Name:
Touching Spirit Bear Part II
If you do not have a book with you, use the link on the 8th Grade ELA website. You need to copy and paste the link
into a new web page. Page numbers online may not match exactly to the ones listed. The text will be near the page
numbers listed.
Weekend of Oct. 18 &19
Assignment:
Read Chapter 14-16 (115-139)
~24 pg and complete questions
Chapter 14
1. Cole’s mother appears to have a change of heart regarding her lifestyle and relationship with Cole. Describe the changes and
consider why you think she has changed.
2. When Cole returns to the Circle, there are two people missing. Who are they? Why do you think they are not there? (level 1)
3. Look at question number 3 again. Rewrite the question into a mid or high level question on Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Chapter 15
1. How does Edwin demonstrate the change in Cole’s path in life?
2. The Keeper says that they have no way of knowing if Cole is over his anger. What is Cole’s response?
Chapter 16
1. How is Cole’s second trip to the island being funded? How should this make a difference for Cole?
2. When Cole asks, “What do we do first?” Garvey responds “Everything is up to you now.” Why would he say this?
3. What could Garvey’s observation that “all the world is a hot dog” mean?
4. Cole briefly considers the possibility of taking the skiff and returning to the mainland. However, even if he had tried, Edwin had
removed the spark plugs from the engine, so it would not have worked. What does this incident tell us about Cole, Edwin, and
Garvey?
Monday, Oct. 20
Assignment:
Read Chapter 17 & 18 (140-157)
~17 pg and complete questions
Chapter 17
1. Answer this question on a separate piece of paper using the topic sentence below to write one support for the answer. Make
sure that you have included a quote or paraphrase and a link that connects to both parts of the topic sentence.
Cole thinks about Peter when he cannot sleep. What are his thoughts? How are these thoughts different from his earlier feelings
about Peter?
Topic Sentence
The concern in Cole’s thoughts about Peter tells the reader that he no longer hates Peter and hopes he is okay.
Go back to writing in your notebook for the remaining questions.
1. Edwin uses a stick to demonstrate a point to Cole. What is this point? Explain.
Chapter 18
1. Edwin states “Pride has no place on this island.” Cite two instances in this chapter where Cole puts his pride ahead of
practicality.
2. Cole is upset that Edwin and Garvey are not helping with anything. By doing nothing, are they helping Cole? Explain.
3. What activities do Cole and Edwin do to help Cole release his anger?
Name:
Tuesday, Oct. 21
Assignment:
Read Part of Chapter 19 (163-166), Part of Chapter 20 (171-176),
summary for Chapter 21, Chapter 22 (185-188), and Chapter 23 (189194) ~17 pages and complete questions
Chapter 19
Summary: Wolf Dance
The chapter again begins with an animal sighting as Edwin and Cole return from their morning lessons. This time, it is a wolf
sighting. Garvey insists that this night they will do a “wolf dance.” The rest of the day is consumed by Cole constructing the shelter
again, and he becomes irritated. In a fit of anger, Cole tells Edwin and Garvey that he won’t cook them food or do the wolf dance.
They threaten to return him to Minnesota, since he had broken part of the agreement, and then Cole immediately returns to do
everything they ask. The two men retire to the tent while Cole does the wolf dance on his own. The lesson of the wolf dance is
“that you need the help of others, like a wolf pack.”
*Start Reading on pg. 163, 2nd paragraph from the top
Chapter 19
1. What lesson does Cole learn from the wolf dance? How does the lesson apply to Cole’s current state of mind?
2. When pushing the rock down the hill, Cole comes to a realization. What is it?
Chapter 20
Summary: Spirit Bear Dance
Cole returns to tell Edwin and Garvey of his morning, and he nearly finishes constructing the shelter, installing a door and
windows. The two adults are so impressed that they tell Cole that they are leaving him the next morning. Cole prepares an extra
special meal for them as their last dinner together. Since Cole saw the Spirit Bear, he proposes to do a Spirit Bear dance as the last
dance before the two leave. Cole’s spirit bear dance reenacts his mauling in its entirety before Edwin and Garvey.
*Starts 4th paragraph down on page 171 through end of chapter
Chapter 20
1. What realization does Cole have regarding his father?
2. Edwin put the spark plugs back in the boat two days before he and Garvey left. What does this indicate?
Summary for Chapter 21
Cole is finally alone on the island, and he focuses on keeping himself busy as much as possible. He occupied himself building
furniture for his shelter. Edwin makes his first visit back four days later, and Cole seems to be doing well still. When Cole finds a
huge washed-up pole, he decides to make a totem pole carving out of it. However, the log brings the possibility of making a canoe
for escape, and Cole skips his morning soak in the freezing pond as he contemplates this possibility with anger in his heart for the
first time since Edwin and Garvey departed.
On his next visit, Edwin sees that Cole had started to make a canoe but had instead crafted part of a totem pole, and Edwin is
impressed that Cole has chosen the right course. Cole signals his first signs of feeling compassion for Peter, who Edwin reports is
not doing well. Cole dances an eagle dance, but Edwin says that he is not ready for an anger dance, the one that would heal him
the most.
Chapter 22
1. How does Cole make himself invisible, and why is he doing this?
Chapter 23
1. What does Cole believe to be the secret to be invisible? Why does he come to this conclusion? Why does that conclusion make
sense for Cole?
2. Cole decides that he can now do the anger dance. When he is doing it, he screams, “Please forgive me! I didn’t mean to hurt
Peter!” Is this statement true? Why or why not? Think back to his motivations at the time of the assault, Cole’s family history, and
Cole’s reaction to Peter when he hears him speak for the first time since the assault at the Circle on page 40 to help answer the
question.
3. Cole also states, “I forgive you” during his anger dance. To whom do you think he intends these statements? Why?
Name:
Wednesday, Oct. 22
Assignment:
Read Chapter 24, Chapter 25 (206-214), parts of Chapter 26 (223225) ~24 pages and complete questions
Chapter 24
1. At the opening of the chapter, what does Cole realize about being angry?
Chapter 25
1. Peter twice attempts to commit suicide, and Cole believes the answer to Peter’s problems is to have him spend time on the
island. Why does Cole think this is a good idea?
2. Peter blurts, “Leave me alone. I don’t want your help!” to Cole. How is this situation similar to Cole’s initial feelings about
Garvey and Edwin? How is it different?
Chapter 26
Summary for pages 215-222
Peter’s parents decide to leave the next morning, since they feel that Peter is safe with Garvey’s protection, but Mr. Driscal sternly
warns Cole that if he touches Peter, he’ll go to jail for sure. Peter still doesn’t want to speak to Cole, but after Cole offers him a
candy bar, he takes it. Garvey and Cole chat for a while about life back in Minneapolis. Cole’s father has filed for Cole’s custody,
but Garvey assures Cole that he will never win it. Cole’s mother is also said to be doing well. Since Peter is still afraid of Cole, Cole
has to sleep in a cold, leaky tent 100 yards away from the shelter as Garvey and Peter sleep in the warmth.
The next morning, Peter and Garvey accompany Cole to the freezing pond, although only Cole gets in, and then they carry the
ancestor rock up the hill again as well. Days go by without any change in Peter.
*Start reading on top of page 223
Chapter 26
1. Do you think that Edwin purposely brought a leaky tent? Why or why not?
2. Peter shows some signs of embracing Cole’s island practices. What are these?
3. Infer why Peter threw the rock at Cole and later tossed him into the water?
Thursday, Oct. 23
Assignment:
Read Chapter 27 (226-232), and Chapter 28 (233-240)
~14 pages and complete questions
Chapter 27
1. What does Peter do to Cole’s totem pole at the end of the chapter? What does this say about the change in Peter’s attitude
towards Cole?
Chapter 28
1. Why does Cole not fight back? Why is this important?
2. The boys see the Spirit Bear and carve circles in their totem poles pgs. 238-240. What is the significance of these two events?
Friday, Oct. 24
Answer the questions.
1. Reread the climax on pages 235-237. Describe and provide evidence why you think this is the most important event. Tie the
event back to the main conflict of the story.
2. What is the main conflict of the story and how is it resolved? (Remember they must be related.)
3. Reflect (think) back on the entire book. What is the theme of the book? Explain with support from the text.
Complete the story map.
Test on Monday, October 27.