2
Partner Dialogue Routine: “Perspective Swap”
Partner A (Speaks as Justin):
“I have to pack my whole life into cardboard boxes and leave everything I know. Amber thinks I'm happy to go, but I'm really terrified.”
Partner B (Speaks as Amber):
“You're my best friend and you won't even talk to me about it. When you threw our gum ball in the trash, it felt like you were throwing me away.”
Differentiated Discussion Support
For emerging readers or English learners, provide sentence frames: “Amber feels _____ because _____, but Justin feels _____ because _____.” Encourage students to use color words to describe their feelings (e.g., fiery red for anger, storm gray for sadness).
Teaching Companion • Paula Danziger Study Preparing for Lesson 3: Farewells and Crayon Keepsakes
Farewell Crayon Box Activity Farewell Crayon Box Activity
Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon • Chapters 7–9 • Culminating Project
Name:
Date:
Part 1
The 64-Crayon Box & The Missing Amber (Chapter 8)
AMBER
The Kept Crayon Box of 64 • Built-in Sharpener
Why does Amber keep the amber crayon for herself and give Justin the rest of the brand-new box?
Part 2
Justin's Counter-Gift (Chapter 9)
How do Amber and Justin make peace before he climbs into the moving van? What does Justin give to Amber, and what promise do they share?
Part 3
Amber's Note: Words for the Long Trip to Alabama
Imagine you are Amber writing the special note tucked inside Justin's crayon box. Express your true feelings, apologize for the fight, and give him one funny memory to take to Alabama.
Dear Justin,
Your best friend always, ____________________
“Amber Brown is not a crayon. But she is Justin Daniels' best friend.”
Chapters 7–9
Novel Wrapup Quiz Novel Wrapup Quiz
Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon • Whole Book Assessment
Name:
Date: Score:
Part 1
Multiple Choice (Circle the best answer)
1. Why do Amber and Justin pretend their classroom desks are an airplane flying to China?
A) Mr. Cohen teaches through imaginative travel
B) They are hiding from the school principal
C) They are trying to avoid taking a difficult math test
D) Justin won a free vacation trip in a raffle
2. What is the main reason Justin and his family are moving away?
A) Justin got accepted into a new private school
B) His father accepted a new job in Alabama
C) They wanted to move closer to Amber's relatives
D) Mr. Cohen suggested they live in a warmer climate
3. Why is the chewed-gum ball so deeply important to Amber?
A) It is worth money to antique collectors
B) It won first prize at the county science fair
C) It holds years of shared memories and daily laughs
D) Mr. Cohen ordered them to keep adding gum to it
4. What does Amber do before giving Justin the 64-pack box of crayons?
A) She sharpens every single crayon in the box
B) She removes the amber crayon so he remembers her
C) She replaces the crayons with colored chalk pieces
D) She colors all over the cover with marker
Part 2
Character & Conflict Analysis
5. Why did Justin pretend he didn't care about leaving, even tossing the gum ball into the trash? Explain what he was really feeling inside.
Part 3
Theme Reflection
6. What big lesson does this story teach readers about friendship, change, and handling difficult goodbyes? Use one example from the book.
End of Assessment Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon • Grade 3 Novel Study
Novel Wrapup Answer Key Novel Wrapup Answer Key
Teacher Reference • Scoring Guide & Exemplars • Grades 3–4
Total Points 10 Points Total
Part 1
Multiple Choice Solutions (1 Pt Each)
Question 1 Correct: A
Rationale: Mr. Cohen turns desks into Flight 3B to engage students in learning world cultures and geography through creative roleplay.
Question 2 Correct: B
Rationale: Justin's father landed a new position in Alabama, requiring the family to sell their home and relocate.
Question 3 Correct: C
Rationale: The chewed-gum ball represents their daily bonding, history, shared humor, and the growth of their friendship over time.
Question 4 Correct: B
Rationale: Amber removes the "amber" crayon so Justin holds a physical piece of her whenever he colors in his new school.
Part 2
Exemplar Written Responses (3 Pts Each)
Question 5: Justin's Protective Mechanism (3 Points) RL.3.3 • Character Motivation
“Justin acted like he didn't care because he was scared and overwhelmed about leaving his best friend and his school. Throwing the gum ball in the trash was his way of trying to make moving hurt less, but inside he was hurting just as much as Amber.”
Criteria: Identifies fear/coping mechanism (1 pt), connects to the gum ball incident (1 pt), recognizes unexpressed sadness (1 pt).
Question 6: Theme & Meaning of True Friendship (3 Points) RL.3.2 • Central Message
“The book teaches that real friendship survives big changes. Even when people move away or get into fights, apologizing and being honest keeps the bond alive. Amber keeping the amber crayon and Justin keeping the gum ball shows their memories stay with them forever.”
Criteria: States a clear thematic lesson (1 pt), cites textual evidence or gift exchange (1 pt), explains lasting bond (1 pt).
Part 3
Scoring Rubric & Standards Alignment
Score Scale & Performance Levels:
• 9–10 pts (Advanced): Deep comprehension of motives, symbolism & theme.
• 7–8 pts (Proficient): Strong recall and solid explanation of character feelings.
• 5–6 pts (Approaching): Basic recall; requires support explaining symbolism.
• < 5 pts (Needs Support): Reteach chapters 5–8 focus points.
Common Core Standards Covered:
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.1: Textual evidence & direct questions.
