Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

Creative Writing and Presentation: “Jeffrey’s Graduation Speech”

In this activity, students will write and present a creative speech from the perspective of Jeffrey at his high school graduation.

Imagine that the author is asking for your help in crafting an epilogue where Jeffrey is graduating from high school and is giving a speech at his graduation. What would this speech include in relation to his illness? Reflect on the main events of the novel, then draft a speech from the perspective of Jeffrey using first-person narration. Consider the following as you craft the graduation speech:

• What challenges did Jeffrey have to overcome in order to graduate from high school?
• Which characters had the greatest impact on his life and personal growth, and why?
• What lesson or overall takeaway might Jeffrey share with others who are struggling with their poor health or the health of a family member?
• In which ways would Jeffrey’s speech touch upon the themes of Resilience in the Face of Adversity and/or The Importance of Family?

Finally, share your speech with the class, then compare and contrast your creative writing with that of your peers. What similarities or differences do you notice in the content and style of the graduation speeches? What, if any, patterns emerge?

Teaching Suggestion: This Activity invites students to consider the impact of illness from the perspective of Jeffrey in a creative writing assignment. While this Activity gives students the opportunity to reflect on the novel and strengthen their creative writing skills, it could also be amended to strengthen students’ public speaking skills. Students might memorize and present their speeches to the rest of the class while focusing on vocal projection, enunciation, eye contact, and body language.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who may find it sensitive to write from the perspective of someone grappling with chronic illness, consider having them write a speech from the perspective of Steven instead, four years after the end of this story when he graduates high school. In the speech, Steven might talk about the impact of his brother’s illness on his personal life and academic pursuits.