Students will pair into groups and either use the internet or go to the library to research about birthstones . They will find their birth stone, their teacher's and their families. Students can summarize what steps Sylvester's parents make to find him. Have the students act out the steps that Sylvester's parents took to find him. If they do it correctly, you will know that they are understanding what is happening.
Students can go on line to a missing children's site and learn important tips.
Children can make a list of how to be safe and not ever be missing. Students can make a journal of what Sylvester is experiencing throughout the book. The teacher can read these journals to know the level of understanding the children have of the story. Keeping a journal about Sylvester's expereinces can also allow the students to incorporate some of their own expereinces. If they do it correctly, they will be summarizing what Sylvester's expereinces have been.