I hope you enjoy this small sample of The One and Only Ivan Interactive Notebook and
Activity Unit.
You can purchase the entire unit at
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-One-and-Only-Ivan-1831734
The One and Only Ivan
1. What promise does Ivan give
Stella?
Chapters 48-54
2. Stella told Ivan that elephants ___.
a. to teach her right from wrong
b. to give Ruby a treat each day the
way Mack gave her treats
c. to make sure Ruby obeys Mack so
she won’t get hurt
d. to take care of Ruby and get her
out of the circus
a. feel more joy and stronger grief
than gorillas
b. have good memories
c. can’t live forever
d. have bigger hearts and kinder souls
than gorillas
3. How are Julia’s and Ruby’s feelings about Ruby’s death similar?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
4. What imagery does the author use to show the sad feelings of the characters
after Stella’s death?
________________________________________________________________
5. Explain how Ivan’s thoughts are different from gorillas living in the wild.
Wild Gorilla Thoughts
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Ivan'sThoughts
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
The One and Only Ivan
1. What promise does Ivan give Stella?
a. to teach her right from wrong
b. to give Ruby a treat each day the
way Mack gave her treats
c. to make sure Ruby obeys Mack so
she won’t get hurt
d. to take care of Ruby and get her out
of the circus
Chapters 48-54
2. Stella told Ivan that elephants ___.
a. feel more joy and stronger grief
than gorillas
b. have good memories
c. can’t live forever
d. have bigger hearts and kinder
souls than gorillas
3. How are Julia’s and Ruby’s feelings about Ruby’s death similar?
Both are extremely sad. Julia doesn’t do her homework. She just sits by Stella’s cage
and cries. Ruby cries herself to sleep.
4. What imagery does the author use to show the sad feelings of the
characters after Stella’s death?
black clouds, moonless night (The moon Stella loved is shrouded with clouds.)
5. Explain how Ivan’s thoughts are different from gorillas living in the
wild.
Wild Gorilla Thoughts
>find food
>watch out for enemies
>find shelter
Ivan'sThoughts
>boredom ~ how to entertain himself
>talking to friends ~ Bob and Stella
>making the circus a success ~ eat
more, learn tricks, draw pictures
Constructive Response – Comparing Mack to George
Compare Mack to George by listing five traits of each.
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
MACK
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
George
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how
their actions contribute to the sequence of events
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific
details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).
Constructive Response – Comparing Mack to George
Compare Mack to George by listing five traits of each.
owner of the Big
Top Mall and
boss
clown and
ringmaster
MACK
doesn't call the
vet because he
thinks it will cost
him too much
money
made bad
decisions ~
keeping the
animals in small
cages
treated Ivan like
a son until he
blamed Ivan for
his wife leaving
employee who
works at the Big
Top Mall
janitor
gEORGE
upset that Mack
doesn't call the
vet when Stella
needs one ~ cries
over Stella
cares about the
animals but
doesn't have the
means to make
things better
his wife helped
with the work
until she became
too ill to do so
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how
their actions contribute to the sequence of events
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific
details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).