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ESL Worksheets
 

Dear Mr Henshaw, Beverley Cleary

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US and British English
Leigh's School Report
"The Road of Life" Board Game

SCORE Guide to "Dear Mr Henshaw"

TEN QUESTIONS

You are going to read a book in which a young boy writes a letter to his favourite author.  In the letter he asks the author ten questions.

If you had the chance to write to your favourite author, what questions would you ask?
 

1. ____________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________
7. ____________________________________________
8. ____________________________________________
9. ____________________________________________
10. ___________________________________________

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WHO'S WHO?

Complete the notes below, using information from the text.
 

BILL BOTTS

• a truck driver
• divorced
• unreliable (promises to phone but doesn't)
• .

BONNIE BOTTS

• a part-time baker
• divorced
• .

LEIGH BOTTS

• in sixth grade
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

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WHAT BOTHERS YOU?

On pages 27-28 Leigh tells Mr Henshaw what bothers him.  What
bothers you?  Make a list of things.  Try to arrange the list so that it
becomes a poem.
 
 
 

WHAT WISHES WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE?

On pages 29-30 Leigh tells Mr Henshaw what he wishes.  What do
you wish could happen?  Make a list.  (Do this on rough paper.)
Then try to turn it into a poem.  Be creative!
 

•   I wish I could fly ....

 
•   I wish I had LOT$$$$ and LOT$$$$ of money.

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LOOKING BACK AT THE BOOK, LOOKING FORWARD IN LEIGH'S LIFE

1. In the early part of the book, Leigh Botts is quite lonely and unhappy.  Later, things improve.  Make a list of all the positive things that happen in Leigh's life.

•   He manages to make a burglar alarm for his lunch box.

  ____________________________________________________________
•   ____________________________________________________________
•   ____________________________________________________________
•   ____________________________________________________________
•   ____________________________________________________________

2. Take a large sheet of paper and draw a diagram showing the relationship between Leigh, his mother and his father:

BONNY BOTTS
 
 
 
 
 

 BILL BOTTS                                                            LEIGH BOTTS

Write some words on the lines to show what each person thinks about the others.
 

3. Imagine that 10 or 15 years have passed.  (In other words, Leigh is now 21 or perhaps 26 years old!)  Write a letter from Leigh to Boyd Henshaw.  In the letter Leigh should tell Mr Henshaw about all the changes in his life.

Think about the following:

•  Where does Leigh live now?
•  What does he do?  (Student?  Writer?  Teacher?  Electrical  engineer? ????)
•   What does his Mom do?  Different job?  House?  Single/Married?
•   What does his Dad do?  Settled or still travelling?  Single/Married?
•   Has Leigh kept in touch with Barry?
•   Does Leigh still keep a diary?  Has he published any novels?  What does he write about?

 Frankie Meehan