Trapped in a Video Game

Book Club Discussion Questions

Whether your middle-grade students love playing video games or just appreciate a good story, the Trapped in a Video Game series has something for everyone. Readers will follow 12-year-old Jesse Rigsby as he battles and outsmarts his way through a virtual world. But, if he isn’t careful, he risks being trapped in the video game universe forever! With this set of free downloadable book discussion questions, the fun doesn’t have to stop when the story ends. Use these questions to instigate critical discussions in either large or small groups of middle-graders.

Provide an early education in literary analysis disguised as a super-fun and lively classroom conversation. Middle-grade readers will have plenty to say about Jesse, the (reluctant) gaming aficionado, and his righthand man, Eric. Although Jesse has always hated video games, being sucked into one slowly changes his mind. It’s all fun and games until the two notice a mysterious figure following them through their quest. Have your students split into small groups––or keep everyone together––and discuss their favorite characters, the most heart-racing moments of the plot, and the things they liked and disliked about the book as a whole. They can even complete some interactive activities as they go. Inspire critical thinking and start them on a lifelong path of reading using these free downloadable book discussion questions.

Building Robots with Functions

Programming doesn’t have to be difficult with this free printable robot building exercise. Here is an accessible opportunity to teach your middle-grade students more about technology, while also exploring the exciting world of Trapped in a Video Game: Robots Revolt. This time, it’s not all fun and games. When Jesse accidentally releases robot villains from Super Bot World 3, he must act fast to save the real world from not-so-simulated danger. Facing threats of sewer piranhas, mysterious men in suits, and impending robotic doom, Jesse desperately fights to find his missing friend, Eric, and restore order to his world. Middle-grade readers will be thrust into Jesse’s daring and bold quest each time they open the book.

As students get deeper into the story, begin introducing the concepts of programming and robot-building using the included activity. Students act as robot function factories by tracing or drawing different pieces into one cohesive robot. Each piece has a unique function or power, so encourage middle-graders to get innovative with their combinations. After their drawings are complete, have them write origin stories for their mechanical masterpieces. Then, they can share the finished products with their peers. The robots in the book may be menacing, but your middle-graders can create their own heroes to defeat them. By pairing this free printable robot building exercise with the book, you will inspire students not only to read, but to pursue valuable knowledge in other fields. And who knows, completing this activity might reveal the next great programmer!