Secret of the Seal

Thinking Cap Questions

Written by Cynthia, Molly, and Sonu

 

 

#1. Explain why Uncle George decided to capture a seal? Do you think what he did was right? Why or why not?

 

#2. If you were Kyo, what would you do the same as it is in the book to help the seal, and what would you do differently?

 

#3. On page 41, why do you suppose the words, “Don’t come up!” got stuck in Kyo’s throat when he tried to tell Tooky to not pop out of the water.

 

#4. Why do you suppose on page 45 to page 46, Kyo decided to go far out in the ice and towards the inland of the mountains to carve on a rock?

 

#5. Rewrite Chapter 15. Make it more interesting. Add ideas and details.

 

#6. What were the words that Kyo said in one of the earlier chapters that made George more urgent to catch a seal.

 

#7. Compare what Kyo thought and what Uncle George thought about the seal. How were they the same, how were they different?

 

#8. In the book it didn’t say much about the seal and Kyo having fun. Make up characteristics of the seal that would give it “life” to show how fun she really can be.

 

#9. Create and make some good times when Tooky and Kyo are playing with each other.

 

#10. How would the story be different if George actually caught Tooky?

 

#11. Why do you think Uncle George let Tooky go? Do you think his personality changed? Explain.

 

#12. Why did the zoo want a seal? Why couldn’t they take other animals like a tiger? Explain. You may choose to interview people in the zoo to get the answer instead of just writing the answer. It can sort of be like a news show except written on a piece of paper.

 

#13. What if Tooky jumped into the ice hole before George could catch her? Explain what would happen from that point.

 

#14. Pretend George caught Tooky and had brought it back to the zoo; explain what would happen. Be sure to include details of setting.

 

#15. Rewrite the sections of the story where Kyo was with his Uncle George catching seals, but make sure that you write it differently. Do not copy the exact words from the book. Make Kyo want to help his Uncle George catch the seal. Make sure the ideas are the same but the idea and details are different.

 

#16. Give George new characteristic traits. Would this change the story, or would the story stay the same. Explain.

 

#17.  What if George did catch a seal, but it wasn’t Tooky? Do you think Kyo would try and fool George to get away from it even when the seal wasn’t his friend? Explain.

 

#18. If you could meet Kyo in person, what would you ask him and why? 

#19. Imagine Kyo living in the modern day with all the technology, do you think the story would still be the same or different? Explain.

 

#20. Write what you think the author intended you to learn or see in this story.