Extra Yarn

Name: Extra Yarn
Author: Mac Barnett

A story that explores integrity and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

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♥ This book teaches: Integrity. doing what is right when no one is watching.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: Integrity means being honest, and responsible and respectful all the time, whether or not people can see what you’re doing. In short: Do the right thing, even when no one's looking. Summary: Annabelle has a gift for knitting. She has an unending supply of yarn for projects that supply her classmates, friends, animals, and even trees with warm sweaters, scarves, and a hat. The magic is that she never runs out of yarn! Her good work is interrupted when a wealthy archduke offers her a lot of money to buy the box of magic yarn. Annabelle refuses to sell it so the archduke steals the box of yarn and takes it away. When he is unable to make it work he throws it away. Does Annabelle ever get it back? Lesson Objectives:

Students discuss how the generosity of Annabelle is rewarded while the selfishness of the archduke is not. Students are equipped with lots of reasons to choose generosity over selfishness (everyone loves Annabelle, while the archduke is punished for being selfish).

Guiding Questions:

Annabelle was gifted with special yarn that was never used up. Why do you think the author chose her to be the one who received this gift?
Nate makes fun of Annabelle and her dog. How does Annabelle react?
When her teacher told Annabelle her sweater was a distraction, what did she do?
Annabelle could have sold her magic yarn for a lot of money. Why do you think she refused to do that?
Why do you think the magic disappeared when the archduke stole the box?
The archduke cursed Annabelle, and said, “you will never be happy again.” Did his curse work?
If you could have a gift that gave you a special talent you could share with others, what would you want?
Use three words to describe Annabelle, then describe the archduke. Why do you think Annabelle is happy and the archduke is so unhappy?
If you could give any gift you wanted to your parents, what would you choose and why?
Do you think the world would be a better place with more people like Annabelle in it or more people like the archduke and why?

🌿 Virtue Connection: Integrity means doing what is right even when no one is watching.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.

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Integrity · Family Discussion Guide

Extra Yarn

by Mac Barnett

Guiding Questions

Students discuss how the generosity of Annabelle is rewarded while the selfishness of the archduke is not. Students are equipped with lots of reasons to choose generosity over selfishness (everyone loves Annabelle, while the archduke is punished for being selfish).

Guiding Questions:

Annabelle was gifted with special yarn that was never used up. Why do you think the author chose her to be the one who received this gift?
Nate makes fun of Annabelle and her dog. How does Annabelle react?
When her teacher told Annabelle her sweater was a distraction, what did she do?
Annabelle could have sold her magic yarn for a lot of money. Why do you think she refused to do that?
Why do you think the magic disappeared when the archduke stole the box?
The archduke cursed Annabelle, and said, “you will never be happy again.” Did his curse work?
If you could have a gift that gave you a special talent you could share with others, what would you want?
Use three words to describe Annabelle, then describe the archduke. Why do you think Annabelle is happy and the archduke is so unhappy?
If you could give any gift you wanted to your parents, what would you choose and why?
Do you think the world would be a better place with more people like Annabelle in it or more people like the archduke and why?

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Extra Yarn

Guiding Questions for Parents.

About the Story.

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Extra Yarn

Guiding Questions