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There's a new boy in kindergarten, and guess what? He's the handsomest guy Junie B. has ever seen. She and Lucille and that Grace all want him for a boyfriend. Only, he thinks Junie B. is a nutball. Just 'cause she couldn't stop laughing and rolling. So how is she supposed to get that boy to love her?
In this guide, a science lesson is used to focus
on physical characteristics of students’ family members to help
them understand genes and heredity.
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"There’s nothing cuter than a kindergarten
romance. But I have to admit, I was a little bit annoyed
with Junie B. when I saw how fast she tried to turn herself
into Lucille or Grace, just to interest Handsome Warren!
"‘Shame on you!’ I thought as I wrote.
‘Just be yourself! He’ll like you! I promise!’
"Then I had to laugh. Because it’s
the exact same advice my mother gave me (at least a kajillion
times).
"Okay, Mom . . . I get it now . .
. And (I’m hoping) so does Junie B."
© 1996 by Barbara Park |
Pre-Reading Activities
Junie B. tries to get Warren to like her as much as he likes her friends in Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren. However, she thinks that nice dresses and fancy running shoes are the way to get Warren’s attention. This is a good way to discuss the importance of being yourself. Ask your students to make a list of all the things that make them special and then share the list with the class.
 Like Parent, Like Child
Junie B. has straight hair, but she loves Grace’s "automatically
curly" hair. Define, in simple terms, the concepts of genes
and heredity. Discuss with your students how physical characteristics,
such as eye color, hair texture, and height, are inherited from
our family’s genetic pool. Have students chart individual physical
characteristics of family members (including paternal grandparents,
maternal grandparents, parents, themselves, and their siblings).
Then, have them analyze the results, indicating which traits
emerge as dominant in their particular family groups.
 Printable
Activities
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