Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
WITS Connection
Talk It Out
Seek Help
Story Summary
The protagonist is hurt when a neighbour ‘strikes him out’ in a baseball
game and then has a party to celebrate. When the protagonist talks it
out with his father he makes an enemy pie that only works if he
spends a whole day with his enemy. He discovers that his neighbor,
the enemy is not so bad. They become friends and eat some delicious
pie.
Learning Outcomes
Social Responsibility
Shows empathy and can describe others’ feelings in an increasing range
of situations.
Listens actively; if prompted considers and can explain another’s point of view.
Predicts consequences
ofrange
own and
others’ behaviour.
expressing
feelings and a
of emotions
Language Arts
Students connect what they read with what they already know.
Students access background knowledge
Students identify and interpret literary elements in different genres.
Social Studies
Students learn the aspects of a different community and culture.
Students learn that children all over the world are the same (feelings can be hurt, they can
by bullied, they eat, sleep etc…).
Questions and Activities
Pre-Reading Questions
• Show students a pie plate. On strips of paper ask students to write on strips of
paper what they would put in an enemy pie. Ask students to read aloud the
strips and place them in the pie. Then read aloud the story.
• What does enemy mean? Give an example of a situation where there is an
enemy.
• Look closely at the cover of the book. What is the opposite of my best enemy?
(antonyms)
Post-Reading Questions
• How did the main character use his WITS to deal with Jeremy? They talked
about it and the protagonist sought help from his father.
• How was the main character changing as he spent his day with his neighbour,
Jeremy? He started seeing that Jeremy wasn’t really an enemy.
What did he discover about his enemy? He discovered that his enemy enjoyed
the same activities he did and that he was fun to be around.
• What message or lesson is there for us? Before we make a judgment about
someone we should get to know them first.
• What can happen when you give people a chance or ‘the benefit of the
doubt’?
Post-Reading Activities
• Empty the pie plate that is full of strips of words that students wrote before the
story was read and discussed. After discussion of the book ask the students to
write on the strips descriptions what they would put in the enemy pie.
• Write these words on the board: ‘Before’, ‘Talk It Out’, ‘Seek Help’, ‘After’.
Under the column, ‘Before’ students describe the feelings of the protagonist.
Under ‘Talk It Out’ or ‘Seek Help’ describe how he shared his feelings. Under
‘After’ described how the protagonist’s feelings changed.