1

Substitute Creature Educators Guide

About the Book
When a giant noi'eastei uumps a blanket of snow on the village of Bunwich,
Nassachusetts, Robeit Aithui anu his fiienus finu themselves maiooneu insiue
Loveciaft Niuule School. The kius have no choice but to spenu the nightwhile
snacking on cafeteiia foou, sleeping on classioom floois, anu facing off against a
mysteiious substitute teachei who may have a sinistei seciet. The latest auventuie
in the Loveciaft Niuule School seiies featuies moie auventuies, moie outiageous
monsteis, anu anothei teiiifying lenticulai covei!

Genre
Chiluien's hoiioi

Topics/Themes
paianoimal events
zombiesthe unueau
couiage
noi'easteis anu othei stoims
integiity
piivilegeentitlement

Zombies
!"#$%&'( $'* +&,-#'&'( ./012 3'($(# #44#5-&6#78 &' $ 9$'(# :4 5:77$;:9$-&6# *&,5<,,&:',
=:'#>:'>:'#? &' (9:<",? $'* -#$5@#9>7#*A B&-@ *&6#9,# "$9-'#9, :' (9$*#>7#6#7 -:"&5,
$'* -#C-,? ;<&7*&'( :' :-@#9,D &*#$, $'* #C"9#,,&'( -@#&9 :B' 57#$9781
Activate stuuents' piioi knowleuge anu inciease theii backgiounu knowleuge
befoie ieauing by having a class uiscussion about zombies. What aie the
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chaiacteiistics of zombies. Bow uo people become zombies. As a class, ueciue the
uefining chaiacteiistics of zombies (foi instance, is the Boctoi in E91 F@: a zombie
because he iegeneiates. Why oi why not.). The book G:H;&#, by Stephen Kiensky
(in the Nonstei Chionicles seiies) is a helpful, kiu-fiienuly iefeience foi uefining the
teim. Let stuuents uiscuss books anu movies about zombies. view clips fiom movies
with unueau chaiacteis, such as the title chaiactei in the 19S1 Boiis Kailoff
I9$'%#',-#&', Spaiky in I9$'%#'B##'&#, the Infeii in J$998 K:--#9 $'* -@# J$74>L7::*
K9&'5# (see !"##$%&''(#)*+*",-&./0*+*/*12(#*34), anu the quaiteimastei anu
ship's gunnei in K&9$-#, :4 -@# M$9&;;#$'N O' !-9$'(#9 P&*#,.

Q#$*&'(N +&-#9$-<9# R1S M:H"$9# $'* 5:'-9$,- -B: :9 H:9# 5@$9$5-#9,? ,#--&'(,? :9
#6#'-, &' $ ,-:98 :9 *9$H$? *9$B&'( :' ,"#5&4&5 *#-$&7, &' -@# -#C- =#1(1? @:B 5@$9$5-#9,
&'-#9$5-A1
0sing the giaphic oiganizei "Compaiing Zombies" incluueu in this guiue, have
stuuents woik with paitneis oi in small gioups anu compaie anu contiast Niss
Caicasse with othei fictional zombies. Bave stuuents finu eviuence in !<;,-&-<-#
M9#$-<9# to suppoit theii explanations of Niss Caicasse's chaiacteiistics.

F9&-&'( S/T1S F9&-# '$99$-&6#, -: *#6#7:" 9#$7 :9 &H$(&'#* #C"#9&#'5#, :9 #6#'-,
<,&'( #44#5-&6# -#5@'&U<#? *#,59&"-&6# *#-$&7,? $'* 57#$9 #6#'- ,#U<#'5#,1
Bave stuuents complete the "Compaiing Zombies" giaphic oiganizei by imagining
an oiiginal zombielike chaiactei anu ueteimining its chaiacteiistics (see the column
labeleu "Cieate youi own zombie heie"). Then have stuuents illustiate theii zombies
anu wiite a shoit stoiy oi comic stiip about them.

F9&-&'( S/T12V F9&-# 9:<-&'#78 :6#9 #C-#'*#* -&H# 49$H#, =-&H# 4:9 9#,#$95@?
9#47#5-&:'? $'* 9#6&,&:'A $'* ,@:9-#9 -&H# 49$H#, =$ ,&'(7# ,&--&'( :9 $ *$8 :9 -B:A 4:9 $
9$'(# :4 *&,5&"7&'#>,"#5&4&5 -$,%,? "<9":,#,? $'* $<*&#'5#,1
Beteimine whethei stuuents shoulu take time to extenu, ievise, anu publish theii
naiiatives about zombies oi whethei a shoitei, less foimal wiiting task to be kept in
stuuents' wiiting jouinals woulu woik bettei foi youi class. Bave stuuents shaie
S
theii sketches anu stoiies with the class oi in small gioups.

Extreme Weather
Q#$*&'(N W'4:9H$-&:'$7 P#C- R1X W'-#(9$-# &'4:9H$-&:' 49:H ,#6#9$7 -#C-, :' -@# ,$H#
-:"&5 &' :9*#9 -: B9&-# :9 ,"#$% $;:<- -@# ,<;Y#5- %':B7#*(#$;78.
The localizeu noi'eastei in !<;,-&-<-# M9#$-<9# cieates one of the cential pioblems in
the stoiy. To help stuuents make connections between the novel anu the ieal woilu,
have paitneis choose extieme weathei conuitions (e.g., toinauos, huiiicanes,
blizzaius, ice stoim) to ieseaich. Nake suie at least one paii chooses noi'easteis.
Belp stuuents finu books in the school libiaiy anu infoimation online about these
weathei conuitions. To integiate infoimation fiom these souices, have stuuents use
the Iuea Web giaphic oiganizei in this guiue, oi access it online at
6''78//7#*1'"9:(4,4-6&:"4'*-,-&./7#*1'"9:(4/;('"*:/<*;=>??@A,
Stuuents will wiite theii extieme weathei event in the
centei ciicle anu then wiite answeis to the following questions in the outlying
ciicles:
Wheie uoes this weathei typically occui.
At what time of yeai uoes this weathei typically occui anu how long uoes it
last.
Why is it uangeious. In othei woius, what happens uuiing this weathei
event (e.g., high winus, hail, fieezing tempeiatuies).
Bow shoulu people piepaie foi this weathei (e.g., evacuate, boaiu winuows,
buy a geneiatoi).

F9&-&'( ./R1Z F9&-# &'4:9H$-&6#[#C"7$'$-:98 -#C-, -: #C$H&'# $ -:"&5 $'* 5:'6#8
&*#$, $'* &'4:9H$-&:' 57#$9781
0sing theii completeu Iuea Web, stuuents can wiite a "stoim waining"a sciipt in
which they pietenu to be meteoiologists pieuicting the type of weathei they chose
to leain about. Show seveial clips of weathei iepoits on television newscasts to
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pioviue a mouel foi stuuents' mock foiecasts. The following websites may be helpful
foi youi class:
6''78//.*444"1;40("'6(#,9:&B47&',-&.
Watch viueos of fouith-giaueis piesenting weathei foiecasts.
C&3D39(
Seaich foi weathei foiecasts in youi city anu foi "Stuuio CFive Bay
Weathei Foiecast," a fictional, humoious weathei iepoit that emphasizes
symbols on the weathei map.
6''78//000,4-6&:"4'*-,-&./'("-6(#4/:(44&1E7:"1/(F'#(.(E#(4("#-6E
#(7&#'
This site incluues activities anu lesson plans foi extieme weathei, as well as a
tool to help stuuents geneiate weathei foiecasts calleu "Analyze: Foiecast
the Weathei."
Biscuss the foimat of the piesentation, the uetails incluueu in foiecasts, anu the
uiffeient symbols useu to iepiesent a vaiiety of weathei conuitions. 0se a iubiic to
establish wiiting expectations foi youi stuuents.

+$'(<$(# S/010 \5U<&9# $'* <,# $55<9$-#78 (9$*#>$""9:"9&$-# (#'#9$7 $5$*#H&5 $'*
*:H$&'>,"#5&4&5 B:9*, $'* "@9$,#,1
Beteimine specific weathei-ielateu woius anu phiases stuuents neeu to unueistanu
in oiuei to wiite accuiate, piecise weathei foiecasts (e.g., colu fiont, baiometei,
meteoiologist, squall). Belp stuuents become familiai with these teims anu incluue
them in theii mock stoim-waining iepoits.

!"#$%&'( $'* +&,-#'&'( R1. Q#":9- :' $ -:"&5 :9 -#C- :9 "9#,#'- $' :"&'&:'? ,#U<#'5&'(
&*#$, 7:(&5$778 $'* <,&'( $""9:"9&$-# 4$5-, $'* 9#7#6$'-? *#,59&"-&6# *#-$&7, -: ,<"":9-
H$&' &*#$, :9 -@#H#,] ,"#$% 57#$978 $- $' <'*#9,-$'*$;7# "$5#1
Bave stuuents piesent theii stoim waining to the class oi in small gioups. 0se the
iubiic below to establish piesentation expectations.
G(H3*#(.(1'4 C(4 I&.('*.(4 J&
S
Iueas sequenceu logically
Incluues all appiopiiate infoimation
(wheie, when, what, how)

Speaks cleaily at an unueistanuable pace

!"#$%&'( $'* +&,-#'&'( R/01R W'57<*# H<7-&H#*&$ 5:H":'#'-, =#1(1? (9$"@&5,? &H$(#,?
H<,&5? ,:<'*A $'* 6&,<$7 *&,"7$8, &' "9#,#'-$-&:', -: 57$9&48 &'4:9H$-&:'1
Bave stuuents piepaie maps with appiopiiate weathei symbols to use in theii
"Extieme Weathei Waining" piesentations. Auu this component to the iubiic above
to holu stuuents accountable foi theii visual uisplay.

Roberts Dilemma
!"#$%&'( $'* +&,-#'&'( S/01Z 3'($(# #44#5-&6#78 &' $ 9$'(# :4 5:77$;:9$-&6#
*&,5<,,&:', =:'#>:'>:'#? &' (9:<",? $'* -#$5@#9>7#*A B&-@ *&6#9,# "$9-'#9, :' (9$*#>
7#6#7 -:"&5, $'* -#C-,? ;<&7*&'( :' :-@#9,D &*#$, $'* #C"9#,,&'( -@#&9 :B' 57#$9781
Aftei ieauing Chaptei 1S, use the uiscussion web incluueu in this guiue to extenu
stuuents' thinking on the challenge Piofessoi Tillinghast piesents to Robeit on
pages 1S2-1S6. With paitneis oi in small gioups, have stuuents consiuei the moial
implications of the uecision Robeit must make. (To leain moie about uiscussion
webs, see 6''78//000,#(";*1B(;3-"'&#,-&./4'#"'(B*(4/0(9,6'..)

Vocabulary
K6"7'(#4 @L?
weugeu, blusteiy*, muiky, peicheu, paiallel, confineu*, enchanteu, flankeu, voitex,
centiipetal, accumulating, shambling, noi'eastei*, evacuating, oiifice
K6"7'(#4 ML@N
uisoiienting, panoiamic, suiieal, punctuieu, meteoiologist, engineei (v.),
animateu, geneiatoi*
K6"7'(#4 @@L@?
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embeuueu, stalactites, uescenueu*-ing*, pungent*, gioup mentality, contemplateu,
piopane gas, Bunsen buinei, valve, beakeis, etheieal, flabbeigasteu, flailing*, squall,
luiking, incompiehensible, extinguisheu, cackling, coiiiuoi*, uoimant, sustenance,
iavenously, instantaneous, uemonic, hiueous, wieaking havoc, chaos, tapei (n.),
vial*, inuulge, millennia, subteiianean, toleiate, limbo, inconsequential
K6"7'(#4 @ML@O
jubilant, liability, gaiments, spectaculaily
*Teims useu moie than once in !<;,-&-<-# M9#$-<9#.

+$'(<$(# S/01. E#-#9H&'# :9 57$9&48 -@# H#$'&'( :4 <'%':B' $'* H<7-&"7#>H#$'&'(
B:9*, $'* "@9$,#, ;$,#* :' (9$*#>7#6#7 9#$*&'( $'* 5:'-#'-? 5@::,&'( 47#C&;78 49:H $
9$'(# :4 ,-9$-#(&#,1
In Chaptei 11, Robeit anu Kaiina meet the 0lu 0nes anu use tools in the school's
chemistiy lab to tiy to keep the 0lu 0nes fiom enteiing the school. Biscuss what is
happening in anu aiounu the chemistiy lab in Chaptei 11. Belp stuuents finu each of
the teims below in the text anu uiscuss whethei the context pioviues clues to the
meaning of the woius. 0sing iealia oi photos, show anu uesciibe the puipose of the
lab equipment mentioneu in the chaptei. Then have stuuents make illustiations of
Loveciaft Niuule School's chemistiy lab as it may have lookeu in Chaptei 11. Bave
stuuents label the teims in theii illustiations.
peiiouic table of elements
butane lightei
valve
piopane gastank
vial
Bunsen buinei

+$'(<$(# S/01R5 ^,# -@# 9#7$-&:',@&" ;#-B##' "$9-&5<7$9 B:9*, =#1(1? ,8':'8H,?
$'-:'8H,? @:H:(9$"@,A -: ;#--#9 <'*#9,-$'* #$5@ :4 -@# B:9*,1
Nake a vocabulaiy Intensity Continuum to help stuuents leain the subtle
uiffeiences between synonymous woius. (To leain moie about vocabulaiy Intensity
Continuums, see 6''78//'(F'7#&P(-',&#B/7#&2(44*&1":E;(Q(:&7.(1'/'(F'E
."''(#4/31*H3(E0&#;4E#(H3*#(E31*H3(E*14'#3-'*&1/.) The teims on the
7
continuums inciease in intensity oi uegiee fiom left to iight. 0se the continuums
below to get staiteu.
Aftei you show anu uiscuss a few, stuuents can use piint anu uigital thesauiuses to
help uevelop continuums foi othei teims in !<;,-&-<-# M9#$-<9#. Then play Snapshot,
a game similai to chaiaues in which the class looks away while a gioup of thiee
stuuents pose in a way that illustiates one of the teims on the continuum. 0n a cue,
class membeis look at the "snapshot" anu guess which woiu the stuuents aie
miming.
pusheu weugeu** stuffeu foiceu ciammeu
peimit toleiate** conuone accept embiace
pokeu piickeu pieiceu punctuieu** stabbeu
stiong shaip peivasive potent pungent**
bieezy winuy blusteiy** gusty squally** stoimy
unattiactive ugly unsightly iepulsive hiueous**
**Teim (oi a foim of the teim) useu in !<;,-&-<-# M9#$-<9#.
Nany othei inteiesting woius in !<;,-&-<-# M9#$-<9# may woik well along an
Intensity Continuum, such as the following:
muiky, animateu, embeuueu, flabbeigasteu, luiking, iavenously, uemonic, havoc,
chaos, inuulge, jubilant

About the Author
Chailes uilman is the authoi of the Loveciaft Niuule School seiiesanu the pen
name of }ason Rekulak, an euitoi who lives with his wife anu chiluien in
Philauelphia. When he's not uieaming up new tales of Loveciaft Niuule School, he's
biking along the fetiu banks of the Schuylkill Rivei in seaich of two-heaueu iats anu
othei hoiiific beasts.

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About the Illustrator
Fiom an eaily age, Eugene Smith uieameu of uiawing monsteis, mayhem, anu
mauness. Touay, he is living the uieam in Chicago, Illinois, wheie he iesiues with his
wife, Naiy, anu theii uaughteis, Auuiey anu vivienne.
!
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Substitute Creature Discussion Web

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