We read the Junior Books Story of "Jack and the Beanstalk" critically.  We used the inquiry method to read and discuss the story, questioning and wondering about the events in the story.  Afterwards, students were asked why they thought Jack climbed the beanstalk the third time.  Here is what students responded.  

Students were asked what we would do about Jack's actions in today's society.  They thought Jack should be placed on trial for his deeds.  Click here to see the result of our trial!

Amber:  I think he wanted to get rich.

Ashtyn:  I think the reason Jack went up there a third time is because he wanted to steal the harp and spy on the ogre and his wife.  I also think that he went up there to see if there was anything else he could steal that was gold.

Blaine:  He was determined to have another tray at his luck up there at the top of the beanstalk gate to try to steal.   

Celina: I think he climbed up the third time because he was determined and wanted to try his luck once again.          

Cole:  I think why he climbed it the third time was he wanted more stuff from the ogre.  And he wanted to get rich.  I think he should go to jail.   

Cordell:  He went up because he was determined to try to get more luck to get things.  It says on page 89, “Well jack was not content, and it wasn’t very long before he determined to have another try at his luck up there”.  That is why he climbed the beanstalk the third time.

Elisa:  I think he climbed up the beanstalk the third time because I think he thought he had stolen before without getting in trouble.  So why can’t he climb it again and steal without getting in trouble?  I also think he climbed up the beanstalk the third time because Jack knows that after the ogre’s breakfast, he tells his wife, “wife, wife, bring me my…” and then he knows.  The ogre falls asleep so he can take the thing the ogre tells his wife to give him.  That’s why I think Jack went up the beanstalk the third time.           

Gavin:  So he could take the golden harp to make the ogre angry.  Proof is on page 91, but the harp said quickly, “Loud, Master! Master!”      

Hayden:  Jack climbed the third time because he wanted to be more rich to impress his wife and put her mother as a slave and also because his mom told him to go for more gold.  And that’s what I have for proof.

Isaac:  Jack went to the top of the beanstalk because he thought that he could do it again.  It says on page 89 that he would “Try his luck at the top of the beanstalk.”  

Jackie:  Jack climbed the beanstalk the third time so he could make his mother happy.  And so he could be rich with his mom.  I know because if you look on page 89, it says that Jack was not content and it wasn’t long before he determined to try his luck up there at the top of the beanstalk.  And there is your proof.  

Jay:  He climbed up the third time because he knew the ogre was rich so he kept going up there to get more and more rich.              

Jennah:  He made up his mind to go up the beanstalk the third time.  So they only reason he went up the third time was to please his mother.  He went up the third time to get more gold.  Like on page 91, “He got down on his knees till he came to the table when he got a hold of the harp and dashed”.  And that is how I proved he should go to jail.         

Jeremy:  I think Jack climbed the beanstalk the third time because he was spoiled so he wanted to get richer and steal more from the ogre.  The book said, “And Jack made up his mind” to have another chance at stealing so his mom wouldn’t get mad at him any more.  That’s what the book was trying to say, (at least that’s what I think).  And that’s why Jack climbed the beanstalk the third time.  

Justin:  So he can steal more stuff from the ogre.  It said in the book he’d try his luck once more.

Kaylee:  I think that Jack wanted to climb the third time because he wanted to steal more stuff.  I also think that he wants to be sneaky because he has not eaten for a long time.  So I am thinking that he must be poor.  Also since they sold Milky White they had nothing to eat.  Also I think they could have eaten the beans that the guy gave them.  I also think he was curious to see if there was anything else that grew up on the top of the beanstalk.  Also because his mom did not feed him because she was mad at him because he sold Milky White to the guy.  I also think he climbed it the third time because he did not know that it was called stealing.  That’s what I think about why he climbed it the third time.  

Kiley:  I think he went back up the third time because he was not happy with the stuff he already had stolen.  But Jack made three crimes, he stole, and he broke in. 

Larissa:  Jack took a bag of gold and thought he made up his mind to try his luck again with the chicken that laid the golden egg and stolen harp.  He stole a chicken that lays golden eggs and a golden harp.  So he murdered the ogre and stole stuff that he did it for his mother.

Liam:  Jack went up the beanstalk the third time obviously his greed go the better of him.  The same thing happened when he stole the gold and the hen.  But you know I still would say he is a greedy slime ball with a black heart.  I mean he stole from the ogres two times.  But the most reason he went up the beanstalk the third time was he thought that he was doing the right thing by helping out himself, but what about the ogres?  I mean it’s their gold.  That’s why I think Jack is a snot nose kid and I don’t think he deserves to marry a princess.               

Luke:  Jack climbed the beanstalk the third time to try his luck one more time.  This time he hid behind a bush.  When the ogre’s wife stepped out, he snuck into the ogre’s house. On page 99 he climbed into the copper.  On the same page the ogre came in and said, “fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.”  Then the ogre looked in the stove.  Then the ogre ate breakfast and got his golden harp and fell asleep.  Then out of the copper stood the harp.  The giant woke up and chased Jack down the beanstalk.  On page 92 Jack got an axe and chopped the beanstalk down.          

Mackenzie:  On page 89 it says, “Jack made up his mind to try his luck again”.  On page 89 it also says, “Jack was not content”.  When it says, “He hid behind a bush until he saw the ogre’s wife come out with a pail to get some water.”        

Mickaela:  Jack probably climbed the beanstalk to see what else he could steal and so he could kill the ogre.  Jack also probably stole from the ogre so that for the rest of his life his mum would be happy and he’d be rich.  On page 89 Jack thought to himself and said he “was not content”, I want more stuff to steal because I’m a bad boy.  And that’s why he went up the beanstalk the third time.           

Rhianna: Jack climbed the beanstalk the third time because he wanted to be as rich as the giants and he wanted more gold and to steal and to get anything he can get his hands on.

Richee: Jack climbed the beanstalk because he wanted to be rich and to have money to have food and a wife.  Then Jack lifted up the copper lid very quietly and got down like a mouse and crept on hands and knees until he came to the table.  When up he crawled, he caught hold of the golden harp and dashed with it towards the door.  But the harp called out quite loud, “Master! Master!” and the ogre woke up just in time to see Jack running off with his harp.  Jack ran as fast as he could and the ogre came rushing after.  Soon after the ogre came rushing after he soon would have caught him.  Only Jack had a start and dodged him a bit and knew where. 

Sara:  Jack climbed the third time because his mom told him to.  Jack wanted more gold so he climbed and climbed.  This is what it said in the story, “He crept in the ogre’s house.”  He got in the cupboard, then when the ogre went to sleep Jack stole the golden harp.  The harp sang and the ogre was real loud.  Jack went down, he cut the beanstalk, and the ogre fell with the beanstalk and broke his crown and died.       

Tabbitha:  I think that Jack climbed the beanstalk because he wanted to be rich and he wanted to have a lot to eat and drink and to have a good life in the near future.  I can prove that on page 89 he made up his mind and on page 93 he needed a wife.

Tiffani:  I think that Jack wanted to steal because he was poor and they were so poor that they had to sell Milky White.  It even said so on page 80 – 81.  When the beanstalk grew, he stole and then he stole again from the ogre.  By now, I can imagine that he knew that the ogre was rich because everything was gold as it says on page 86, 88, and 91, because of the golden eggs that the hen laid and the gold coins, so he made up his mind to steal one more time.