Journal prompts:
Once I share the prompt (which I’ll
try to do a day or two before we
write), start to sticky note places in
your book that matter!
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Which book are you reading?
What is the theme of the book you’re reading?
Recreate the graphic organizer in your response journal (Put
the Theme on a line and the bubbles below it), prove the
theme with at least 5 pieces of dialogue or quotes from story:
Theme:
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Let’s read “A Blind Man Catches a Bird” on page 566.
We are searching for theme/moral…remember that as
we read.
In your journal: Write down the theme of A Blind Man
Catches a Bird- we’ll discuss in a minute…
Get into iPad groups and discuss the themes that each of
you wrote down. Agree on the best one (via vote if
necessary). Write it down in your response journal.
As a group, select a scene from the story that
demonstrates or illustrates the theme your group chose.
On an iPad illustrate that scene! Be creative and
interesting.
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Include the best quote from the story that
demonstrates/illustrates the theme.
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In what ways does the character rebel, and
what does he/she rebel against? How does
this show itself outwardly, inwardly or
both? Does rebelling accomplish something
important?
Write about a time when you openly
rebelled against something, then write
about a time when you secretly rebelled.
How did you feel afterward? What were
the differences?
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Go back and identify examples of conflict, using post-its.
Continue to find more examples as you read.
What are two types of conflict for the main character in
your story? Label the type of conflict, and then describe
how the character’s problem fits.
What choices could the character make to resolve the
conflict? What are the pros and cons of these choices?
What is a conflict YOU are dealing with? What choices
can you make to resolve the problem? Pros and cons of
each choice?
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As children, we are sometimes unaware of issues
such as gender roles, race, class, or other political
realities. A common theme in many coming-of-age
works is a dawning understanding of these issues.
Chew on these ?s in your journal: At what point do
the characters in the story begin to understand the
political and/or social boundaries that define their
lives? What incidents set off this understanding?
How does it shape them?
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What to do: Choose the character who has changed
the most over the course of your book (probably the
main character). Compare and contrast the character
at the beginning of the novel to how they are now
(hopefully you’re in the middle or near end)
How to do it: describe your character at the
beginning of the novel with a few adjectives. Find
one piece of dialogue from your book to back up our
description. Then describe your character in
middle/end of book with a few adjectives, and find
dialogue that proves the change.
See my example in next slide
In the beginning of the story, Rainsford was confident,
arrogant, and lacked empathy for the animals he
hunted.
Quote: “Who cares how the jaguar feels?”
By the end, Rainsford was challenged, humbled, and
learned to feel empathy for other animals who have
been hunted.
Quote: “Nerve, nerve, nerve, he panted.”
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How does the main character in the
story you’re reading define “home?” Is
it the place the character comes from, or
somewhere of his/her own making?
What about this character’s “home”
seems to stay with the person wherever
he/she goes?
How do YOU define “home?”
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Let’s read Pandora’s Box pg. 454 from your lit book.
As you read, be cognizant of the similarities and
differences between this story and the novel you’re
reading…
When you’re done reading, draw a Venn diagram on
one of the blank pages at the end of your journal.
Compare the characters from both stories. Try for at
least three ideas in each section of your Venn.
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Come up with 2-5 things that
happen in the book as a direct result
of something your character did.
Your response journal should have:
What character did
 Who was affected
 What happened as result
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Choose famous actors to play several of the characters from your book.
List the book character, the actor who you think should play them, and
tell good reasons WHY!
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Example:
Rainsford: Daniel Craig because he plays strong, physical characters (like
James Bond!). He’s an actor that’s had roles playing both good and bad
characters– Rainsford embodies both. He’s also proven himself in the
action genre; he’s tough and believable
Zaroff: Donald Sutherland (he plays President Snow in the Hunger Games)
because he’s older, can easily look crazy (like Zaroff), and has played
multiple bad guy roles very well.
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If you hate this prompt, do this instead:
What inference can you make about a character or event in
your book? What clues led to the inference?
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How does your book’s character deal with
problems? Does the character have an outlet to
deal with feelings/problems? Explain.
How do YOU deal with problems? What is
your outlet?