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Reading Guide - gode discussion questions og ideer til aktiviteter

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Reading Guide - gode discussion questions og ideer til aktiviteter

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret: Criss Cross | RIF.org

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After reading Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume use this printable and interactive Criss Cross puzzle. All clues relate to the content of the story.

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Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023) #MargaretMoments "I Am Margaret, We All Are Margaret"

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Ages

11-14

Duration

Short (1-4 activities)

A film guide that looks at Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (2023), an adaptation of Judy Blume's much-loved coming-of-age novel about exploring friendships, faith and puberty.

This guide is useful for exploring subjects including English Literature, PSHE Education and Religious Education in addition to highlighting topics surrounding growing up, anti-bullying, health and wellbeing.

This resource includes

This Resource Supports

English Literature

English

PSHE Education

Religious Education

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Updating our resources

We have developed a large catalogue of educational resources since launching in 2013, and some references and terminology will inevitably have dated as society and language evolves. We are aware of this and will be updating resources when our production schedule allows.

"All of the activities were enjoyed and engaged the children. As a teacher the resources and activities were easy to use and covered a lot of skills. It is a valuable and engaging way to teach and learn literacy. "

- Sarah Crowe, Teacher, Ysgol Y Draig, Wales

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Are You There God? It's Me..: Film Guide

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A film guide that looks at Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (2023), exploring its key topics and themes through informal discussion.

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Quiz after reading the whole book - easy

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Quiz after reading the whole book - easy

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1: Where did Margaret and her family move to? #2: How old is Mararet at the beginning of the book? #3: Who is the first friend Margaret makes in her new neighborhood? #4: Why does Margaret think they moved from New York?

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‘Are You There, God?’ Reminds Us Why Books Are Still Banned, Even in the Digital Age

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‘Are You There, God?’ Reminds Us Why Books Are Still Banned, Even in the Digital Age

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www.politico.com needs to review the security of your connection before proceeding.

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Reading log with writing prompts - mange gode ideer til skriftlige opgaver og aktiviteter

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Reading log with writing prompts - mange gode ideer til skriftlige opgaver og aktiviteter

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Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret | Novel Study

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Chapter 1 + 2  - discussion questions + task on censorship

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Chapter 1 + 2  - discussion questions + task on censorship

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Reading Questions and Activity Pack

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Partial Packet to be used while reading the novel Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume. The Packet consists of discussion questions and activities to support students' understanding of the novel.

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Judy Blume Talks Censorship, Book Bans, and Why She Will ‘Always Be a Feminist'

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Judy Blume Talks Censorship, Book Bans, and Why She Will ‘Always Be a Feminist'

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Judy Blume Talks Censorship, Book Bans, and Why She Will ‘Always Be a Feminist'

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Interview med Judy Blume: Forstå tiden og kulturen

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Interview med Judy Blume: Forstå tiden og kulturen

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Judy Blume describes latest wave of book bans and censorship as 'disgusting' and 'fascist'

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Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret. Ch. 7 to 9 | Quizizz

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Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret. Ch. 7 to 9 quiz for 9th grade students. Find other quizzes for and more on Quizizz for free!

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Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023) Official Trailer - Rachel McAdams

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Margaret Simon, almost twelve, likes long hair, tuna fish, the smell of rain, and things that are pink. She’s just moved from New York City to Farbook, New Jersey, and is anxious to fit in with her new friends—Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. When they form a secret club to talk about private subjects like boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret is happy to belong.

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I don't remember reading Judy Blume's classic novel, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. when I was a child. However, I very well may have because I remember the book cover on my shelf. I loved her other books, Double Fudge and Freckle Juice, if only for their titles.

Despite not remembering, some parts triggered an emotional recall towards the novel's end, as if I'd read it before. It felt nostalgic, like I was suddenly transported to my second-grade library during book fair, how I'd touch all the books and wish they were mine, or in my childhood bedroom, the one with a pogo stick leaning against the wall and polly pockets rubber clothes scatter around. In the same bedroom, my Grandma Barbie showed me how to line books on the shelf, going from tallest to smallest.

Yes, some part of me felt like I'd been here before. But perhaps that's the magic of Judy Blume. The spark of Margaret. She is all of us in some way. A reminder of how adolescence felt, the forgotten trinkets and challenges of twelve or, eleven or eight years old.

As an adult reader, I cherish that nostalgia and the film felt just the same. The character dynamics from Margaret to Barbara to Silvia felt flushed out, just like Margaret in the book. We relate to them; we watch and say - that's my grandma or aunt or father or mother; I did that; I remember that; Oh, yes, I felt that way; I feel like that now!

We read, and we watch, and we analyze as adults from a different lens. We realize that human interactions are the biggest conflict, and maybe we knew it then, too. But we didn't have so many words to describe our feelings. The world of religion and biases and hate didn't feel as big. Perhaps we read back then and related to the troubles of getting our first bra or fitting in at school. Now, we may analyze things deeper, think about how religion causes our divide because we use it to mistreat others, and that's not a concept avoided in this book.

Margaret talked to god before she had a religion. It wasn't until the adults fought over which religion was right or wrong did she have conflict. Margaret felt god most when she was alone.

"I've been looking for you God. I looked in temple. I looked in church. And today, I looked for you when I wanted to confess. But you weren't there. I didn't feel you at all. Not the way I do when I talked to you at night. Why God? Why do I only feel you when I'm alone?"
- Margaret (Are you there God? It's me, Margaret by Judy Bloom)

But it's not an invisible spirit you speak to that causes harm, but how that invisibility is used for human selfishness, judgment, and suppression.

"What I learned about religion is it makes people fight . . . maybe the truth is no one is out there."
- Margaret (Are you there God? It's me, Margaret, film adaptation )

Whether you're part of an organized religion or not, Margaret's family experiences teach us a few things about spirituality. Religion can connect or divide us, making the world feel expansive or penny-sized. For Margaret, she wasn't alone when speaking to god - it was therapeutic for her to share the things going on in her life.

I think most of us are searching for a way to connect. Searching for our tribe - people, religion, friendships, family. Whatever you want to call it. It's beautiful to see the way these connections transcend throughout this novel and film. The grandmother, Sylvia, struggles with loneliness when her family moves to Brooklyn and seems to find a partner in Morris Binamin. Barbara is exploring new roles as a wife and mother in the suburbs, learning to set boundaries and follow her passion.

And, of course, Margaret, over the course of a year, is faced with decisions - who she wants to spend her time with, what type of friend she wants to be, how to be close to god, right versus wrong, and the beginning of womanhood. It's all the ways we grow through experience - trial and error and learning from others. The more I explore, the more I find. Isn't that what this book... and life, is all about?

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Discussion Questions
Topic of Discussion: Children as Narrators

1. Does Margaret feel like a reliable narrator?

2. Does knowing her age affect the way you read the novel (her perspectives)? Can you see the world through that of a twelve year old girl?

3. Were there moments when Margaret detailing felt false?

4. Can you think of other novels told in the voice of a child? How do those compare to Margaret?

"Moments In which adolescent story telling shines."
I wrote that exact expert in my notebook, as a way to track my pink color tabs in the novel. These were moments when, I felt like a kid again.

1. What moments from the novel whether it be through voice/detail/description/emotion brought you back to childhood?

2. How might an adult read this novel compared to a child?

3. Did you read Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret when you were a kid? How do you remember the story, as compared to how you perceive it now?

4. What can we lessons can Margaret teach us, no matter our age?

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Film Questions

1. In the novel, Margaret explains to us (the reader) her mother's relationship with her parents. In the film adaptation, we see Barbara sharing the painful history with Margaret. How does the delivery of information affect our experience of this conflict?

2. How do pivotal moments of adolescence mirror themselves to your own experiences? (wearing a bra, first period, childhood crush, religion, family dynamics).

3. Aside from general entertainment, why do you believe it was important for the dinner scene to occur the way it did? (grandparents all together, fighting between family members about religion in front of Margaret)

Topic of Discussion: Supporting Characters
I adore Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates. Both brought life to the original backdrop characters of the novel. With the film adding additional conflicts, such as Barbara's battle with the PTA, balancing a new life, growing child, and her own relationship with her parents, we see the dynamics shift from adolescence to adulthood.

1. How does the film carry readers from childhood into adulthood? Do you find the grandmother, mother, and father roles relatable?

2. How does the casting of Rachel McAdams affect the way you view the film/mother character (if at all)?

3. If the film was adapted when the book was released (1970) do you think the film adaptation would've included some of the key aspects of adult perspectives as it did?

If you enjoyed this post, and want to see more from A Movie Lover's Book Club check out our February book pick or the bookish archive.

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret: Book Club Discussion - chickpeameatball

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I don't remember reading Judy Blume's classic novel, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. when I was a child. However, I very well may have because I remember the book cover on my shelf. I loved her other books, Double Fudge and Freckle Juice, if only for their titles.

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After reading Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume use this printable and interactive Word Search puzzle to extend student learning. Find and circle words across, down, and diagonally.

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret: Word Search

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Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret Word Search

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Play this word search game based around the book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Bloom

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Are You There God? It's Me Margaret. - quiz, vocabulary & spelling words, reading logs & games.

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A beloved and best-selling classic comes to the big screen with Lionsgate's adaptation of Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Starring Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, this timeless, coming-of-age story has transcended decades and spoken to generations. The book is considered a classic, yet it has been frequently challenged due to its frank discussion of religious and sexual topics.

It came out in 1970, so some of the situations and references may seem dated to today's tweens who are grappling with social media, cyberbullying, and school shootings. But the underlying issues of peer pressure, social acceptance, and religion are still current struggles for many tweens.

At 11, Margaret is moving to a new town and beginning to contemplate everything about life, friendship, and adolescence. She relies on her mother (McAdams), who offers loving support but is herself finding her own footing in a new place, and her grandmother Sylvia (Bates), who is coming to terms with finding happiness in the next phase of her life. For all three, questions of identity, one's place in the world, and what brings meaning to a life will draw them closer together than ever before. From writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig (The Edge of Seventeen) and Gracie Films' Academy Award®-winning producer James L. Brooks. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. is the theatrical event for everyone who has ever wondered where they fit in.

Friendship, Fitting In, and Social Pressure

Possible Talking Points:

After watching the movie or reading the book "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" with their children, parents could consider having some of the following conversations:

1. Puberty: The movie explores many aspects of puberty and growing up, including menstruation, breast development, and boys' changing bodies. Parents could ask their children if they have any questions or concerns about their own bodies and offer information and guidance. Be sure to also share stories about your own experiences growing up to connect.

2. Religion and spirituality: The movie raises many questions about religion and spirituality, including the role of God in daily life. Parents could ask their children if they have any thoughts or questions about these topics and offer their own perspectives, while also respecting their children's beliefs and encouraging open-mindedness.

3. Peer pressure: The movie explores the pressures that young people face to fit in and be accepted by their peers. Parents could ask their children if they have ever felt pressured to do something they didn't want to do, and discuss strategies for standing up for oneself and making good choices.

4. Body image: The movie touches on the issue of body image, as Margaret worries about her own appearance and compares herself to her friends. Parents could ask their children how they feel about their own bodies, and offer positive affirmations and support for healthy self-image. Remember modeling healthy body image is key.

5. Friendship: The movie portrays the ups and downs of friendship, as Margaret navigates changing relationships with her classmates. Parents could ask their children about their own friendships, and discuss strategies for resolving conflicts and building strong, supportive relationships. This blog can also help.

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After watching the movie or reading the book "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" with their children, parents could consider having some of the following conversations:

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Are You There God Its Me Margaret | Official Website | April 28 2023

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Are You There God Its Me Margaret | Official Website | April 28 2023

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Watch the trailer, find screenings & book tickets for Are You There God Its Me Margaret on the official site. In theaters April 28 2023 brought to you by Lionsgate US. Directed by: Kelly Fremon Craig. Starring: Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson, Elle Graham, Benny Safdie, Kathy Bates