Ziggy & the Black Dinosaurs #2- Lost in the Tunnel of Time

Chapter 1

1. What time of year do you think the story takes place? What was the weather like? Give examples from the first page to support your answer.

2. Talk about what it feels like when it's time to go back to school in the fall. Discuss the good parts as well as the bad parts about going back to school.

3. Describe the contents of Ziggy's book bag. What does this tell you about Ziggy?

4. Describe their school building. How is it similar to or different from your school?

5. Ziggy seems to have trouble with his homework. What kinds of problems is he having? What do you think about homework and why?

6. Explain why Ziggy said he kept the seven stones. Do you think they can really keep away ghosts?

7. If you read all of Chapter One, you'll see a description of each boy. Write a description or draw a picture of

• Rico

• Ziggy

• Jerome

• Rashawn

Chapter 2

1. Tell what is revealed about the club the boys call The Black Dinosaurs.

2. What can you tell about Mrs. Powel from her description?

3. Describe Eden Park.

4. The class was sitting on one back of the River. What was on the other side?

5. What do the children learn about the Underground Railroad?

6. Why did the story of a railroad that ran underground seem so unbelievable?

7. Describe the kinds of foods that Ziggy seems to like to eat.

8. Why are stories a good way to learn about history?

9. Describe what the Ohio River looked like on that day.

10. How do you know Ziggy had not finished his homework?

Chapter 3

1. What additional information do the children learn about the Underground Railroad?

2. Why would a slave want to escape?

3. What would happen to a slave who escaped?

4. What did the law say about helping escaped slaves?

5. What was the usual means of transportation for an escaping slave?

6. What does Mr. Greene reveal about his grandfather Mac?

7. How had Mac and his mother crossed the Ohio River?

8. Where would an escaped slave have to hide?

9. Where were secret tunnels supposed to be hidden, according to Mr. Greene's story?

10. What does Mr. Greene tell them about the River City Ghost?

Chapter 4

1. What do you think the River City Ghost sounded like?

2. What do you think the River City Ghost looked like?

3. Describe the treasure that Rico brought. Tell all the things it could do.

4. Find out what you can about the Shawnee people in Ohio.

5. What did people call the River City Ghost?

6. What do you think happened to the River City Ghost?

7. Compare how the river looked from the river bank to how it looked from the boat. 

8. If you have ever been on a boat ride, describe it. If not, describe what you think it would feel like to be traveling on water instead of land.

9. Why are field trip days so much fun?

10. What is the homework that the teacher assigns?

Chapter 5

1. Describe Rashawn's dog.

2. Describe the inside of their clubhouse.

3. Why do they decide to bury the treasures?

4. Who forgot the password this time? What was the password?

5. What does Ziggy bring to show the boys?

6. Where did he get it?

7. Why is the map special?

8. What does the map reveal about their school?

9. What is Ziggy's plan?

10. Make a prediction. What do you think will happen next?

Chapter 6

1. What had Ziggy discovered behind the stage at school?

2. What is a trap door?

3. What is Ziggy's plan?

4. What does each boy decide to bring the next day?

5. What could be dangerous about what they plan to do?

6. Who noticed that the boys had stayed behind? Why is this important?

7. What does it sound like when the trap door is opened? 

8. How do you think the boys felt as they climbed down the ladder.

9. When they get to the bottom of the steps, what do they discover?

10. Make a prediction. What will happen when they try to go back up the steps after Ziggy pulls the trap door shut?

Chapter 7

1. Describe how each boy reacts when the door slams shut.

2. Why are they in a very dangerous situation?

3. Describe the tunnel they found.

4. Why does Ziggy think they've found an Underground Railroad tunnel?

5. What was in the bundle? Describe each item.

6. Why are the seven stones they found so special to Ziggy and the boys?

7. What do they imagine when they turn off their flashlights?

8. What do you think it would be like if you were a runaway hiding in the darkness?

9. What do the boys learn about the bravery of runaway slaves?

10. What does the map tell them about escape?

Chapter 8

1. What had Mrs. Powell said about a tunnel in her ghost story?

2. Why do you think the dirt was getting muddy and squishy?

3. What do you think was the source of the light the boys saw?

4. What caused the cave-in?

5. How would you feel if this had happened to you?

6. What do they find in Ziggy's book bag? 

7. What is unusual about the food they discover and eat?

8. What do they do with the items with the items they found in Ziggy's bag? Why?

9. Describe a time when you have been scared or alone.

10. What would you have done if you had been trapped with the boys?

Chapter 9

1. Each boy talks about his fears. What does each one mention?

2. Describe the wind they hear and feel.

3. Why do they think it was the River City Ghost? Why was the ghost not scary?

4. Describe Rico's dream. Why do you think he dreams that?

5. Describe Rashawn's dream. Why do you think he dreams that?

6. Describe Jerome's dream. Why do you think he dreams that?

7. Describe Ziggy's dream. Why do you think he dreams that?

8. What frightens the boys when they wake up? What do they think it is?

9. What item had led to their rescue?

10. Describe the rescue.

Chapter 10

1. How do the parents, teachers, and Mr. Greene react to the boys after they've been rescued?

2. How had Tiana been important in their rescue? 

3. What do the boys tell Mrs. Powell about the ghost? 

4. Do you think she believes them? Why or why not?

5. What is important about the tunnel and the bundle the boys had found?

6. Why are old things sometimes very valuable?

7. Where do they decide to take the treasure?

8. Describe what Ziggy is eating. Why does this tell you about him?

9. What have the four boys, and their teacher, learned about the Underground Railroad?

10. How did Afrika find them?

11. What was significant about the green tennis shoe?

Chapter 11

1. What had Ziggy learned about the importance of remembering the past?

2. Write a story just like Ziggy's. Use your own words and ideas.

Additional Activities:

A. Information to explore and discover. Use the internet or an encyclopedia, or books to find out more about the following:

1. The Underground Railroad

2. Slavery

3. The Ohio River

4. Slave States and Free States

5. The Civil War

6. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio

7. Treasure maps

8. Ghost stories

9. Riverboats

10. Unusual but healthy foods to eat

B. Jobs to explore:

1. Teacher

2. Private investigator

3. Explorer

4. Emergency Rescue Technician

5. River Boat Captain

6. Archeologist

7. Historian

8. Architect or Builder

9. Museum director

10. Map maker

C. Writing activities:

1. Draw a treasure map that leads to something you've hidden. See if your classmates can find it.

2. Write a story, with you as the main character, as you explore a mystery or make a discovery.

3. Make up a ghost story. Draw a picture of your ghost.

4. Write a poem or story about being afraid.

5. Write a poem or story about friendship.

6. Write a mystery that includes clues. At the end of your story show how the clues are solved.

7. Write a newspaper story about how Ziggy and his friends get rescued.

8. Write a newspaper story about how Ziggy and his friends are honored for their discovery.

9. Write a poem or story about a river, or an ocean, or any large body of water.