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The Homework Machine

The Homework Machine

Starting with a stern statement from the Grand Canyon, Arizona Police Chief Rebecca Fish, meet four fifth graders in big trouble. There's long-haired, rebellious, cool guy Sam Dawkins; fun-loving, unacademic, pink-haired Kelsey Donnelly, African American grind Judy Douglas, and friendless genius Brenton Damagatchi. The whole thing starts because Sam is anti-homework, especially the daily fill in-the-blank worksheets his first-year teacher Miss Rasmussen hands out. Sam is skeptical when Brenton claims he has programmed his computer to search the web and do all his homework each day, but it’s true. Soon the four seatmates are spending every afternoon in Brenton’s bedroom, printing out their daily assignments on the computer they nickname Belch. It can’t do any harm, right? The chronology and confession of their ill-fated escapade is related entirely through a series of transcripts, narrated by the four contrite kids, their parents, classmates, and Miss Rasmussen.

There are many interesting threads explored in this nimble story: keeping secrets, making friends, being popular, the morality of taking the easy way out, first crushes, the meaning of war, and even the loss of a parent. The setting of the Grand Canyon and sub-themes about playing chess, starting fads, and using a catapult will get kids looking up supporting information in books and on the Internet. Questions readers can think about as they read include: Which of the four main characters is most like or unlike you and why? Which one would or would not be your friend and why?

Reviewed by : JF.

Themes : DEATH. FRIENDSHIP. GRIEF. HUMOR.

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CRITICS HAVE SAID

  • “A dramatic and thought-provoking story with a strong message about honesty and friendship.” – Elaine E. Knight, School Library Journal
  • “Booktalkers will find this a natural, particularly for those hard-to-tempt readers whose preferred method of computer disposal involves a catapult and the Grand Canyon.” – Carolyn Phelan, Booklist
  • “Tucked in between the laughs are excellent messages about tolerance, honesty, and the importance of what the students’ teacher calls the “homework machine [that] already exists. It’s called your brain.” – Child Magazine
  • “Short chapters of alternating voices tell the story, which is funny in some places, but is not without intense and sometimes sad moments.” – Susie Wilde, Children

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  • Clements, Andrew. No Talking. Simon & Schuster, 2007. ISBN-13: 9781416909835
  • Codell, Esm Raji. Sahara Special. Hyperion, 2003. ISBN-13: 9780786816118
  • Fletcher, Ralph. Flying Solo. Clarion, 1998. ISBN-13: 9780395873236
  • Gutman, Dan. The Get Rich Quick Club. HarperCollins, 2004. ISBN-13: 9780060534424
  • Gutman, Dan. The Kid Who Ran for President. Scholastic, 1996. ISBN-13: 9780590939881
  • Gutman, Dan. Qwerty Stevens Back in Time: The Edison Mystery. Simon & Schuster, 2001. ISBN-13: 9780590939881
  • Park, Barbara. Maxie, Rosie, and Earl—Partners in Grime. Knopf, 1990. ISBN-13: 9780679806431
  • Pearsall, Shelley. All of the Above. Little, Brown, 2006. ISBN-13: 9780316115261
  • Rocklin, Joanne. For Your Eyes Only! Scholastic, 1997. ISBN-13: 9780142003220
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THE HOMEWORK MACHINE

by Dan Gutman ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2006

When fifth-graders Judy, Sam and Kelsey discover their classmate Brenton Damagatchi’s homework machine, they think they are on to a good thing and begin to visit him regularly after school. Alphabetically seated at the same table, the brilliant Asian-American computer geek, hardworking, high-achieving African-American girl, troubled army brat and ditzy girl with pink hair would seem to have nothing in common. (They would also seem to be stereotypes, but young readers won’t mind.) But they share an aversion to the time-consuming grind of after-school work. Their use of the machine doesn’t lead to learning—as a surprise spring quiz demonstrates—but it does lead to new friendships and new interests. The events of their year are told chronologically in individual depositions to the police. In spite of the numerous voices, the story is easy to follow, and the change in Sam, especially, is clear, as he discovers talents beyond coolness thanks to a new interest in chess. Middle-grade readers may find one part of this story upsettingly realistic and the clearly stated moral not what they had hoped to hear, but the generally humorous approach will make the lesson go down easily. (Fiction. 8-11)

Pub Date: March 1, 2006

ISBN: 0-689-87678-5

Page Count: 160

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2006

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

Share your opinion of this book

More by Dan Gutman

RUTH BADER GINSBURG COULDN'T DRIVE?

BOOK REVIEW

by Dan Gutman ; illustrated by Allison Steinfeld

AMELIA EARHART IS ON THE MOON?

by Dan Gutman

MUSTACHES FOR MADDIE

MUSTACHES FOR MADDIE

by Chad Morris & Shelly Brown ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 3, 2017

Medically, both squicky and hopeful; emotionally, unbelievably squeaky-clean.

A 12-year-old copes with a brain tumor.

Maddie likes potatoes and fake mustaches. Kids at school are nice (except one whom readers will see instantly is a bully); soon they’ll get to perform Shakespeare scenes in a unit they’ve all been looking forward to. But recent dysfunctions in Maddie’s arm and leg mean, stunningly, that she has a brain tumor. She has two surgeries, the first successful, the second taking place after the book’s end, leaving readers hanging. The tumor’s not malignant, but it—or the surgeries—could cause sight loss, personality change, or death. The descriptions of surgery aren’t for the faint of heart. The authors—parents of a real-life Maddie who really had a brain tumor—imbue fictional Maddie’s first-person narration with quirky turns of phrase (“For the love of potatoes!”) and whimsy (she imagines her medical battles as epic fantasy fights and pretends MRI stands for Mustard Rat from Indiana or Mustaches Rock Importantly), but they also portray her as a model sick kid. She’s frightened but never acts out, snaps, or resists. Her most frequent commentary about the tumor, having her skull opened, and the possibility of death is “Boo” or “Super boo.” She even shoulders the bully’s redemption. Maddie and most characters are white; one cringe-inducing hallucinatory surgery dream involves “chanting island natives” and a “witch doctor lady.”

Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-62972-330-3

Page Count: 256

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2017

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S HEALTH & DAILY LIVING

More by Chad Morris

THE WILD JOURNEY OF JUNIPER BERRY

by Chad Morris & Shelly Brown

VIRTUALLY ME

by Chad Morris & Shelly Brown ; illustrated by Garth Bruner

WILLA AND THE WHALE

RACE FOR THE RUBY TURTLE

by Stephen Bramucci ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 3, 2023

A wild romp that champions making space for vulnerable creatures and each other.

A boy with ADHD explores nature and himself.

Eleven-year-old Jake Rizzi just wants to be seen as “normal”; he blames his brain for leading him into trouble and making him do things that annoy his peers and even his own parents. Case in point: He’s stuck spending a week in rural Oregon with an aunt he barely knows while his parents go on vacation. Jake’s reluctance changes as he learns about the town’s annual festival, during which locals search for a fabled turtle. But news of this possibly undiscovered species has spread. Although Aunt Hettle insists to Jake that it’s only folklore, the fame-hungry convene, sure that the Ruby-Backed Turtle is indeed real—just as Jake discovers is the case. Keeping its existence secret is critical to protecting the rare creature from a poacher and others with ill intentions. Readers will keep turning pages to find out how Jake and new friend Mia will foil the caricatured villains. Along the way, Bramucci packs in teachable moments around digital literacy, mindfulness, and ecological interdependence, along with the message that “the only way to protect the natural world is to love it.” Jake’s inner monologue elucidates the challenges and benefits of ADHD as well as practical coping strategies. Whether or not readers share Jake’s diagnosis, they’ll empathize with his insecurities. Jake and his family present white; Mia is Black, and names of secondary characters indicate some ethnic diversity.

Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023

ISBN: 9781547607020

Page Count: 336

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S MYSTERY & THRILLER | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

More by Stephen Bramucci

THE DANGER GANG AND THE PIRATES OF BORNEO!

by Stephen Bramucci ; illustrated by Arree Chung

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The Homework Machine

The Homework Machine

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Description

The Homework Machine

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50 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

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Introduction-Chapter 2

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 5-6

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Sam “Snik” Dawkins

Sam goes by his nickname Snik at school, which is a shortened version of Snikwad (Dawkins spelled backward). Snik is new to the Grand Canyon school. His family moved from Oregon because his father is in the Air Force and moves around a lot. Snik is cocky and outspoken. He prides himself on being a quick and accurate judge of character, pigeonholing his peers into groups of “clueless dweebs, pre-jock idiots, loses, brown-noses, and bullies” (8). Snik hates homework, and rather than take it seriously, he writes sassy, sarcastic answers that hint at his latent intelligence. Snik sees himself as cool and mocks Brenton for not even trying to become cool by never “having cool stuff or hanging around with cool people” (10). Snik sees Brenton as a challenge; Brenton’s intellect feeds into Snik’s insecurities about his own inferior intelligence.

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The Homework Machine- Summary & Analysis

Table of Contents

About the Poem “The Homework Machine” 

Themes of the homework machine .

The themes of the poem “The Homework Machine” by Shel Silverstein are:

  • The dangers of relying on technology ➤ The poem suggests that if we rely too much on technology to do our work for us, we may lose the ability to think for ourselves and learn.
  • The importance of hard work ➤ The poem also suggests that there is no substitute for hard work. Even if we had a machine to do our homework for us, we would not really be learning anything.
  • The importance of creativity and imagination ➤ The poem ends with the speaker imagining a world where everyone is the same and no one is creative. This suggests that creativity and imagination are essential for a fulfilling life.

“ The Homework Machine ” Poem by Shel Silverstein

The Homework Machine, Oh, the Homework Machine, Most perfect contraption that’s ever been seen. Just put in your homework, then drop in a dime, Snap on the switch, and in ten seconds’ time, Your homework comes out, quick and clean as can be. Here it is- ‘nine plus four?’ and the answer is ‘three.’ Three? Oh me . . . I guess it’s not as perfect As I thought it would be.

The Homework Machine Summary & Analysis

The Homework Machine by Shel Silverstein is a humorous and cautionary poem about the dangers of relying on machines to do your work for you.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the “Homework Machine” as the “most perfect contraption that’s ever been seen.” The speaker is excited about the machine because it can do your homework for you. All you have to do is put in your homework, drop in a dime, and snap on the switch. In ten seconds, your homework will be done, “quick and clean as can be.”

The speaker is eager to try out the machine, so they put in their math homework and drop in a dime. They snap on the switch, and in ten seconds, their homework is done. The speaker is thrilled. They can now spend their time doing other things, like playing or watching TV.

However, the speaker’s excitement is short-lived. When they look at their homework, they realize that the machine has given them the wrong answer to a math problem. The answer to “nine plus four” is three, which is obviously incorrect.

The speaker is disappointed and frustrated. They realize that the Homework Machine is not as perfect as they thought it was. They also realize that they need to learn to do their own homework, even if it is difficult.

The poem ends with the speaker realizing that they “guess it’s not as perfect / As I thought it would be.” This line is a reminder that we should not rely on machines to do everything for us. We need to learn how to think for ourselves and do things on our own.

FAQs from The Homework Machine

What is the story of the homework machine.

A kid finds a homework machine, but it gives them the wrong answer to a math problem, so they learn that it’s important to do their own work.

What is the central idea of the poem homework?

The central idea of the poem “The Homework Machine” is that it is important to learn to do your own work, even if it is difficult.

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The Homework Machine

The Homework Machine

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DOING HOMEWORK BECOMES A THING OF THE PAST The unlikely foursome made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher’s pet, and a slacker – Brenton, Sam Snick, Judy and Kelsey, respectively, – are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine, code named Belch, is doing their homework for them, they start spending a lot of time together, attracting a lot of attention. And attention is exactly what you don’t want when you are keeping a secret. Before long, members of the D Squad, as they are called at school are getting strange Instant Messages from a shady guy named Milner; their teacher, Miss Rasmussen, is calling private meetings with each of them and giving them pop tests that they are failing; and someone has leaked the possibility of a homework machine to the school newspaper. Just when the D Squad thinks things can’t get any more out of control, Belch becomes much more powerful than they ever imagined. Soon the kids are in a race against their own creation, and the loser could end up in jail…or worse!

What Kind of Book is .css-1msjh1x{font-style:italic;} The Homework Machine

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Dan Gutman is the New York Times bestselling author of the Genius Files series; the Baseball Card Adventure series, which has sold more than 1.5 million copies around the world; and the My Weird School series, which has sold more than 12 million copies. Thanks to his many fans who voted in their classrooms, Dan has received nineteen state book awards and ninety-two state book award nominations. He lives in New York City with his wife, Nina. You can visit him online at www.dangutman.com.

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Table of Contents

About the book, about the author.

Dan Gutman

Dan Gutman hated to read when he was a kid. Then he grew up. Now he writes cool books like The Kid Who Ran for President ; Honus & Me ; The Million Dollar Shot ; Race for the Sky ; and The Edison Mystery: Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time . If you want to learn more about Dan or his books, stop by his website at DanGutman.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (June 26, 2007)
  • Length: 176 pages
  • ISBN13: 9780689876790
  • Grades: 3 - 7
  • Ages: 8 - 12
  • Fountas & Pinnell™ R These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System

Browse Related Books

  • Age 12 and Up
  • Children's Fiction > Social Themes > Adolescence & Coming of Age
  • Children's Fiction > Social Situations > Adolescence
  • Children's Fiction > School & Education
  • Children's Fiction > Humorous Stories

Awards and Honors

  • ILA/CBC Children's Choices
  • Maud Hart Lovelace Award Nominee (MN)
  • Booklist Editors' Choice
  • South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee
  • Iowa Children's Choice Award Nominee
  • Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (IN)
  • Indian Paintbrush Book Award Nominee (WY)
  • Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best
  • Nutmeg Book Award Nominee (CT)
  • Colorado Children's Book Award Master List
  • Child Magazine's Guide to Top Books, Videos and Software of the Year
  • Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award Master List
  • Volunteer State Book Award Nominee (TN)
  • Virginia Readers' Choice Award List
  • Prairie Pasque Award Nominee (SD)
  • Land of Enchantment RoadRunner Award Nominee (NM)
  • Nene Award Nominee (HI)
  • Sunshine State Young Readers' Award List (FL)
  • Massachusetts Children's Book Award Nominee
  • Golden Sower Award (NE)
  • Sasquatch Book Award Nominee (WA)

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The Homework Machine

The Homework Machine

Table of contents, about the book, about the author.

Dan Gutman

Dan Gutman hated to read when he was a kid. Then he grew up. Now he writes cool books like The Kid Who Ran for President ; Honus & Me ; The Million Dollar Shot ; Race for the Sky ; and The Edison Mystery: Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time . If you want to learn more about Dan or his books, stop by his website at DanGutman.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (June 26, 2007)
  • Length: 176 pages
  • ISBN13: 9780689876790
  • Grades: 3 - 7
  • Ages: 8 - 12
  • Fountas & Pinnell™ R These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System

Browse Related Books

  • Age 12 and Up
  • Children's Fiction > Social Themes > Adolescence & Coming of Age
  • Children's Fiction > Social Situations > Adolescence
  • Children's Fiction > School & Education
  • Children's Fiction > Humorous Stories

Awards and Honors

  • ILA/CBC Children's Choices
  • Maud Hart Lovelace Award Nominee (MN)
  • Booklist Editors' Choice
  • South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee
  • Iowa Children's Choice Award Nominee
  • Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (IN)
  • Indian Paintbrush Book Award Nominee (WY)
  • Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best
  • Nutmeg Book Award Nominee (CT)
  • Colorado Children's Book Award Master List
  • Child Magazine's Guide to Top Books, Videos and Software of the Year
  • Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award Master List
  • Volunteer State Book Award Nominee (TN)
  • Virginia Readers' Choice Award List
  • Prairie Pasque Award Nominee (SD)
  • Land of Enchantment RoadRunner Award Nominee (NM)
  • Nene Award Nominee (HI)
  • Sunshine State Young Readers' Award List (FL)
  • Massachusetts Children's Book Award Nominee
  • Golden Sower Award (NE)
  • Sasquatch Book Award Nominee (WA)

Resources and Downloads

High resolution images.

  • Book Cover Image (jpg): The Homework Machine Trade Paperback 9780689876790 (2.4 MB)

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  1. I GET MAGICAL HOMEWORK MACHINE 😱💥|| #mrrupaiyt #shorts #ytshorts

  2. Cast of The Homework Machine on WERS

  3. The Homework Machine Chapter 2 by Dan Gutman audiobook

  4. The Homework Machine Chapter 7-9 by Dan Gutman audiobook

  5. maths homework machine

  6. Micheal Myers Halloween Theme

COMMENTS

  1. "The Homework Machine " Summary and Study Guide

    The Homework Machine, written by acclaimed American author Dan Gutman was first published in 2007 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and is the first of a two-book series.The second book, The Return of the Homework Machine, was published in 2011.Gutman is primarily a children's fiction writer who has been nominated for and won numerous awards, including 18 for The Homework Machine ...

  2. The Homework Machine (The Homework Machine, #1) by Dan Gutman

    Dan Gutman. The unlikely foursome made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker -- Brenton, Sam "Snick,", Judy and Kelsey, respectively, -- are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine, code named Belch, is doing their homework for them, they start spending a lot of time together ...

  3. The Homework Machine

    There's long-haired, rebellious, cool guy Sam Dawkins; fun-loving, unacademic, pink-haired Kelsey Donnelly, African American grind Judy Douglas, and friendless genius Brenton Damagatchi. The whole thing starts because Sam is anti-homework, especially the daily fill in-the-blank worksheets his first-year teacher Miss Rasmussen hands out.

  4. The Homework Machine

    However, it is simpler because the vocabulary is not as advanced, and it uses fewer characters to tell the story. It might not be a book that pushes the most advanced thinkers, but it's a book that almost every student will enjoy. The four main characters are distinctly drawn, if a little stereotypical, and provide a good starting point for ...

  5. THE HOMEWORK MACHINE

    When fifth-graders Judy, Sam and Kelsey discover their classmate Brenton Damagatchi's homework machine, they think they are on to a good thing and begin to visit him regularly after school. Alphabetically seated at the same table, the brilliant Asian-American computer geek, hardworking, high-achieving African-American girl, troubled army brat and ditzy girl with pink hair would seem to have ...

  6. The Homework Machine

    Hardcover. DOING HOMEWORK BECOMES A THING OF THE PAST. The unlikely foursome made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker — Brenton, Sam "Snick,", Judy and Kelsey, respectively, — are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine, code named Belch, is doing their homework for them ...

  7. "The Homework Machine " Character Analysis

    Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "The Homework Machine" by Dan Gutman. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

  8. The Homework Machine

    The Homework Machine. Paperback - June 26, 2007. by Dan Gutman (Author) 4.6 783 ratings. Book 1 of 2: The Homework Machine. Teachers' pick. See all formats and editions. Doing homework becomes a thing of the past! Meet the D Squad, a foursome of fifth graders at the Grand Canyon School made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a ...

  9. The Homework Machine: The Homework Machine

    Themes. award winners & favorites. The Homework Machine: The Homework Machine Written by Dan Gutman. An unlikely foursome of fifth-graders unites over an amazing discovery—a secret homework machine named Belch. "Ideal for middle-grade readers."—Child Magazine. Support Materials.

  10. The Homework Machine- Summary & Analysis

    Themes of The Homework Machine . The themes of the poem "The Homework Machine" by Shel Silverstein are: The dangers of relying on technology The poem suggests that if we rely too much on technology to do our work for us, we may lose the ability to think for ourselves and learn.; The importance of hard work The poem also suggests that there is no substitute for hard work.

  11. The Homework Machine

    Doing homework becomes a thing of the past! Meet the D Squad, a foursome of fifth graders at the Grand Canyon School made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker. They are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine, code-named Belch, is doing their homework for them, they start spending a lot of time together, attracting a lot of attention.

  12. The Homework Machine

    DOING HOMEWORK BECOMES A THING OF THE PAST The unlikely foursome made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker -- Brenton, Sam "Snick," Judy and Kelsey, respectively, -- are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine, code named Belch, is doing their homework for them, they start spending a lot of time together, attracting a lot of ...

  13. The Homework Machine

    Description. The unlikely foursome made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker - Brenton, Sam "Snick," Judy and Kelsey, respectively, - are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine, code named Belch, is doing their homework for them, they start spending a lot of time together ...

  14. The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman (The Homework Machine, #1)

    Written by Dan Gutman. Book # 1 in the The Homework Machine Series. Paperback. 9780689876790. 9780689876783. $ 7.99. $ 7.59. Add to cart. 8 - 12.

  15. PDF th grade The Homework Machine: Theme, The Hidden Message

    the themes of The Homework Machine in a trailer form. Product, Performance, and Purpose - You will need to develop a storyboard that presents the themes found within The Homework Machine for an upcoming staff meeting so that the development team can create a movie trailer for all ages. Standards and Criteria for Success -

  16. The Homework Machine

    Doing homework becomes a thing of the past! Meet the D Squad, a foursome of fifth graders at the Grand Canyon School made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker. They are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine.

  17. The Homework Machine

    English. History. Social Science. Your First Name. Birth Month. Postal Code. The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman - Doing homework becomes a thing of the past! Meet the D Squad, a foursome of fifth graders at the Grand Canyon School m...

  18. Amazon.com: Customer reviews: The Homework Machine

    THE HOMEWORK MACHINE is presented in the format of characters taking turns narrating into a recording device the progression of events that have taken place over the past school year. ... Also, it has the underlying theme that these 4 totally different personalities can work together and become friends. Maybe a lesson for all students? 4 people ...

  19. The Homework Machine Series by Dan Gutman

    Return of the Homework Machine. by Dan Gutman. 3.96 · 927 Ratings · 91 Reviews · published 2009 · 5 editions. Snik, Brenton, Judy, and Kelsey haven't stayed in …. Want to Read. Rate it: The Homework Machine (The Homework Machine, #1) and Return of the Homework Machine (The Homework Machine, #2)

  20. The Homework Machine by Shel Silverstein

    Analysis (ai): This amusing piece comments on the allure of technological advancements while highlighting their potential pitfalls. Despite promising efficiency, the Homework Machine ultimately fails due to an incorrect calculation. The contrast between its idealized description and the underwhelming result creates a humorous critique of over-reliance on technology and the importance of ...

  21. Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine

    Danny Dunn and the Weather Machine. Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine is the third novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book is "about a boy who invents a machine to do his homework for him only to be tricked into doing more with his spare time".