Vacation Under the Volcano Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal

Vacation Under the Volcano questions by chapter

We know the book, its characters, setting and story, but not what happens in each chapter. So every question is written for this book, and any of them works wherever your reader has just stopped. One question per chapter, across all 10 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.

1. Chapter 1

   What is the most important thing you have learned so far about Jack and Annie's adventure? Explain how that information helps you understand the story.

2. Chapter 2

   Based on what you have read so far, what challenge do you predict Jack and Annie might face during their trip to Pompeii? What clue supports your prediction?

   Example answer: I predict that Jack and Annie will have trouble finding the scroll before they need to leave. My clue is that Vesuvius is about to erupt near Pompeii. That means their mission has a time limit, even if they do not know exactly how much time they have. I think they will need to make careful choices quickly.

3. Chapter 3

   Choose something Jack or Annie has said or done so far. What does it show about that character's personality?

4. Chapter 4

   How has the setting shaped Jack and Annie's adventure so far? Describe one detail about their surroundings and explain why it matters.

5. Chapter 5

   What does the story so far suggest about being brave in a frightening or unfamiliar situation? Use Jack or Annie to explain your thinking.

6. Chapter 6

   What do you understand so far about Jack and Annie's mission to find a Roman scroll? What question about that mission would you still like answered?

7. Chapter 7

   Choose a new or interesting word from your reading so far. How do the words around it help you figure out its meaning, and how does it help describe the adventure?

8. Chapter 8

   Would you want to join Jack and Annie on their trip to ancient Pompeii? Explain your opinion using something you know about the adventure so far.

   Example answer: I would like to see ancient Pompeii, but I would not want to visit when a volcano was about to erupt. Traveling in a magic tree house sounds exciting because I could see a place from long ago. However, burning ash would make the trip too dangerous for me. I would rather visit at a safer time.

9. Chapter 9

   What have you noticed so far about how Jack and Annie work together? Explain how one of their actions helps—or could help—the other.

10. Chapter 10

    How does the story so far show why learning about the past matters? Connect your thinking to Jack and Annie's visit to Pompeii or their search for a Roman scroll.

    Example answer: I think Jack and Annie's search shows that things from the past can be worth protecting. A Roman scroll could help people learn what someone wrote long ago. Their visit to Pompeii also makes history feel like a real place instead of just facts in a textbook. This makes me curious about the people who lived there.