The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Yay!  We finally had another book club get together and I think this one was my favorite by far.  Any excuse to have a legit tea party is always great!


For the evenings ACTIVITIES, I kept things pretty simple-

1.  Thanks to Pinterest those who didn't come wearing TEA TIME HATS made one.  Here's mine...(directions included below)

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Wrapping or Butcher Paper (I got some from the $ store)

Tape

Embelishments (flowers, ribbon, tissue paper, anything to create some pretty fru-fru)

DIRECTIONS:

• Cut your wrapping/butcher paper into large squares (approx 3'x3')
• With the paper on your head, have someone tape around the crown of your head (this creates the hat part, keeps the paper on your head, and distinguishes the brim)
• Trim pointed edges of square to be round if you like (you can start with a round piece, but I found it to be easier to cut a square and then just trim)
• Tape the brim of the hat up in the front
• Add embelishments (I used a ribbon to cover the tape around the crown, and made a bow with long tails hanging down in the back, and then added a pretty flower in the front)

2.  We took a short QUIZ to refresh our memory of what happened in the book (we had a longer lapse between reading and actually meeting this time) and for an excuse to give fun little prizes.  

*side note* Prizes included: a small letter writing kit-since the book is written in letter form, a tea cup and saucer candle-reminiscent of our tea time and those had in the book, and a small candle with an artistic interpretation of the eventual relationship development at the end of the book.

3.  As Isola, one of the books characters did, we EXAMINED OUR OWN HEAD BUMPS using this Phrenology map.

4.  Then we discussed the book

As for FOOD-

• We just had to represent the roasted pig which brought the society to fruition, but lets be real, I wasn't about to get too literal so we had thick deli sliced ham with swiss cheese on entertainers crackers. 
• I selected some nice assorted berry tea to represent the plentiful berries that were available post war
• And as for everything else, (Pecan Sandies, Cranberry Shortbread Cookies, and Watercress Mini Sandwiches) they were simply great tea time treats.
• I did provide a couple alternate beverage options for those who don't fancy tea- Apple Cider, Hot Cocoa, and water infused with lemon and orange slices.

Now the best for last...DECORATIONS-

I must give credit where credit is due, and I couldn't pull this together without great neighbors and a sweet momma.  Most items were gathered from them.  Thank you ladies!

I had to come up with a tea time theme, which seemed easy after reading this selection from the book:

“In every nook, I find little things that tell me about her… shells, bird feathers, dried sea grasses, pebbles, eggshells, and the skeleton of something that might be a bat”

So there you have it...my work was done!

The Giver

We just had a book club shindig and my place.  Its been long overdue since our last meeting was almost 3 months ago.  Life gets busy with girls in school, some doing the mom thing, or working to support a husband in school, but we finally did it!

We read The Giver by Lois Lowry.

image source

I hosted this time and was in charge of the evenings events.  The following are some things that we did and resources that are available as you plan your own.

1.  Guests were assigned a number upon arrival in the same manner that children were assigned numbers in order of birth.

2.  We usually try to plan food that goes along with the book, but since there was no mention of what was actually eaten we settled on recipes that contained apples, which was the only edible thing talked about.  (It was the first thing that Jonas realized "changed")  Some girls played on the idea of color too which was also a great idea!
   

• I decided on apple "salsa" with cinnamon chips.  This is the recipe I referenced with only a few alterations. I didn't have apple jam so I used some homemade apricot pineapple, which I did not bother melting.  Also, I just sprayed the tortillas with a little cooking spray and then sprinkled them with cinnamon and sugar.

 image source

3.  We took a little comprehension quiz, but really it was just an excuse to give a prize to the person who got the most questions right.  Most questions were found here.  The winner chose from either "Relief of Pain Medication" or "Anti-Stirring Pills"  

4.  As part of receiving a number, we proceeded with the Ceremony of Twelve where each number received an assignment.  I had a jar with assignments tags in it and pulled one out starting with number 1 and so on.  I found a few items at the Dollar Tree to go along with some of the assignments.  

• Birthmother received a home pregnancy test
• Doctor received bandaids
• Caretaker of the Elderly received a puzzle
• Director of Recreation received a kite
• Speaker received a blow horn
• Fish Hatchery Attendant received Swedish Fish Candy
• Anyone else received a pack of Extra gum to remind them that they are extra lucky to be able to make choices and not be controlled.  

5.  We had a group discussion


           Here are a couple group discussion resources-

• http://www.bookbrowse.com/reading_guides/detail/index.cfm/book_number/1789/the-giver
• http://www.shmoop.com/the-giver/questions.html
• http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/guides/give.html

6.  To finish off the night we had a Color Appreciation game.  I wanted to show that sometimes all it takes is a bit of color to recognize what an object is.  I found images online of common things and cropped them to be close up.  I made one copy in black and white and another in color.  I numbered each black and white picture 1- 6 and made sure the corrisponding number was also on the color copy. Each person was given time to look at the black and white pictures and write down what they thought it was. They were then shown the exact same pictures but in color.  Most were much more recognizable in color even though they were still cropped close.  

The following are links to a google doc where you can print the same cropped images I used.  Just print one in color and then change your printer settings and print one in black and white.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iAa6A411L70W3yc-f73MYk0NuY-fr8QS_ebP4PI-6b8/edit


https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wFgNV75_PMPY6RIdMDkpeOYlYGk3D-FmKJeI1HocZUY/edit


https://docs.google.com/document/d/1usstUJ65IbhuoE7DNODRfu6YdwsMDZOveHQjQ1ay0Xw/edit


https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZrblGg4kxfGaDUzos7RJF3wxveb-FzePgNffw9fE86U/edit


https://docs.google.com/document/d/1krLtKM0W2P_0n91gACA4bHGZpXQ5PgZzxUVyJD6JsrI/edit


https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jjPVuaDgUvgSI-kKNGF3lUi-jfWRHffj3tfql2fwcM4/edit


Additional Resources:
Q&A with Author Lois Lowry-  http://www.cityofwhittier.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=3037
Lois Lowry's Official Website- http://www.loislowry.com/
Online Quiz on which Assignment you would receive- http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=what-assignment-from-giver-is-best-you#
1994 Newbery Acceptance Speech- http://www.loislowry.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=200


Do you have more activity or food ideas?  Please feel free to share your suggestions.  

BOOK CLUB

I participate in a book club with some wonderful ladies from my neighborhood.  Our local library has a stash of book club kits available, which might possibly be a well kept secret until now.  The kit comes with multiple copies of the book, cliff notes, and often times supplements to the reading.  These kits work nicely since we are all living the starving-college-student life and too poor (or cheap...whichever) to buy books.  But it does mean we are limited to a short list of books as there are not enough resources in our small town for multiple copies of books at one time.  We make it work though and we have lots of fun getting together.  Check this page for book club meeting ideas and resources.