The Maze Runner by James Dashner

WORKBOOK

Name: _________________________

Class: _________________________

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Lesson 1

Solve the maze:

Start

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A. Read the blurb of the book The Maze Runner:

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. Remember. Survive. Run.

What is this book about? What do you think is going to happen? ___________________________________________________________________________

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B. Read the following (Dutch) text:

Welke japen kun je maven?

Nederland is een echt japetervolk. De ene houdt van een kruimige jap (bijvoorbeeld de

Doré), terwijl de ander van een stevige jap (bijvoorbeeld de Nicola) houdt. Voordat je iets

gaat maken is het belangrijk dat je weet welk soort jap je daarvoor het beste kunt gebruiken.

Voor jappuree of een stamppotje kun je het beste een kruimige jap gebruiken, terwijl je voor

bijvoorbeeld frietjes of gebakken japen weer het beste een stevige jap kunt gebruiken.

Kruimige zijn de beste soort voor het japen maven. Voordat we japen maven moeten we

ze eerst gaan schillen.

Now answer the following questions:

- What is this text about? ______________________________________________

- What is a “jap”? ______________________________________________

- What does “maven” mean? ______________________________________________

- How do you know? ______________________________________________

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Lesson 2 A. Timeline We’re going to make a timeline with important events in the book.

ALONE: Think about and write down 3 or 4 important events that have happened in the

chapters you read for this class.

A. _____________________________________________________________________

B. _____________________________________________________________________

C. _____________________________________________________________________

D. _____________________________________________________________________

TOGETHER: Now compare your list with the list of your neighbour/group. Together decide

which events are the most important. Write down the order in which the events took place

by placing numbers behind the events for what happened first and second, etc.

How much days have passed in total? Mark the days below the timeline at page 12. (Make sure you save space for the rest of the book). What happened at which day? Write down the events at the correct spot above your timeline.

B. Draw As Thomas is discovering where he is, he describes what he sees. Use

his descriptions and draw a map of the Glade. Draw or write down

what (4) sections there are and what can be found where. Make sure

your map is geographical correct (north/south/east/west).

Make sure your map also gives an impression of what you think the

Glade and the stuff in it look like.

When you’re done: compare your map to that of your neighbour.

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Lesson 3

A. Timeline A. A Runner returns and he has discovered a dead Griever.

B. While exploring the graveyard, Thomas is attacked by Ben.

C. Two runners go out to examine the dead griever and don’t get back in time.

D. Ben gets killed. Thomas goes to work on the farm.

E. Thomas hides in the vines to escape from the Grievers.

F. Ben is forced out into the Maze by the Keepers.

G. Thomas dives through the doors just as they are closing.

Read the descriptions of events. What event did not take place in the book? _____

Now write down the right order in which the events took:

1. _____ 2. _____ 3. _____ 4. _____ 5. _____ 6. _____

Now cross out the events you think are not very important to the main storyline.

Place the important events (and days) at the right spot on your timeline at page 12.

B. Reading circles (see Appendix 1) Today I am the: discussion leader / summarizer / word master

(underline your role). This is what I found out:

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Lesson 4 A. Timeline ALONE: Think about and write down 3 or 4 important events that have happened in the

chapters you read for this class.

A. _____________________________________________________________________

B. _____________________________________________________________________

C. _____________________________________________________________________

D. _____________________________________________________________________

TOGETHER: Now compare your list with the list of your neighbour/group. Together decide

which events are the most important and in what order the events took place.

Mark the days and events on your timeline at page 12.

B. Characters There are a lot of characters in The Maze Runner. Write down 2 characters you like and why

you like him or her:

1. _____________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________

Now write down 2 characters you don’t like + why:

1. _____________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________

Pick one of the characters you wrote down and compare them to somebody else by filling in

the circles below. - First you write down the name of the character you picked at the top of the left circle

- Second you write down the name of the person you will compare him/her with at the top of

the right circle. This person can be another character from The Mazerunner or from a

different book/film, but you can also pick someone real [maybe yourself?]).

- Where the circles overlap you write things that are the same, in the separate parts of the

circles you write things that are different

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Lesson 5 A. Timeline A. Thomas finds a clue to where the maze entrance is.

B. The Council decides it’s time for Thomas to start training as a Runner.

C. The Gladers wake to find the Sun did not rise that morning.

D. While out in the maze a mysterious invisible gateway doorway is discovered.

E. Minho starts training Thomas for his new job as runner.

F. Teresa wakes up and the Maze Doors stay open G. Thomas has his first experience of telepathic communication with Teresa.

Read the descriptions of events. What event did not take place in the book? _____

Now write down the right order in which the events took:

1. _____ 2. _____ 3. _____ 4. _____ 5. _____ 6. _____

Now cross out the events you think are not very important to the main storyline.

Place the important events (and days) at the right spot on your timeline at page 12.

B. Reading circles (see Appendix 1) Today I am the: discussion leader / summarizer / word master

(underline your role). This is what I found out:

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Lesson 6 A. Timeline ALONE: Think about and write down 3 or 4 important events that have happened in the

chapters you read for this class.

A. _____________________________________________________________________

B. _____________________________________________________________________

C. _____________________________________________________________________

D. _____________________________________________________________________

TOGETHER: Now compare your list with the list of your neighbour/group. Together decide

which events are the most important and in what order the events took place.

Mark the days and events on your timeline at page 12.

B. Language First we’ll do a quiz about the language used in The Maze Runner.

Now write down:

- How did you find out what the Glade-words

(jargon) mean? ______________________

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- What do you think of the language used?

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- Why do you think the writer made up a

special language for the boys in the Glade?

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- Does it work for you? Why (not)?

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Lesson 7

A. Timeline A. Thomas goes through the Changing after attacking a Griever.

B. The Gladers all agree they have to go and prepare for battle.

C. The Grievers come to attack the Glade house.

D. Theresa tells all the Gladers that Thomas and her are telepathic.

E. And that they both were at the start of the Maze planning.

F. Thomas can explain why the Creators made the Maze and where the Gladers come from.

G. Thomas volunteers to go through the Grievers Hole first.

Read the descriptions of events. What event did not take place in the book? _____

Now write down the right order in which the events took:

1. _____ 2. _____ 3. _____ 4. _____ 5. _____ 6. _____

Now cross out the events you think are not very important to the main storyline.

Place the important events (and days) at the right spot on your timeline at page 12.

B. Reading circles (see Appendix 1) Today I am the: discussion leader / summarizer / word master

(underline your role). This is what I found out:

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Lesson 8

A. Timeline ALONE: Think about and write down 3 or 4 important events that have happened in the

chapters you read for this class.

A. _____________________________________________________________________

B. _____________________________________________________________________

C. _____________________________________________________________________

D. _____________________________________________________________________

TOGETHER: Now compare your list with the list of your neighbour/group. Together decide

which events are the most important and in what order the events took place.

Mark the days and events on your timeline at page 12.

B. Fill in the chart Fill in the chart on the next page.

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12

Timeline

Event

Da

y Thomas arrives at the Glade after waking up in a strange

elevator with no memories

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Appendix 1: Reading Circles

With the Reading Circles we have a way to think about and discuss the book. Hopefully this

will help you to understand the book better. Maybe you find out that different people can

read different things in the same story, this can give you a new perspective.

We will do the Reading Circles in groups of 3. Each of the members will do 1 role in 1 lesson.

At the end of the book everybody has done all the 3 roles.

- First discuss with your group who will take what role today. The roles are:

o Discussion Leader

o Summarizer

o Word Master

- Now you’ll have 5 minutes to prepare your role (see the next pages).

- You will have about 10 minutes for your group discussion. Everybody brings forward

the things they prepared. The Discussion Leader makes sure everybody gets time to

speak.

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Discussion Leader

The Discussion Leader’s Job is to …

- Ask one or two questions to start the reading circle discussion

- Make sure that everyone has a chance to speak

- Make sure that everyone presents their role information

- Guide the discussion and keep it going

Usually the best discussion questions come from your own thoughts, feelings and questions

as you read. What surprised you? What made you smile? What made you feel sad?

It is best to use your own questions, but here are also some ideas to help:

- Questions about characters (like them? do they seem real?)

- Questions about the theme (friendship / romance / war)

- Questions about the setting

- Questions about what will happen next

Write down a couple of questions before you start the discussion.

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Summarizer

The Summarizer’s job is to ...

- Find the key points that everyone must know to understand and remember the story

- Retell the story in a short summary (1 or 2 minutes) in your own words (tip: use the

timeline!)

- Talk about your summary to the group, using your writing to help you

My key points:

Main events

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Characters

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My summary:

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Word Master

The Word’s Master’s job is to …

- Look for words or short phrases that are new or difficult to understand, or that are

important to the story

- Choose five words or phrases (not more!) that you think are important in these

chapters

- Explain the meaning of these five words/phrases to the group

- Tell the group why these words/phrases are important for understanding these

chapters

Your five words / phrases do not have to be new or unknown words. Look for words that

really stand out in some way. These may be words that are:

- Repeated often

- Used in an unusual way

- Important to the meaning of the story

My Words (+ page) Meaning of the word Reason for choosing the word

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