Running Loose Projects and Activities

1. Imagine that Becky hadn't been killed. Write a scene showing where Louie and Becky's relationship would have gone.
   
   
2. What happens to Louie after high school? Write a scene showing what happens to him next.
   
   
3. Working with your group, brainstorm what Louie could have done to get back on the football team without compromising his principles. List possible solutions, discuss the merits of each, and share your list with the members of other groups. See if the class can come up with a solution.
   
   
4. Working with a partner, go through the book and identify the events that had a major impact on Louie. List the events and describe how they affected Louie. Share your list with others.
   
   
5. Imagine that you were a sports writer covering the game in which Boomer knocked Washington into the sidelines bench. Write an article about the game, especially noting Boomer's hit.
   
   
6. Write an obituary for Becky Sanders.
   
   
7. Work with a partner to identify the various conflicts in the story. Create a diagram that represents the conflicts. Share your diagram with others.

Curriculum Connections

1. Design your own plaque for Becky Sanders. What would you write on it? (Art)
   
   
2. Research the state of Idaho. Find out about its population, climate, and geography. Locate it on a map of the western United States. What states border it? Write a report and include a map. (Social Studies)
   
   
3. Although baseball is often called America's favorite sport, football is king in the fall. Consult references and research the history of football. Trace its development and try to determine why so many boys and men play the game, and why so many fans enjoy watching it. Write a report of your findings. (Social Studies)

Excerpted from English Teacher's Great Books Activities Kit.