All of the Above All of the Above, Shelley Pearsall, Little Brown & Company, New York, 2006 Grade Level: 6-8 ISBN & Cost: 03161524X $15.99

Blanket Permission to Reproduce Book Jackets:

Preferred wording: “Used by permission of the publisher.”

Synopsis: In a moment of frustration with his unmotivated class Mr. Collins issues a challenge. He proposes that they build the world’s largest tetrahedron and get into the Guinness Book of World Records. The story of the four students who work together is told from each perspective in first person along with comments from the teacher and comments and recipes from one of the parents.

General Review:

This is an entertaining look into an urban middle school and the lives of four of its students. It is based on a true story and captures the essence of the experience. The short chapters, line drawings and different voices of the characters make the book an easier read and add to the fun. The facts about tetrahedrons and the positive results of the project both in the successful completion of the structure and the positive effects on each student make it an inspiring story.

Themes: Interpersonal relations; Self-confidence; Family problems; City and town life; Geometry; Schools

Author Information: Shelley Pearsall is a former teacher and museum historian who has written two historical novels. She is a full time writer who lives with her husband and family in Silver Lake, Ohio. She maintains a web site with teacher resources at www.shelleypearsall.com .

Discussion Questions: Standard 3 Benchmark 3

1. Why did each of the students decide to join the math club? What did each one want to gain from the experience? What would motivate you to try something like this?
2. What group projects have you participated in? Which one was your favorite? Why did you enjoy it?
3. Which class period do you enjoy the most? What makes that class special – the subject, the teacher, the students or something else? Explain.

Activities:

1. Build a tetrahedron. Review the characteristics of a tetrahedron. Divide into teams and have a contest to see which team can build the largest structure. (Standard 1 Benchmark 1)
2. Put on a play based on this book. Assign characters, build props, practice dialogue and present it to another class. (Standard 2 Benchmark 2)
3. Research other world record projects. Do a report on how you would go about to break one of these records. (Standard 3 Benchmark 1)
4. Use geometric shapes to illustrate the events in the story and display them along with a timeline of the project. (Standard 5 Benchmark 3)

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