The Phantom Tollbooth
Classroom Connections
Kathleen Caldwell and Thomas Gaine (2000) begin their paper, "The Phantom Tollbooth and How the Independent Reading of Good Books Improves Student's Reading Performance" by discussing a colleague named Curtis who, when he was a child, was uninterested in reading due to the dull books his teachers provided for him. Upon reading The Phantom Tollbooth, Curtis "discovered the world to be rich with literary figures of speech such as metaphors, clichés, puns, and synonyms. Although these were new concepts to Curtis, he instantly became intrigued with the idea that words can have more than one meaning. While his interest grew deeper in the content of the book, his practice of using these figures of speech increased dramatically. As a result, he developed a greater desire to read on his own and began to discover books independently" (Caldwell and Gaine, 2000, p. 3).
Caldwell and Gaine also write, "One method of motivating students will be to suggest and incorporate good books such as The Phantom Tollbooth into our reading program. Literary-rich books such as this one can provide a plethora of activities that will motivate the children's desire to read. Such activities for The Phantom Tollbooth include: interactive websites where the children are able to choose their own outcome, plays and skits that children can perform, vocabulary activities that are contextually based, debates of the importance of letters and words vs. the importance of numbers and equations, and various art projects" (Caldwell and Gaine, 2000, p. 8).
Stavroula K. Gailey (1993) suggests books like The Phantom Tollbooth be used in terms of teaching mathematics. She says, "Children's trade books are often used to enhance language arts, social studies and even science lessons. However, they are rarely used in the mathematics classroom. Of the more than two thousand children's trade books a number can be used to introduce, reinforce, or develop mathematics concepts. Not only librarians should familiarize students with these trade books; mathematics teachers also should include these books in their lessons." (p. 258). She qualifies this by saying, "Why use children's books in the mathematics classroom? Because their use enriches learning. Mathematics and language skills develop together as students listen, read, write, and talk about mathematical ideas. In addition to enhancing mathematics learning, the children's books can be used for teaching reading. These books make reading a link between using concrete manipulatives and doing abstract paper-and-pencil activities" (p. 258).
Below is an annotated bibliography of some examples in which educators have created worksheets for using The Phantom Tollbooth in the classroom. There are several other sources out there, so don't end your search here!
Academy Morales and Murchison. (2012). The phantom tollbooth project.
Sugar Land, TX: Fort Bend Independent School District. Retrieved on February 24, 2014 from http://camp uses.fortbendisd.com/ campuses/documents/Teacher/2012%5Cteacher_20121211_1011.pdf
This worksheet involves the student (8th grader) to write their own Phantom Tollbooth story. Included are charts to fill in characters, places, conflicts, gifts, and figurative language. There are a series of "Exit Projects" in which the student is to use Juster's Phantom Tollbooth to do a creative work (i.e., a diorama, a script) or a critical work (create a glossary or critique the movie vs. the book). This worksheet includes scoring guides.
Bulloch, K.L. & Wright, T.M.(2010). A guide for using the phantom
tollbooth in the classroom. Westminster, CA: Teacher Created Resources, Inc. Retrieved on February 24, 2014 from http://www.e-bookspdf.org/ view/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5kZWRpY2F0ZWR0ZWFj aGVyLmNvbS9zYW1wbGVzL0REVHIvdGNyMDQzMXMucGRm/VGhlIFBoYW50b20gVG9sbGJvb3Ro
[note: a message will appear that states: "we were unable to find the document [...] try to download the original document by clicking here." Click on the linked "here". This is only a preview.] To order this guide click here: http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Phantom-Tollbooth-Classroom-Literature/dp/1557344310
There are five sections to this guide, each divided by chapters in the book. Each section has a quiz, a hands-on-project, a cooperative learning activity, curriculum connections, and an in your life section. In addition to these resources there are pre-reading and post reading activities. This includes an about the author section, book summary, vocabulary lists, vocabulary activity ideas, and book report and research ideas.
East Aurora School District 131. (2013, August). Common core ELA units:
Unit 1: Playing with words. Aurora, IL: East Aurora School District 131. Retrieved on February 24, 2014 from http://www.d131. org/curriculum/ ela/5thgrade/grade_5_unit_1_lesson_plans.pdf
This worksheet offers a timetable with activities to go along with 5th graders reading the book. The essential question with this unit is: "how and why do we play with words?" The first activity involves poetic device, the second is to create a class book, and the third is an informative/explanatory essay. There are links provided for the teacher.
Harris, M. M., Atherly, R. B. & Brewer, B. A. (1979, February). Excursions
from the phantom tollbooth. Language Arts, 56(2): 171-174. Retrieved on March 1, 2014 from http://www.jstor.org/ discover/10.2307/41404778?uid=3739856&uid=2&uid=4&ui d=3739256&sid=21103563913167
Harris, et. al., present job cards for teaching The Phantom Tollbooth. There are three groups of cards: Cards for Word Tamers, Cards for Idea Collectors, and Cards for Thought Expanders. Each set has a subfields that draw from pages from the book. For example, from Cards for Idea Collectors: Fresh from the Half-Bakery, the instructions are "1) Read 'The Royal Banquet,' pp. 90-91. 2) Make a collection of half-baked ideas. Write them on cards and give them out to your friends.
LaSalle University. (n.d.). The phantom tollbooth by Norton Juster,
worksheet. Philadelphia, PA: LaSalle University. Retrieved on February 24, 2014 from http://www.lasalle.edu/~nielsen/tutoring/ worksheets/PHANTOLLwrksht.PDF
This worksheet pulls words from the book and asks the students to define them. It also asks about characters. This worksheet is primarily concerns strengthening vocabulary and descriptive writing skills.
Academy Morales and Murchison (2012), p. 5
Bulloch & Wright (2010), p. 1
East Aurora School District (2013), p. 1
Harris, et. al. (1979), p. 172
LaSalle University (n.d.), p. 1