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My teacher Flunked the Planet by Bruce Coville
The Earth Question is going to be decided. Plan A calls for Earth to be left alone. Plan B calls for the aliens to take over the Earth and stop wars, disease and poverty BUT control Earth. Plan C calls for Earth to be restricted to the solar system by sabotaging scientific advancement. Plan D calls for the destruction of Earth. Peter, Susan, Duncan, Broxholm, and Kreblim (the home economics teacher) agreed to do the report. They have to be fair because BIG JULIE is watching. They pretend that Susan won a home economics scholarship and that Kreblim will travel with her. They visit a forest dying of acid rain, a chemical spill in Russia, war in Asia, and starving people in Africa. "Last year fourteen million children died because we chose to spend our money elsewhere." They also go to a children's shelter for runaways where they meet Ms. Schwartz and Peter's dad. They are in disguise so are not recognized. They begin to understand how Peter's dad has trouble showing love for his son. They also learn that Hoo-Lan has used Earth's television programing to slow down scientific advancement. Television watching makes us STUPID! They also discover that all humans are connected mentally but we block it. Peter asks the council to send teachers to Earth to train humans so we are ready to take our place with the more advanced alien races. Discussion Questions: How did Susan talk her parents into letting her travel with the aliens? Describe BIG JULIE. What does he look like and what does he eat? Why did aliens choose children to explain the "human heart" rather than adults? Why did Kreblin say "It's as if there is some secret rage driving you to destroy things around you." Why was Duncan the only one that could answer the door when the police came? Why did Hoo-Lan take Peter to the Tisha Halmton Home for Wayward Youth? How did Peter prevent the aliens from using Plan D? Related Activities to Use with the Series: Research famous people that were or are known for their intelligence. If you were Mr. Smith / Broxholm, who would you pick from your class to study and why? (Pick only POSITIVE traits about your fellow students) Research the circle of child abuse. How has Duncan's treatment by his father affected the way he treats other children? Peter says "I'll bet you this very minute, even while you are reading these words, some kid who's bright enough to cure cancer when he or she grows up is being hassled for being an egghead." Is Peter correct? Give examples. Television is called the "vast wasteland." Do you think television affects how you learn and behave? What do experts think? Research the problem of hunger in America? Is teaching the world's most important job? Why are teachers in America treated with so little respect?
My Teacher Flunked The Planet
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