Let’s talk some English today. Here’s the plot to a children’s book called ‘Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day’ by Judith Viorst. As you can understand, Alexander is having a very bad day indeed. It all begins when he wakes up with gum in his hair, then he trips on a skateboard, and drops his sweater in the sink, and everything seems to go wrong all day long from there. You don’t have to read the whole story to discuss the following questions, but if you want to read it, here is a link to the online bookstore.

Task: Talk and give your opinion in English

1. What does it mean to be in a bad mood?
2. How do you know you’re in a bad mood?
3. Can the mood you’re in affect what happens to you during the day?
4. What makes a day a bad one?
5. Is any day completely bad or completely good?

Courtesy of the Center for Philosophy for Children of the University of Washington