The Indian in the Cupboard

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Construct a Home for Little Bear or Boone”

In this activity, students will research the background of either Boone or Little Bear to create a historically accurate structure and provisions for the figurines.

Many misconceptions and cultural differences arise in The Indian in the Cupboard when Little Bear, Boone, and Omri interact with one another. One of these differences centers around Omri’s misunderstanding of the Iroquois culture and lifestyle. Act as though you are Omri and conduct research to create a historically accurate diorama for Little Bear or Boone. Consider these points in your research and creation:

• Select either Boone (1889 cowboy) or Little Bear (1700s Iroquois warrior in colonial America) to research.
• What type of clothing or customs are common for cowboys or Iroquois during this time?
• What kind of meals or other provisions would be necessary for Boone and Little Bear to live comfortably?
• What details from the text are important to include in your diorama, based on your understanding of the wants and needs of Boone or Little Bear?
• Construct a historically accurate shelter for the figurine and include any additional details that may make their stay in Omri’s home more comfortable.

Present your diorama, describing the aspects of research or connection to the text that are included in your representation. Provide a justification for the materials, colors, and construction items that you used.

Teaching Suggestion: Students may find it beneficial to first discuss and record prior knowledge acquired either through the novel or paired resources prior to starting the activity. Ask students to analyze what they know about the characters and their historical and cultural backgrounds to generate ideas for their dioramas. Consider providing students with example dioramas to assist in generating ideas.

Differentiation Suggestion: Visually impaired students benefit from dioramas as a teaching tool because of their tactile nature. Consider providing students shoeboxes and tactile objects, such as building bricks, pipe cleaners, and paper tubes, to use in constructing their dioramas.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Patrick coerces Omri into bringing Little Bear and Boone to school, an action that highlights Omri and Little Bear’s different perspectives.

• How do Omri and Little Bear feel about going to school? (topic sentence)
• Give 3 examples of how Omri and Little Bear’s reactions to Little Bear’s school visit differ, making sure to include what moments in the text make the reader aware of the characters’ different responses.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, describe how Omri and Little Bear’s different lived experiences affect their perspectives (for example, how Little Bear’s size or culture influence his perspective).

2. Omri, in an effort to accommodate Little Bear, offers him a tepee.  

• Why does Little Bear reject the tepee, and what does it teach Omri about stereotypes? (topic sentence)
• Describe Little Bear’s reaction to the tepee using 2 examples of descriptive language from the text. Explain how this interaction creates a learning opportunity for Omri, and describe what he learns about Iroquois culture.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how Omri attempts to rectify his apparent ignorance regarding the Iroquois culture and what this suggests about his development as a character.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Consider the relationship between Boone and Little Bear. In an essay of at least three main points, describe why Boone and Little Bear are enemies, how each contributes to the conflict between them, and how the relationship is restored prior to their return to their own time periods. Cite evidence from the novel in your response.

2. Consider Little Bear’s reaction to the Western movie he watches with Boone and Patrick. Incorporate multiple details into a brief paragraph to describe Little Bear’s reaction, why he reacts to the Western in the way he does, and what the scene reveals about the treatment of Indigenous people in America. Support your response with quotes from the text.

3. Boone reveals to Omri that his friends call him “Boohoo.” In an essay of at least three main points, explain why Boone is called Boohoo by his friends and how his apparent weakness may actually be a strength. Provide supporting details from the novel to bolster your response.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What mistake does Omri make regarding Little Bear’s culture?

A) He believes Little Bear to be a great warrior.

B) He assumes that all Indigenous cultures are the same.

C) He thinks Little Bear is too young to have weapons.

D) He provides Little Bear with a traditional chief’s headdress.

2. How might Patrick’s personality be described in comparison to Omri’s?

A) Irresponsible

B) Combative

C) Selfish

D) Confident

3. What is the primary reason Boone dislikes Little Bear?

A) Boone doesn’t like Little Bear’s attacks on him.

B) Boone does not like Little Bear’s personality.

C) Boone is biased against Little Bear’s culture.

D) Boone feels the need to appear stronger than Little Bear.

4. Which of the following is the best example of the novel’s theme The Dangers of Too Much Ambition?

A) Little Bear is convinced that, as chief, he needs a wife.

B) Omri takes credit for Boone’s picture in art class.

C) Omri brings a tiny medic to life to save Boone.

D) Patrick insists on having a living figurine of his own.

5. Why does Little Bear feel as though he does not belong in Omri’s world?

A) He has nothing to hunt and feels worthless.

B) He no longer wants to interact with Boone.

C) His only chance at finding a wife is by returning to his own time.

D) He believes he is too small to function in Omri’s world.

6. How does the relationship between Boone and Little Bear change from the beginning of the novel?

A) Little Bear learns to appreciate Boone’s differences after they attend school.

B) The relationship between Little Bear and Boone improves slightly over the course of the novel.

C) The relationship between the two is peaceful until Boone mocks Little Bear out of frustration.

D) Their tumultuous relationship ends in friendship when they become blood-brothers.

7. In what way does the novel portray typical tropes in American history?

A) Patrick is ill-equipped to care for Boone and Litle Bear.

B) Boone dislikes Little Bear because of his heritage.

C) Boone, as a cowboy, often cries.

D) Omri attends school with plastic figures in his pocket.

8. Which of the following is an example of Omri’s maturity?

A) He does not become angry with his brother after he steals the cabinet.

B) He attends school with Boone and Little Bear in his pocket.

C) He gives his mother the key to the cupboard to avoid temptation.

D) He is proud that centuries before, the British helped Little Bear’s people.

9. Why do the characters in the novel often fail to understand one another?

A) Cultural and historical differences

B) Socioeconomic and societal differences

C) Geographic and technological differences

D) Generational and language differences

10. What is the symbolic significance of toys in The Indian in the Cupboard?

A) They signify the magical and unethical power of the cabinet.

B) They represent childhood dreams and childish stereotypes.

C) They illustrate the shallowness of youth.

D) They embody the power of friendship.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Consider Omri’s friendship with Little Bear. How does the friendship between the two change Omri?

2. What lesson does the novel teach about the importance of understanding others?