"What did she serve?"
"Nothing. Zero. Zip. T.I.N.P. There. Is. No. Pizza."
Overview:
Stink Moody is incensed. He just found out that Pluto, his second-favorite planet (after Saturn), is not only NOT a planet anymore, it didn't even get to keep its name - it just has a six-digit number, instead. And Stink isn't the only one who's cheesed off about this. So is the new kid, Skunk.
But "Rotten Riley Rottenberger," AKA "Miss Know-It-All," is rather pleased at this new development, and she takes every opportunity to rub it in their faces. The rivalry intensifies, until finally Mrs. Dempster proposes that the class create their own panel of scientists, hold a debate, and let the class vote to decide Pluto's fate. Stink and Skunk, and Riley, and their supporters, dive right in: making signs, t-shirts, chants - anything to help win votes. All to decide once and for all: Is Pluto a planet? Or not?
For Teachers and Librarians:
Stink: Solar System Superhero is a great book to introduce to your students in March, since it connects nicely to the real-world holiday which showcases the same controversy raging in Stink's classroom: Pluto is a Planet Day, celebrated every March 13th. Besides being fun to read, this is a book you can use to supplement your curriculum in a variety of ways:
- Science: Introduce the solar system with the book's "Mnemonic Comics" pages, which briefly showcase each planet. Then have your students research the planets further, and make their own solar system comic book with the new information they find. Pluto's status depends on the definition of planet, and dwarf planet; have your students research to find out what those definitions are, and who decided those criteria. Explore with them: what else orbits our sun besides planets (asteroids, space junk, etc.)? Then let them present the information they find via scientific panel format. Make it feel more real by having them wear white lab coats, if you can round some up!
- Social Studies/Political Science: This book is a great springboard for a basic unit on democracy, focusing on the campaigning and voting aspects. Riley crossed out references to Pluto in textbooks; Stink put a bumper sticker on a car without the owner's permission. Discuss campaign strategies (buttons, signs, stickers, rallies, speeches, ads, etc.) and how to use them appropriately, then have kids act out ways Riley and Stink could have garnered support more responsibly. Present a lesson on how a debate works. Then let them
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