Harriet the Spy

Harriet has found comfort in writing down all her thoughts in her journal. Everything she thinks she writes down. This causes problems for Harriet since she also writes down the mean and judgmental things about the people she knows. Have you ever written a journal? Does it help you express your thoughts and feelings? Why can writing down your mean thoughts be helpful compared to saying them out loud? Does it matter if Harriet meant the hurtful things she wrote or not? Discuss this with an adult.
Harriet’s friends find her journal. They read all the things she has written about them and become angry. They will not talk to her and begin to do mean things to her. Think of another story where someone lost their friends because of a mean thing that they did. How are they like Harriet? How are they different? What do they do to regain their friend’s trust? How do their friend’s responses compare? Draw a Venn diagram. Find five ways they are similar, and five ways they are different.
Harriet’s friends create a club. Throughout the world there are many different clubs. Some clubs are formed in schools and some outside of school. An example would be Girl/Boy Scouts. With a parent’s help research some clubs that people in your community can join. Who can join? What do the people do once joined? What is the purpose of the club? Are all clubs good?
Writing down her thoughts helps Harriet sort through life. Try writing out your own thoughts and create your own journal. Look at the world around you and observe the things in your life. Write down everything for two weeks! You do not need to share this with anyone!

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